She doesn't have a hood but Nottinghamshire's Ruth Lochlea is the nearest thing to Robin the county has in the 21st Century. Ruth has been taking part in competitive field archery for eight years. She has won the last three British 3-D championships and won the International Field Archery Association (IFAA) Championships at the first attempt in Italy in 2003. She is still the reigning champion and hopes to defend her title this year in South Africa. Ruth tells us what motivated her to get into the sport and how she got so good... Were you born in close proximity to Sherwood Forest? I'm Nottinghamshire born and bred - the centre of the universe! How did you get into archery?
 | | Ruth in action |
My parents met a world champion archer in the mid 80s (Roy Scrimshaw). He got them into archery and then a few years later I got involved - never looked back. Were you inspired by the hooded man when growing up? I must admit I did like the story of Robin Hood. Still do. Particularly because it's a story so close to home. I remember my parents taking me as a child to see the major oak in Sherwood Forest - you could actually go inside it then. I remember trying to imagine what it would have been like all those years ago... How long have you been doing it? I have been shooting for ten years but only shooting on a competitive scale for eight. I shot right handed for four years and then changed to left handed after that after I found out that I was left eye dominant. I was winning some competitions right handed but mostly coming 2nd or 3rd. I had nothing to lose changing hands so I went for it and then took the competitions by storm. A good friend of mine made me a long bow whilst I waited for my compound bow to arrive from America. I won a major competition 1st time out with my long bow left handed. I knew from that that it was the right choice. How did it go from being something you did for fun to full blown international championships? | "I knew six targets from the end of the competition that I had won. I shot the last six targets crying" | | Ruth Lochlea on what it was like to win the World Championships |
Well, it's all my hubby's fault.... he heard the World and European championships were going to be held in Italy 2003. I had already won the Welsh and Scottish championships that year and also the 3D British championships for the second year running. He said I ought to go and compete against Europe and the world. His words were "you'll win it... easy". I must admit I wasn't that fussed about going at first, I had never been abroad, but after constant bullying from my hubby I gave in. Once I was there I was so glad I went, the experience was one I will never ever forget. What was it like winning the World Field Archery Championships at her first attempt (in 2003)? It was the one of the most emotional experiences I have ever had. I knew six targets from the end of the competition that I had won (even if I hadn't shot the last six targets my score was still more than the others... and still enough to win comfortably...) there was no way they could catch me up. I shot the last six targets crying and I still got top score on them! Standing on the podium was great! I really did feel on top of the world! When I think about it now I get the same tingly adrenalin rushing feeling I got when I was on the podium. Awesome! I am very proud of my achievement, more so because of being from Nottinghamshire, home of the Robin Hood legend. I suppose I am now a kind of a legend in the county - it would just be nice to be recognised for it. What have you been doing since the championships? Well, I've been doing the usual things - working, going to local competitions, a little practice. My practice is more intense now as the championships aren't far away. My next goal will be the British 3D championships - if I win this I would have had the title for 4 years running... when I won it last year fellow archers said to win it three years on the run would be extremely hard and it had never been done before... so when I did win it I felt a certain amount of satisfaction. After the British 3Ds I will be concentrating on the 'biggy' South Africa. It will be tough, but as I say hubby, friends and family are very supportive and have more faith in me than I do. Where do you pratice?
 | | Ruth on the podium in 2003 |
Before the World Championships I was practicing in Shardlow, Derbyshire but now I tend to practice whereever I can, including in the factory at work! Many sportsmen and women have nicknames. What's yours? I suppose I get called the usual and most obvious names such as Maid Marian and Xena. I was called sparky for a while as my hubby and I were struck by lightening on a major competition in Woodhall Spa in August 2001 (hence I didn't win that championships). We both ended up in the Pilgrim Hospital and closely monitored over night! What do you do when you're not practicing with a bow? Well, I work full time as a manager of a soft furnishings company in Long Eaton. In my free time I usually try to find time to go out with hubby, friends and family. I also spend some of my spare time sending letters and emails to companies all over UK asking them for help in raise the funds required in my sport. Is there much money in the sport? Unfortunately, there is no monetary gain in archery - it's all self funding - unless you are lucky enough to get a sponsor. I am currently in the process in raising the funds for the World championships in South Africa. This is quite expensive compared to shooting in the UK. Help with funding has always been the major problem in my chosen sport. I feel that money is thrown into some sports where it's not always needed as much as other minority sports like archery. I know I could improve my shooting if I had more help with funding. I would be able to update and improve my equipment etc which will in turn improve my shooting skills. Just because I am the world champion it doesn't mean I can sit back and take it easy - there is always room for improvement. Is archery big in Nottinghamshire? Archery is very popular in and around Nottinghamshire for obvious reasons. There are clubs in Hucknall, Codnor, Shipley, Clumber Park... What advice would you give to anyone wanting to try the sport? If anyone is interested in taking up archery I would recommend that you should find out where your local club is based, get in touch with them and they will be happy to let you have a go. I would not recommend purchasing any equipment until you have at least spent a few hours with a qualified coach. They will lead you in the right direction as to what equipment would suit your needs best. Ruth will be taking part in the British 3-D championships in Shepton Mallet, Somerset at the end of May 2005. She will then be travelling out to South Africa to take part in the IFAA World Championships in Mpumalanga, on the edge of Kruger Park from Saturday, 2nd to Tuesday, 5th July 2005. | 
