Stratford's Jamie Harris targeting first individual medal at European Cup in Nottingham
STRATFORD disabled archer Jamie Harris wants to claim his first international individual medal at this week's Para-Archery European Cup in Nottingham.
The 23-year-old has already claimed three international team bronzes this year at the Dubai World Archery Para Championships, the Novo Mesto Para-Archery European Cup in the Czech Republic and the European Para-Archery Championships in Rome.
Now the national champion hopes that momentum will carry him to an individual medal at the European Cup, which starts on Thursday and concludes on Saturday.
The former Stratford School student also hopes to win a mixed gold alongside Paralympic champion Phoebe Paterson Pine at Wollaton Park.
"I'm feeling confident. I'm on top form and have a good track record with finals matches," Harris told the Herald.
"It is fantastic to be shooting an internal on home soil.
"It is such a great opportunity to compete with some of the best archers in the world.
"I'm hoping for my first international individual medal, preferably gold, and a gold mixed team medal with Paralympic champion Phoebe Paterson Pine."
Reflecting on the success of 2022, Harris, whose disability affects his right arm, says it's incredibly rewarding to see all the training reap its rewards.
"To know you bested not only your opponent but also your previous self, there's nothing more gratifying than proving you can go beyond yesterday's limits," he said.
"Each [medal] felt amazing to achieve, especially as it's the first year I've made it to the finals at international events.
"This year has been great for the GB team as a whole, winning seven medals at the first leg of the European Cup in the Czech Republic and eight at the European Championships in Rome.
"We are eager to secure more at the European Cup finals in Nottingham this week."
Harris has been living in Stratford since 2012 and went to Stratford School and its sixth form. His disability affects his right arm from his non-existent elbow joint down to his two fingers.
To shoot, Harris has a specially made trigger which attaches around his right elbow that allows him to draw.
A string around his fingers helps him release the bow when he squeezes his back.
Harris got into archery when attending a LimbPower event in 2012 which introduced him to a range of other sports, including wheelchair basketball to rowing machine racing.
While he enjoyed most of the events, it was archery which resonated the most.
"I could barely release the shot yet something about changing all your strength through a single motion just captivated me," he said.
"The archers running the range could see I was enjoying the challenge and recommended I joined a local club.
"A year later I joined the Stratford Archers who guided me through the beginner's course and introduced me to the compound bow."
Harris is dedicated to the sport and it was his hard work during the pandemic which led to him being awarded the Fletcher's Cup in 2020 in recognition of his commitment to training despite the challenges of Covid-19.
"I shot 160-180 arrows a day, six days a week, so finding ways of training throughout the pandemic was a necessity, even if it was just in my dad's garage working on a blank target mastering techniques," he said.
"The lack of competitions was the biggest change during lockdown. Shooting against set scores doesn't provide the same level of challenge. I did at one point use a randomiser to simulate an opponent but it's not got that competitive atmosphere I need to be adapted to.
"The sport as a whole lost quite a bit of interest over the pandemic so it's been great seeing fresh faces join their local clubs thanks to a recent increase in popularity."
He added: "Archery is so inclusive and accessible to any age, it's a great way to meet people not to mention the physical mental health benefits. If the chaos of the last two years have left you stressed and without a hobby, give archery a try (www.startarchery.co.uk).
Harris, who narrowly missed out on a place at the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo, has his eyes set on making the Team GB squad for the 2024 Games in Paris.
However, while the former call centre worker admits reaching Paris would be an amazing feeling, he stressed it's important to take each competition as it comes.
"Getting into the Paris Games would be a dream come true, especially after narrowly missing out on Tokyo," he told the Herald.
"To be out there representing GB and showing the world what can be achieved with determination and ingenuity, to prove that any adversity can be overcome and to inspire a new generation of para-archers would be fantastic.
"However, I can't focus on that now, I've got a European Cup final to win."
