Battle River Archers have renewed their lease agreement with the Town of Battleford. (Battle River Archers)

By Josh Ryan

Quiver reloaded

Battleford, Battle River Archers renew lease

Jan 29, 2021 | 4:16 PM

Archers looking to hit their bullseye will continue to do that in Battleford, once restrictions allow it.

The town has renewed its annual agreement with the Battle River Archers (BRA) to allow them to lease the old curling rink. Mayor Ames Leslie said the decision was a no-brainer.

“It’s been a great relationship,” he said.

The club has utilized the old curling rink for the past five years as an event centre, giving archers a venue to hone their craft. Leslie said the agreement has been mutually beneficial.

“Years ago, the town didn’t have any perspective of what to use the building for,” he said. “BRA approached the town, who said they can use it and now they’ll continue to do so, until such time the town figures out what to do [with the building].”

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Trevor Kuntz, BRA President, said the agreement was a game changer for the club’s growth, being able to host greater numbers and have more availability. Members normally have 24 hour access.

“Members can come and go as they please, it’s great facility and a treat to have,” he said.

However, the club has been working to reopen in the near future, given restrictions laid down by the COVID-19 pandemic. Limits on numbers, particularly only one adult coach in the building at a time, has made operations impractical in the past few months.

“We’re working on accommodating those guidelines and allow members in again,” Kuntz said. “But it’s very restricted, which begged the question of if it’s worth opening. We have people who paid for memberships and we’re trying to allow them to utilize their memberships.”

The restrictions have also halted things like their junior program for the time being. Kuntz said all they can do is wait and continue to reach out for clarification.

“It’s like everything else,” he said. “You’re waiting on government officials and trying to follow government rules.”

However, Kuntz is hopeful that archery will be seen as a viable activity during the pandemic, given the way members are naturally spaced out.

“You can come in by yourself and control your situation a little bit more,” he said. “If there’s more people than you’re comfortable with, you can choose to come in or not come in.”

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josh.ryan@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @JoshRyanSports