Following a nationwide search, Archery GB has announced the winner of a special competition created to celebrate unsung heroes of the archery community.
Peter or “Zed” Rogers from Twyford has been crowned the winning Archery Superhero after being nominated for his compassion and the endless hours of dedication he has devoted to teaching young archers at his local club, Twyford Scout Archery Club.
With the Olympic and Paralympic Games taking place later this summer, the competition was launched to shine a light on the extraordinary individuals who contribute so much to archery as well as the positive impact they have on those who take part.
People were invited to nominate someone they know who had shown dedication, resilience and selflessness either towards archery as a sport or their archery community.
One of the individuals who nominated Peter said:“My son, who is autistic and suffers with severe anxiety, had become a recluse… nothing we did could engage him until Zed (Peter) gave him archery. Archery did not come easy to him, he was not a natural, but with Zed’s patience and unwavering support he stuck at it.
“Zed’s role is completely voluntary. He gives his time and countless hours of admin and organisation expecting nothing back in return other than being able to allow people to access, develop and enjoy archery. That is pretty amazing.”
From the dozens of nominations that were submitted, a panel from Archery GB carried out blind shortlisting to select a final three. The final decision was then put in the hands of the public who were able to cast their vote across Archery GB’s social media channels.
“Everyone was incredibly overwhelmed and touched by the number of nominations and heart-warming stories that we received,” said Gayle Pink,
Head of Participation at Archery GB. “It’s clear that there are a huge number of people across the UK who go above and beyond for our sport. It was really tough to pick a final three and then we had a fantastic response to the social media vote, again reinforcing what a supportive and passionate community archery creates.
“We were particularly impressed by Peter’s selflessness and devotion to archery, giving people in his local community the opportunity to learn and enjoy the sport.”
As the winner of the Archery Superhero competition, Peter will be invited to attend the Archery GB Recognition Awards to receive a trophy and official certificate and his club, Twyford Scout Archery Club will receive a £200 prize.
“There are so many amazing individuals dedicating so much to supporting others in our archery community, and with the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris fast approaching, we hope stories like Peter’s will inspire others and highlight the impact our great sport can have,” added Gayle.
