MandyMcGregor.co.nz

07, Aug, 2009

Australia.  We get them first, always a challenge and everyone seems to up their game when its an NZ/AU encounter. We had practise beside them too and were ready as we could be. Teams matchplay is different as you shoot 2 arrows, then the next person goes up and shoots their 2 and then the last person shoots theirs all within the timeframe, so you have to be quick and accurate. Challenging!

Up we step to the line, and I am up first. You have 4 ends to nail it, and thats your lot. We were shooting well, but at the halfway stage we were 2 points behind. Now in matchplay anything can happen so 2 points is achieveable so we didnt let ourselves get too worried, and just focussed on the task at hand.

Unfortunately, so did the Aussies. One end to go and we had dropped one more point, 3 points down with 6 arrows to go. We looked at each other, pulled out all the stops and had our best crack at it. I shot an X and a 10 in my 2 arrows, and we ended shooting a great end, 57/60. So did the aussies, and they went thru to the semi finals 220 to our 217.

The upside for me was that I managed to shoot a lot more consistent than in the previous days' shooting and of course we were disappointed that we had lost, but also we had gained more experience and it was just one of those things.

So we were out, and the Mens Team beat the Phillipines 222 to 201, a comfortable win to move on to the Semis.  The Aussie women ended up shooting off for 3rd place and back to the men - well they faced South Africa to see who would shoot for the Gold Medal match, and won it by a close 2 points!! Very exciting for them, and for us, we were really stoked for them.

Meanwhile the announcement comes over the loudspeaker: 'A decision has been made in the interests of safety to hold the medal matches within the stadium as there is a Typhoon on its way.'

Oh, great!

I won the bet though, and headed off for the Fondue!!! Oh did I enjoy it that night!