News

Tuesday 13 June 2006

Archer's shot at the championship

Ask most people to name a well-known Nottingham archer and the chances are they’ll come up with the tight-clad legend Robin Hood. But that might be about to change as the country pins its hopes on a Nottingham Trent University PhD student, heading off to Slovakia to take part in the World University Archery Championships on June 14-16.

Neil Bowley (23) is part of an eight-strong British Universities’ Team and will compete against 15 other nationalities in the compound bow section of the event. He has been selected for the team after a series of successful UK tournaments. It will be his second international competition, having represented the UK in last year's World University Games.

Neil, who is studying in the University’s School of Biomedical and Natural Sciences, will take part in both the individual and three-strong team tournament. Depending on how successful he is in the individual section, he may also be chosen for the mixed competition.

His interest in archery began when he saw his local club practising indoors about 11 years ago. He asked the coach if he could have a go and his interest grew from there.

Neil said: “I don’t know how well I will do because the standard of competition will be extremely high. There will be several national champions there and some competitors who shoot for their country at senior level as well as their university squads. I have shot about 1,000 arrows a week for the last year though so am as ready as I’ll ever be for the challenge.”

ENDS

Notes for editors: Unlike the traditional recurve bow, the compound is made easier to draw by a system of wheels and pulleys.

There will be 27 nations competing in the competition overall.

Neil’s PhD is looking at creating nano-capsules to surround (encapsulate) therapeutic agents (drugs) to make their delivery around the body more specific and effective.

For more information please contact:

Dave Rogers, Press Officer, on telephone +44 (0)115 848 8782 or via email: dave.rogers@ntu.ac.uk.

Or Therese Easom, Press and Media Relations Manager, on telephone +44 (0)115 848 8774 or via email: therese.easom@ntu.ac.uk.