HORSEBACK Archery was originally a very ancient form of warfare.
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Attilla the Hun conquered most of the European continent with his marauding hoards of horse archers.
Today Horseback Archery lives on as a competitive sport, growing at a very rapid rate throughout the world, with about four new international tournaments each year being added to the list of events.
This year Australia joins that list with the first international competition being held during Ironfest.
Riders from Japan and Korea will be competing against Australia’s best horse archers.
Tournament organiser Katrina Kruse is one of only a few Aussie riders to have competed overseas in this sport, in Japan last year.
“I started Horseback Archery just over two years ago, and quickly became addicted to it.
“I have performed in the Horseback Archery Shows at Ironfest the last two years, but this year we wanted to bring in some riders from overseas, and have a real competition.”
The queen of the international riders attending is Azusa Namimoto from Aomori, Japan.
Azusa is a riding instructor, a very rare profession in Japan and she will be easy for the crowd to spot in her very bright yellow traditional Japanese costume.
“I think Azusa will be the one to beat, she is very experienced and has competed overseas in many tournaments” Katrina said.
Also attending are Luke Song and Tong Gu Kang from Korea.
“Horseback Archery has it origins in Asia so it is understandable that Asian countries are the most experienced competitors.
“In Japan it is a national sport called ‘Yabusami’ and is a skill handed down from their Samurai.
“Events over there draw huge crowds.”
Australian competitor’s Katrina Kruse, Laura Bignal and Andrew Beattie will have their work cut out for them to beat the internationals.
“I just love a good stoush, and am looking forward to competing.
“I have met our internationals before and I am hoping for a good fun competition and great show that the crowd will enjoy.
“I also have a special treat for our international riders that I don’t think they have done before and that will be using men in armor as some of our targets.
“The crowd will also get a thrill out of that,” Katrina said.
So there you have it, an ancient skill now brought to life as a sport, but with all the fanfare and costuming from the past.
Come and see this event in front of the grandstand at around lunchtime at Ironfest.