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Road to the 2026 Rushmore Rumble

This past weekend, several Provincial Target Team athletes competed at the NFAA Rushmore Rumble in Indianapolis. Chris Waterman, Khushreet Sandhu, and Laganjot Sandhu represented Manitoba with professionalism and pride on a national stage. The event consisted of a 5-spot 600 round on Saturday, followed by a 3-spot 300 round on Sunday, for a combined total of 900 points.

Chris Waterman competed in the Compound Male Flights category and completed the weekend in the 15th flight group with a final score of 848 out of 900.

Laganjot Sandhu delivered a standout performance in the Compound Cub Male category. Finishing only seven points behind first place, Laganjot secured second place with a score of 859 out of 900. Reflecting on his performance, Laganjot stated:

“I worked through my shots and performed very well. I am proud of the outcome of this tournament.”

Through consistent training and a strong respect for the sport, Laganjot continues to demonstrate a high level of commitment. His disciplined approach to practice is evident in his performance at major competitions and his continued success on the podium.

In the Compound Young Adult Female category, Khushreet Sandhu produced two strong rounds to earn a podium finish. After the first day of competition, she sat in fourth place with a score of 593 and 36 Xs. On the second day, she delivered an exceptional performance, shooting a near-perfect 299 with 24 Xs. Khushreet concluded the weekend in third place with a total score of 892 out of 900 and 60 Xs. When asked about her experience, Khushreet commented:

“This tournament was a great opportunity for me to compete with, and learn from, other high-level athletes.”

Khushreet’s ability to evaluate her performances thoughtfully, identifying both strengths and areas for improvement, continues to support her long-term development. She remains a strong representative of Manitoba and shows significant promise for the future.

As the 2026 season gets underway, the Provincial Manitoba Target Team has already recorded four individual podium finishes across two major events. This early success reflects the commitment of the athletes and the effectiveness of the program and makes my job extremely rewarding to be apart of their journey in the sport.

Sean Murray
Provincial Target Team Coach

Sunday, January 4, 202,6 Blackfalds, Alberta

Written by Archery Manitoba Team Coach: Sean Murray

The weekend started Friday night with the JJAC 5-Spot Rumble, a 50-arrow round scored on outer-10s. Archers had the option to purchase mulligans, which let them replace a set number of their lowest-value arrows. It’s worth noting that neither Manitoba team member needed that extra help. In the U21 Female category, Bailey Mathers posted a strong 467 to earn the silver medal. In the highly competitive U18 Female category, Acadia Flockton delivered an impressive 489 to take first place.

Saturday featured the qualification rounds, with the athletes shooting a 600 round. In the combined U25/U21 Female class of 10 archers, Bailey Mathers finished the ranking round in first place with a score of 557. The U18 Female category included a deep field of 22 athletes, where Acadia Flockton came out strong, shooting a 562—just four points behind the leader in second place.

Later that evening, both athletes were randomly paired for the team rounds. After several impressive matches, both teams advanced to their respective gold medal matches, ultimately finishing the night with silver medals.

Sunday began early with double-elimination match play. Both athletes earned byes to start the day. The U18 Female matches were first, where Acadia Flockton won four straight matches to reach the gold medal match. She found her stride at just the right moment, shooting a solid 145 to claim gold. Notably, Acadia recorded two 145s during match play, just one point shy of the highest match score of the entire U18 category.

Bailey Mathers opened match play by winning her first two matches. In her third, she faced a tough competitor and fell just a few points short. Match four was a pivotal moment—either secure bronze or win and move on to the gold medal match. Bailey shot strongly throughout, trailing by one point heading into the final arrow. Needing a 10 to force a closest-to-centre shoot-off, she stepped up and delivered a perfect shot to advance to gold. Bailey stayed committed to her game plan in the final but ultimately came up just short, finishing the weekend with a silver medal.

Overall, I’m incredibly pleased with how both athletes performed and represented the provincial target team program. It was a long and demanding weekend, both physically and mentally, but they came well-prepared to handle the heavy volume and the extended time on the line. As a coach, the goal is always to give our athletes the tools and support they need to succeed at significant events and, most importantly, to leave with positive takeaways—and this weekend did just that.

It is with deep sorrow that Archery Manitoba acknowledges the passing of Miles Towle, a dedicated competitor, esteemed community member, and cherished member of the 17 Wing Archery Club. 

We extend our heartfelt condolences to Miles’ family and friends during this difficult time. He leaves a legacy of love for archery and friendship that will continue to inspire future generations of archers in Manitoba. 

For more details on Miles’ life, please visit his obituary at Ethical Death Care. 

Rest in peace, Miles. You will be greatly missed.

We’re excited to announce the 2025 Archery Manitoba Annual Awards Banquet, taking place on Sunday, January 18, from 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM. This event will be hosted at the Masonic Memorial Centre, conveniently located at 420 Corydon Ave, Winnipeg, MB.

This is an excellent opportunity to come together as a community and celebrate the outstanding achievements in archery. The ticket price is $35, which includes a delicious buffet lunch, along with coffee, tea, soft drinks, and dessert. For those looking to relax with a drink, a cash bar will be available, featuring beer, wine, and cocktails.

Join us in recognizing the remarkable recipients of Sport Manitoba’s Awards of Sport Excellence, the 2025 ASA Tour Manitoba “Shooters of the Year”, and our major award winners.

Event Schedule:

• Doors Open: 12:00 PM
• Lunch Served: 1:00 PM
• Ceremonies Begin: 1:30 PM

Don’t miss this wonderful occasion to honour our archery community’s achievements! We look forward to seeing you there!

Purchase Tickets by Monday, January 12, end of day by e-transfer to info@archerymanitoba.ca or by credit card at:

https://www.zeffy.com/en-CA/ticketing/2025-archery-manitoba-annual-awards

As the holiday season approaches, we wish our members and the entire archery community joy, peace, and wonderful moments with family and friends.

2025 has been an incredible year filled with achievements and memorable moments in archery, and it wouldn’t have been possible without your passion and support.

Please note that our offices will be closed from December 24 to January 2, reopening on Monday, January 5. We look forward to an exciting new year in 2026, filled with more archery adventures and accomplishments!

Happy Holidays and Best Wishes for the New Year!

The Staff and Board of Directors of Archery Manitoba

We are excited to announce the upcoming 2026 Manitoba Winter Games, scheduled to take place in Thompson, Manitoba, from March 1 to 4, 2026! This is an exceptional opportunity for our young archers, as the archery event is designed to introduce participants to the indoor competitive format and prepare them for the following year’s Canada Winter Games.

We invite all youth archers aged 10 to 16, regardless of their experience level, to participate in our “Prep Camps.” These camps provide a welcoming environment for archers with recreational, lessons, or beginner to intermediate competitive skill sets to learn the Indoor 18M Competition Format. Whether you aspire to represent Manitoba at the Canada Winter Games, experience a trials event, or simply wish to gain familiarity with competitive archery, we encourage you to join a local camp at no cost.

Regional Teams will select athletes to compete, including:

• 4 compound archers (2 female and 2 male)
• 2 barebow archers (1 female and 1 male)
• 2 recurve archers (1 female and 1 male)

For a full listing of regional prep camps and qualifiers, please visit: Prep Camps and Qualifiers.

For more information about the Manitoba Winter Games and how to get involved, please visit: Archery Manitoba Events.

Don’t miss this exciting opportunity to develop your skills and be part of a rewarding experience.

REGISTER HERE

Calling All Clubs: Host a 2026 Archery Manitoba 3D Shoot!

Archery Manitoba is looking for enthusiastic clubs to host 3D archery shoots in 2026! Hosting a shoot is a fantastic way to promote the sport, engage your local community, and contribute to the growth of archery in Manitoba.

Key Highlights from the 2026 Event Host Guidelines:

• Event Sanctioning is Required: All 3D shoots must be sanctioned by Archery Manitoba to be recognized and insured.
• Application Process: A simple online application form must be completed and submitted to Archery Manitoba.
• Registration Dates: (First Intake Deadline) Applications for hosting a 2026 event should be submitted by November 18, 2025.

What the Guidelines Cover:

The full guidelines document outlines everything you need to know, including:

• Responsibilities of the Host
• Safety Regulations
• Target Requirements
• Scoring Procedures
• Insurance Information
• And more!

Ready to Apply?

Access the full “2026 Event Host Guidelines for 3D Shoots” document to learn more and start planning your event! [Link to Google Docs: https://docs.google.com/document/d/116FmNdWcUMPzvR0tpK7q0p12SGlpXzf8/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=108866644028742847213&rtpof=true&sd=true]

Don’t miss the November 18, 2025, deadline! Let’s make 2026 a year of exciting 3D archery in Manitoba!

The Archery Manitoba Annual Awards Program recognizes individuals’ outstanding achievements and contributions within the Manitoba archery community. With up to 16 recipients across 11 award categories, this program celebrates excellence in various aspects of the sport, including athlete performance, character, leadership, coaching, and volunteerism. Awards such as the Rising Star, Champion of Character, and the prestigious Presidential Award highlight the remarkable efforts of archers, coaches, volunteers, and judges. Each year, nominations are reviewed by a dedicated committee, with recipients announced in December, culminating in a celebratory banquet early in the following year. New this year, Archery Manitoba is pleased to announce that the slate of awards has been expanded to include the Champion of Character Awards, Performance Coach Award, and Community Volunteer Award. For more information on our awards program, see the links below.

Click Here for more information on the Archery Manitoba Annual Awards Program, Nominate a Member, and see Important Dates.

Access the complete listing of past recipients and the Archery Manitoba ‘Roll of Honour’ by visiting our new awards page at: https://archerymanitoba.ca/awards/