Folkard has Athens in sight

By Peter Jones

Naomi Folkard boosted her hopes of competing at this year's Olympics by winning the Ladies Recurve Bow title at the UK Indoor Archery Championships.

The 20-year-old from Leamington eased through the 60-arrow first round at Lilleshall as the top qualifier.

She then carried her good form into the head-to-head shoot-off, eventually beating Edinburgh's Claudine Jennings in the final. Folkard, a music student at Birmingham University, is one of four ladies competing for three places on the British team for Athens.

She takes part in a shoot-off against Alison Williamson, Helen Palmer and Lana Needham next month.

Naomi continues to make great progress Barry Eley, performance director of British Archery

"This victory is great news for Naomi and is very positive as she seeks to achieve her goal of winning a place at the Olympics," said Barry Eley, performance director of British Archery.

Chris Marsh, from Newport in Shropshire, won the Gentlemen's Recurve Bow title, beating top qualifier Alan Wills in the semi-finals and then Paul Limb in the final.

It completed a good day for Marsh, who was also part of the England team that won the Home International Championship.

England, whose line-up was completed by Stan Brownlee, Sue Davis and Marietta Scott, beat defending champions Scotland into second, with Northern Ireland third and Wales fourth.

Meanwhile, Britain came away with two bronze medals from the European Indoor Championships in Sardinia.

Chris White took bronze in the men's individual compound while Nicola Simpson won bronze in the women's championship.

The British team finished fourth in both the men's and women's team championships.