GUERNSEY could have done better in the 2006 Euronations team competition. That was the general feeling among the Bowmen of Guernsey as they came second behind Ireland in Saturday’s small nations’ competition. They had set their sights on winning that trophy.

Also the home team’s top men compound archers, Steve Yates and Mike Appelqvist, did not quite hit their straps as they finished seventh and ninth respectively in their discipline.

In blistering sunshine at Rovers AC ground at Port Soif, the 77 competing archers were kept cool by a shifting breeze that made shooting a touch difficult and the scores reflected that.

The Euronations has been dubbed the home nations tournament for archery. This was the first time that Guernsey had hosted the prestigious event.

‘It’s gone from bad to worse for me today,’ said Appelqvist afterwards.

‘Steve and I should have shot a lot better. I finished with 1,275.

‘I haven’t shot less than 1,310 in a long time.

‘I should have been 1,320. It’s just been a bad day for our team.’

Appelqvist and Yates did manage to come third in the men’s compound team event behind first-placed England and Scotland. Yates was not so disappointed with his seventh spot as Appelqvist was with his placing.

‘I’m pleased, I didn’t think it was going to be enough for that but it seems everyone didn’t have a good day,’ he said.

‘We came second in the small nations and we came third in the men’s compound team.

‘There was a funny breeze as it kept moving around. It kept people guessing.’

England’s Mark Franklin won the men’s compound competition. The 42-year-old from Staines in his debut tournament for the English national team shot 1,344.

‘There were tricky conditions,’ he said. ‘The wind was pretty strong and it was quite testing.

‘For my first England shoot, to win was cool.’

Irish archer Eoghan O’Donaghue won the men’s recurve. The 29-year-old sculptor from Kerry shot 1,223 to take the title from England’s Neil Bridgewater who hit 1,209.

‘I’m very pleased,’ said O’Donaghue.

‘I was surprised I won considering the morning I had. I could have done better at 90m.

‘I had an OK middle and then I hit a personal best at 30m.’

The Welsh dominated the women’s events as Rebecca Dawson won the recurve and Jan Howells took the compound. Guernsey’s Viv Le Page finished 11th in the compound with teammate Laura Le Page one place behind.

In the small nations’ team competition, Ireland and Guernsey jostled for first place all day, but it was the Irish who finally took the honours with a total score of 7,390. The Sarnians finished on 7,356 with Northern Ireland in third on 7,333.

As predicted, the strong English contingent won the main team contest with a score of 12,278. Scotland grabbed silver with 12,204 and Wales came third on 11,963.