ARCH-ed TPM5 - final project meeting

ARCH-ed Final Project Meeting - Rakownia, Poland

Our final meeting for the ARCHed project has officially begun at Kawalkada Horseback Archery, marking a significant and exciting moment in our journey. We kicked off the event by finalizing discussions on the HOW2 toolbox and the "How Healthy Am I?" questionnaire, which will soon be available on our websites. These resources are designed to support horseback archery participants, offering practical tools and promoting self-awareness about health and well-being. With everything nearly finalized, we are eager to see these materials put to good use by our growing community.

The excitement continued as we dove into a 3-day competition, where project participants had the opportunity to put into practice everything they had learned throughout the ARCHed project. It was thrilling to see these new skills play out in a competitive setting. Thankfully, the weather improved, and we enjoyed good conditions during the competition.

On the first day, our team worked hard to set up the track for the Raid 234 competition and filmed another HOW2 tutorial, this time focusing on how to properly prepare a competition track - an excellent resource for anyone looking to master this process. After lunch, the Wielkopolska Cup kicked off with competitors taking on the Raid 234 track, delivering exciting performances.

The second day brought colder weather, but it didn’t dampen our spirits. We gathered around a bonfire for lunch, enjoying roasted lamb leg before diving into the Tower90 competition. The course, known for its technical demands, simulates the tactics of mounted archers in battle. It requires precision and control, with competitors focusing on accurate shooting while managing both attack and retreat at varying distances and angles. The Tower90 track isn't about speed - it emphasizes accuracy and strategy.

The final day was dedicated to the Hunt track, also known as the Polish track, the most spectacular and challenging course of the event. We began early by setting up the track, and competitors had the chance to familiarize themselves with the difficult target placements. The Hunt track required exceptional horsemanship, as riders navigated vast open spaces and chose their own strategies - whether to aim for closer, easier targets or risk long-distance shots for more points. The day concluded with the medal and prize ceremony, crowning the champions of the Wielkopolska Cup. To check out the results CLICK HERE

For the ARCHed project participants, this event was not only the culmination of months of training but also our last in-person meeting. Unfortunately, some competitors had to depart early and faced delays at the Polish-German border. Now, we only need to upload a few more HOW2 Toolbox videos, share the "How Healthy Am I?" survey, and prepare our final project report.

Although our two-year ARCHed project is drawing to a close, we are excited to announce that this is not the end. Starting in January 2025, we will embark on the next chapter with "ARCH-ed: Educating to Excellence in Horseback Archery." Stay tuned for more exciting developments ahead!

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