Circumstance and chance might just have reignited a promising career for a Wagga-based student.
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When Liam Mowbray discovered the World Field Archery Championships were being held in the backyard of his adopted city, he decided it was time to make a comeback.
“I’ve had a few years off but I’ve shot for Australia a few times before when I was younger,” Mowbray said.
“I got into the vet school here in Wagga two years ago and moved down and when I found out this was on, I thought I better come out of retirement.”
It proved a good decision, with Mowbray sitting in second position in the men’s recurve – archery’s Olympic discipline – after three days of action.
With Thursday and Friday washed out, he wound up with a silver medal to add to the two golds and silver he’s won previously at world championships.
The vet science student from northern NSW has now set his sights on the world indoor championships in Romania next year.
“I wasn’t expecting to make that sort of comeback but it’s reignited the fire, it’s got me going again.” he said.
Mowbray was one of more than 500 competitors from 16 nations shooting at Wokolena range near Wagga early this week.
The last two days of competition were called off due to safety concerns in the slippery conditions but with three disciplines completed from Monday to Wednesday the championships were a completed event.
Michael White of the Australian Bowhunters Association said it was the first time since 2005 in Hervey Bay that the event had been held in Australia and, despite the weather, declared it a successful week.
“Excellent, we’ve had nothing but praise right through,” White said.
“I’m pretty sure the town council would be pretty happy – we’ve spent quite a lot of money, especially yesterday and today (Thursday and Friday) – a lot of people wondering the streets and buying stuff.”
White described archery as a family sport and said Australia hosting the championships was a golden opportunity to showcase it.
As for what it takes to make it…
“Concentration. Concentration more than anything,” he said.
The event wrapped up with a presentation banquet at Mater Dei Primary School hall on Friday evening.