The Sault’s Linda Schraeder and Lesley Sawchyn are quick learners.
The two have been involved in archery for only a short time but have already competed in the sport, with each of the women winning two gold medals in their age category at the provincial level since last year.
Schraeder is in her early 70s, while Sawchyn in her early 50s.
“It's great. Who knew, at this point in time? That wasn't what we anticipated coming into this. We just thought we'd come for classes,” Schraeder told SooToday.
The two friends enroled in an archery class in 2024 at Arrows In Motion, owned and operated by Lana Perry and husband Jacob McEachern. Perry and McEachern are well-known, award-winning local archers who have competed at every level.
“We decided to try it and we liked it, so we just kept going and we still attend weekly classes and practices,” Schraeder said.
Instructors Perry and McEachern realized the two women had potential.
“Jacob and Lana were saying ‘so, you've come a few times and now it's time to think about goals.’ I said ‘what kind of goals?’ and they said ‘competitions.’ I was like, ‘OK then,’” Schraeder said with a chuckle.
Schraeder and Sawchyn then registered themselves with Archery Ontario and Archery Canada.
“So here we are. We’re athletes. I joke because the Olympics are in 2028 so we've got a couple of years to prepare for that,” Schraeder said.
Both Schraeder and Sawchyn use compound bows to shoot their arrows at targets.
Using those bows isn’t as easy as it looks.
While any bow weighs only a few pounds, pulling a compound bow feels heavy due to the draw weight involved when getting ready to fire off an arrow.
On a regular lesson night at Arrows in Motion, Schraeder and Sawchyn shoot 30 times.
However, in a competition, they shoot 60 times along with 15 practice shots for a total of 75 shots.
“You're pulling 28 pounds of draw weight up to 75 times. That's a lot of reps. Your shoulders and your arms are going to hurt . . . not injured, but just sore at the end of it,” Sawchyn said.
A lot of strength is needed.
“You have to pull that back with your arm, you need to breathe and you're holding and holding and holding until you think you've got a good shot but anything can go wrong and your arrow can be off target,” Sawchyn said.
Archers fire great shots and not-so-great shots but the challenge is worth it, and archery - especially when winning gold medals - brings a sense of gratification.
“It's very empowering. I think as maternal people we kind of put ourselves last, so now it’s time for us to hone other skills and to learn new things,” Sawchyn said.
“For me it's just empowering,” Schraeder agreed.
“It's learning a new skill and it’s satisfying to know I can do this.”
Both Schraeder and Sawchyn said they’ll keep attending weekly practices and continue to participate in competitions.
Arrows in Motion’s Lana Perry described the sense of pride she feels for Schraeder and Sawchyn.
“They're awesome individuals who jumped in with both feet and are giving it their everything, putting a lot of effort in, showing up to every class, showing up to every tournament and the hard work is paying off.”
Perry is impressed that two females who have been shooting in the sport for a year have already competed at provincial championships and won a pair of gold medals each.
“It’s really nice to see women out there performing in this sport that so many people see as a men's sport. I think in the last decade the perception of the sport has really changed to being a family sport from just an old boys club and a men's sport,” Perry said.