Local archer Alexandra Paquette wins another top prize

Alexandra Paquette of the Aylmer Archery Club won Gold at the Canadian outdoor Target championship in Peterborough in mid-August.

She also placed second in the Target Open elimination rounds and has broken seven Canadian records since. Further to this, she also earned the World Archery Gold pin for her score of 686/720.

These target awards are available for archers using recurve or compound bows in World Archery registered events and shooting certain scores. Gold is the second highest prize while Purple is the top.

“Her goal now is to shoot and compete for Team Canada,” explained her father James Paquette.

At only 15, Alexandra, a Quyon resident and a Grande-Rivière student, is Canada's number one ranked Cadet Compound Female athlete and is working for a spot on the Canadian team for the 2017 World Junior championships in Buenos Aires to be held in the fall.

By practicing archery, Alexandra is also carrying on a family tradition. “It’s been three generations now. My father (Pierre Paquette) usually went to the club on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays,” explained Mr Paquette, President of the Aylmer Archery Club.

The club, which practices at Symmes D'Arcy McGee High School and at l’École secondaire Grande-Rivière from fall to spring, has roughly 70 members.

Like her father, Alexandra also started shooting arrows at a young age. She started at eight and her father started shooting at the club when he was ten. James is now 44 years old.