THE country’s first ‘all encompassing’ archery academy is set to open in East Lancashire with the aim of producing Olympic and Paralympic stars of the future.

The centre, which will be based at Accrington Academy, will offer coaching to both recurve and compound archers and is due to open in September.

An open day will be held next month where head coach Norman Suchorzewski is hoping to attract archers, both young and old, from across the North West.

Unlike the current national academy in Lilleshall - which just coaches the Olympic-style recurve bow - the academy based in Accrington will cover all aspects of the sport.

It will cater for archers from the age of eight up to seniors and also welcomes disabled athletes keen to take up the sport or improve their current archery skills.

“I have joined with Accrington Academy to develop Britain's first Archery Academy,” said Suchorzewski. “The aim is to help produce and develop archers to world class standard in the hope they will reach World Class Status and podium potential.

“What makes this academy different to others in the country is that it caters for all ages in both recurve and compound bow.

“While the recurve bow is the one used in the Olympic Games, both are used in World Championships and it would be great if we could unearth an archer from this area who can go all the way to to the top.”

He has spent the last 18 months helping to develop Archery GB’s pilot Academy, with Great Britain’s Olympic coach Lloyd Brown and professionals from the English Institute of sport.

Suchorzewski, who is also the head coach of the Bowmen of Pendle and Samlesbury, hopes are to get archers on to the Archery GB World Class Programme – and ultimately competing at future Olympic Games.

“The beauty of a sport like archery is that a relative beginner, with hard work and the right sort of coaching, can get right to the top, It would be fantastic for the Academy and for the area if we could unearth a genuine world class archer and competing in the 2020 Olympics is what we are aiming for.”

An open day will take place at Accrington Academy on Sunday, July 14 from 9.45am. The academy is hoping to attract sponsorship from local businesses to offer scholarships to archers attending the academy which will be held over a weekend once a month.

For more details, contact Norman Suchorzewski on 07786 706184.