BRANDON, MB – The Archery Manitoba ASA Tour recently made a stop at the Grand Valley Campground near Brandon, marking the first time the Westman Outdoor Group has hosted at this scenic location. The event proved to be a standout weekend, blending technical challenges with a vibrant community atmosphere.
Organizers designed the course with both accessibility and skill-building in mind. By using the campground’s road system, the club ensured a more manageable walk for participants while also offering challenging uphill and downhill shots.
“This was our first year hosting at the Grand Valley campground, and we wanted to provide a unique experience,” said Event Organizer Travis VanDaele. “We incorporated elevation changes to give Manitoba archers the opportunity to experience the types of challenging shots they might encounter if they attend Nationals out of province. It was a great way to test everyone’s technical skills.”
One of the most encouraging highlights of the weekend was the high turnout of youth archers. The next generation of the sport was well-represented, showing both skill and sportsmanship throughout the competition.
Saturday served as a successful lead-up to the main event, with many recreational archers and ASA competitors taking advantage of the course for practice. VanDaele noted that the success of the Saturday session has sparked ideas for the future, including the possibility of utilizing the venue for dedicated 3D team practices.
The social aspect of the weekend was equally impactful. “It was fantastic to see so many people staying until the very end for the awards ceremony,” VanDaele added. “There was a lot of socializing and camaraderie throughout the day, which is exactly what we want to see in our archery community.”
The success of the event was made possible through a vital partnership with the Sioux Valley Dakota Nation, which provided access to the beautiful campground. Looking ahead, the Westman Outdoor Group hopes to continue hosting at Grand Valley, with plans to potentially expand the ranges to offer two separate courses.
Archery Manitoba and the Westman Outdoor Group would like to extend a special thank you to Sean and Ryan for their assistance with scoring and awards, as well as our generous partners: Sioux Valley Dakota Nation, East 40 Packers, and C and C Rentals.
Finally, a massive thank you to the dedicated volunteers who gave their time to make this weekend a reality: Travis VanDaele, Lisa VanDaele, Brielle VanDaele, Mark Chapman, Kim Chapman, Sam Chapman, Mia Chapman, April Rey, Aidan Stevenson, Drew Sirett, Dave MacAualy, and Sharie Hiebert.
