Paraparaumu College archer does well

BULLSEYE: Chad Kiernander will some of the awards he has won from two archery competitions.

Paraparaumu College student Chad Kiernander is making a big impact in archery circles.

The 14-year-old has done very well in two recent archery competitions.

In the Massey Safari and New Zealand Long Bow Championships he's come second in the junior bow hunter release category after scoring about 700 points.

"The person who beat me [Abi Denton, 17] is the top New Zealand junior female.

"In my category there was about 15 people competing."

Using a pin sight and release aid, competitors fired arrows at fake 3D life size animals from about 40m in a bush area.

"It was definitely a challenging course."

It was an outstanding achievement by Kiernander made more spectacular considering the age group he was competing in was under 18.

And in the Lakeview Classic competition he achieved second place in the youth compound division after accumulating 1027 points.

His achievements are also notable because he only took up the sport about a year ago.

"I started off with a basic bow, and then met Ben Crowe who knows a lot about archery, and he ordered a good one for me."

His short-term archery goal is simple.

"I want to be the top junior archer in New Zealand."

Kiernander trains at the Kapiti Archery Club as well as home where he has a target.