ARCHERY: Golden double is the perfect debut for Pauline (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

ARCHERY: Golden double is the perfect debut for Pauline

5:00pm Friday 15th June 2012 in General Sport By Dan Barnes

CHIPPENHAM archer Pauline Burfitt won’t forget her international debut in a hurry after claiming a double gold medal haul at the European Grand Prix event in Cyprus last week.

The 59-year-old, of Monkton Park, was competing for Great Britain in the Makarios Stadium and tasted glory in the mixed team competition alongside teammate Phil Glover, the duo triumphing 149-142 over Slovakia.

Burfitt rounded off a stunning week by beating Katarina Durna, one half of the Slovakian team, 131-127 to take the women’s individual compound title.

The Wiltshire ace, ranked as a Grand Master Bowman, said: “It was really exciting just to wear the kit and it’s definitely my best-ever result. I was hoping to maybe get a bronze but never expected to get two gold medals.

“I’m shooting as well as I ever have and it’s pretty much taken over my life at the moment. I’m practicing two or three times a week in the evening and going for runs, or to the gym, in the mornings.

“I’ve got a tournament in Guernsey in July coming up where I could make my England debut, which would also be amazing. I’ve only ever been a reserve.”

Burfitt, a community resource worker for adults with learning difficulties at Riverbank in Chippenham, is a member of Chippenham Archers, where her partner Dave Jones is club coach.

Her two golds will also count towards the qualifying scores she needs for selection to the British team for next year’s World Target championships.