Keremeos archer aims for world competition after successful Quebec national championship

PENTICTON – Keremeos resident Miranda Sparkes is pumped and ready for an international championship following a very successful national tournament on the weekend.

Sparkes returned home early Tuesday morning, Aug. 8, from the Canadian Outdoors 3D National archery championships held in Amos, Quebec over the long weekend.

The 24-year-old won gold in her event – women’s longbow – then went on to beat men and women in several other categories in the three-day event.

“It was a good day for me,” Sparkes says of last Friday, Aug. 4, even though rain pounded the archery arena incessantly.

“I’ve never seen it rain that hard before. Friday was the worst, but Saturday it poured, too. Friday was my best day,” she says.

Sparkes won gold in women’s longbow, then took on the traditional categories where she beat all the other female competitors.

She then took on the men competing in longbow, besting everyone, including her coach, Osoyoos resident Brock Paton.

He had to settle for second place.

To top off the competition, Sparkes also won a registrant’s draw for a $1,200 compound bow.

“I don’t shoot compound bow, but I might take it up now,” she laughs.

Sparkes entered the Quebec competition as part of the Team B.C. contingent.

She’s getting ready for the World Archery Championships taking place in Robion, France, starting Sept. 19 to Sept. 23.

Sparkes began setting her sights on the world event last August after successful performances in provincial and national competitions last year.

“It'll depend on how I do, if I get eliminated at all. I’m going to go as far as I can,” she promises.

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