Wills arrows in on Olympic glory
Last updated 11:43, Friday, 08 August 2008
CUMBRIA’S lone Olympic hopeful, archer Alan Wills, will be feeling the nerves at tonight’s official opening of the Beijing Games.
For Wills, of Arlecdon, carries not just Cumbrian hopes but those of a nation on his shoulders.
He is rated as one of our top prospects to win a medal at the Games and will be pitched straight into action tomorrow as he shoots in the qualifiers.
Wills, who celebrated his 27th birthday on the day he transferred from the training camp in Macau to the Olympic city, will compete in both the individual and team events in Beijing.
He forms part of a six strong Olympic archery team, who have formed strong links together.
And his former Sellafield Archery Club coach, Alf Davies, believes the friendship the archery team have forged will help them in competition.
“The men’s team are good friends, despite competing against each other at events, and I believe this will mean they are quite powerful,” said Davies, who is watching his former protege’s exploits with avid interest.
Wills is keeping in regular touch with Davies, who says he is upbeat about his chances.
He said: “I think he could do very well indeed but, as with any sporting event, anything can happen but I know he will give his best.
“He has been shooting well and in an email he sent to me he says training is going okay and he really wants to do well.”
After Saturday’s qualifying, Wills will be involved in the men's team heats and quarter-finals, followed by the semis and medals on Monday, before the men's individual eliminators get under way on Wednesday.
Finally, on Friday, he will hopefully be involved in the men's individual last 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals and final.
Alan is a joiner by trade, but UK Sport funding has enabled him of late to focus full-time on archery. And he has nothing but praise for his employers, Frizington-based C & E Builders.
