Meet the Instructors – Louise!

Hey Louise! Tell us a little bit about yourself!

Hiya, I’m 26 from South London, I studied film and photography at university. When I’m not working at 2020 you probably find me in the gym, teaching pole fitness, taking part in some sort of outdoor adventurous activity or in my kitchen pretending to be on the Great British Bake Off.

How long have you been shooting for?

I originally started shooting during my Summers at university so about 6 years ago, however only started shooting more frequently over the last couple of years.

How did you get started with 2020 Archery?

I volunteer with the Scouts and qualified with them as an Archery GB Archery instructor in May 2014, I saw the role advertised over the Summer with 2020 and thought I’d apply as it was something I enjoyed!

What’s the best part of the job?

I really enjoy instructing the Have a Go sessions, its great to be part of the transition of someone, at the start of the session, who’s very nervous and saying ‘I’ll never hit the target’ to the end session when they’ve not only hit the target but have a strong grouping and have scored well in the competition. Proud instructor moment!

What’s the worst part of the job?

This is a tough one, not getting to eat any of the chocolate coins we give out at the end of the competition? Only joking, I’d say either that the sessions seem to fly by too fast, time flies when your having fun and all that. Or when you get caught in the line of fire during a heated Archery Tag session, it can give quite a sting depending where it hits!

What’s the one bit of advice you’d give to someone thinking of taking up archery?

Do it! We are all guilty of putting things off or saying one day, make that day today.

What’s your best archery story?

I had one lady one a Have a Go session a couple of weeks ago who turned up and told me ‘not to expect too much, last time she had done an archery session (with another organisation) she hadn’t even been able to hit the target.’ Instantly I thought to myself challenge excepted… safe to say she only missed the target a hand full of times, and was scoring a good number of 8’s and and a couple 9’s during the competition. I spoke to her at the end and she was very happy with the session and was pleasantly surprised with how far she had come, hopefully she carries on but if not its great to see such an achievement.

Louise demonstrating some of her other sporting expertise!