Rachel has her sights fixed on London 2012

5:50pm Thursday 28th August 2008

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A YOUNG Olympic hopeful had her eyes fixed on the target at a virtual sporting spectacular at a Hereford supermarket.

Rachel Beardsley, aged 12, showed off her archery expertise and challenged ASDA shoppers at a Wii Sports Day.

The potential Olympian impressed ASDA customers and staff with her precise target shooting skills in the virtual environment.

The fundraiser was a part of ASDA’s wider ‘Sporting Chance’ scheme which runs events promoting potential 2012 Olympic athletes from the Hereford community.

June Thurston, who works at ASDA in Hereford and organised the event, was impressed by the Stoke Edith archer’s talent.

“It is a dream of Rachel’s to compete at the London Olympics in four years’ time,” she said. “We hope that the money raised will go to providing for travel, tournament entrance fees and the equipment needed to help her on her way to the top, The Sporting Chance scheme will sponsor two young Herefordshire athletes a year for the next five years, with an aim to raise at least £500 for both of them.

Rachel is the first Herefordshire athlete to be chosen for the scheme and further fundraising events are being organised for her by the end of this month.

Rachel made her England team debut at the Junior National outdoor championships at the National Sport Centre Lilleshall, Shropshire.

On the first day of the two-day event, she competed in the Home Nations Match, shooting against Scotland, Ireland and Wales.

Rachel was the youngest member of the England team but had a fantastic day, helping England take first place and shooting a new National record for the Metric 4 round with a score of 1353. With two gold medals under her belt, Rachel turned her attention to competing for individual honours in the Bristol 4 round.

Despite heavy downpours and strong wind, Rachel managed a comfortable win to take first place and a gold medal to be crowned under 13 yrs girls Recurve National Champion.

“Rachel had a fantastic weekend,” said her dad Dave who is her coach.