GUERNSEY is holding the biggest and most prestigious archery competition ever at the weekend. At 9.30am tomorrow, the first arrows of the Euronations Archery Tournament will shoot across the green grass of Rovers AC’s Port Soif ground. It is the first time that the island has been selected to host the event.

‘It’s great for us,’ said organiser Ian Le Page.

‘It’s a really big moment for our club and for the island as well. Even though it’s called the Euronations, it is basically the home nations competition.’

The Bowmen of Guernsey will do battle with the national teams of England, Ireland, Jersey, Northern Ireland and Wales. In total 79 archers are taking part.

The team competition takes place tomorrow and on Sunday is the individual open. Both days are run under Fita regulations, meaning that if any national, European or world records are broken, they will be recognised as official.

The shoot will be presided over by top officials Andy Pointon and John Poyner.

Le Page believes the home team have a good chance of taking the smaller nations’ trophy that was donated by Jersey a few years back.

Guernsey will fight it out for this with Jersey, Ireland and Northern Ireland.

‘We are hopeful of picking up the smaller nations,’ he said.

‘We are fairly confident of winning it.’

If Guernsey are to challenge for any honours, a lot depends on their two best archers, Steve Yates and Mike Appelqvist.

The 44-year-old Appelqvist said the competition will be of the highest quality.

‘There are some lunatics coming over,’ said the prison guard.

‘My personal best is 1,333 and their’s is in the high 1,300 and some are up touching 1,400 if not more.

‘If any of the team place in this, they will have done well. But we’ll have a go, that’s for sure.’

Yates was Guernsey’s top performer at the previous Euronations in Bishops Stortford in 2004.

He finished sixth in the individual’s competition.

‘We’re certainly hoping for a second or third in the compound team event,’ he said.

‘The upshot is that England win everything and the rest of us fight it out for the other places. We stand a good chance in the smaller nations.’

Le Page cannot wait for the weekend to start. He reckons that the Port Soif setting is just right for the tournament.

‘It’s lovely,’ he said.

‘If we get the weather that’s forecast at the moment, it should be a fantastic weekend.’