OUTSTANDING teenage archer Liv Morledge has got her sights set on the Olympics.

Liv, 14, of Burnham Company of Archers, came first in her first competition of 2024, beating the scores of all other female entrants.

Competing in the under 16s category with a recurve bow, she scooped top spot at an indoor competition hosted by Kyrton Archers, in Devon.

She scored a personal best 538 out of 600, higher than all the other junior and senior females at the event.

Weston Mercury:

Having first tried archery on a family day out at Warwick Castle in 2019 and discovering a natural ability, Liv, from near Weston, took up the hobby seriously during lockdown.

She progressed rapidly after taking a beginners’ course with her local archery club in Burnham-on-Sea.

Since then, she has competed at a range of indoor and outdoor events throughout the South West, representing Burnham Company of Archers and Somerset County Archery Association. She is three-time county champion in her age and category.

Liv, who is 15 next month, is on the youth national talent development programme run by Archery GB for the second year. Held at Lilleshall National Sports Centre, it provides Liv with specialist coaching and athlete development support alongside regular personal coaching at her club.

She is coached by Dave Jones, who has taught hundreds of archers, including gold-winning Olympians.

He said of Liv’s latest performance: “This really was an outstanding accomplishment for Liv in her first competition of the year.

"I first started coaching Liv privately in autumn last year and her form and ability are excellent and her determination is something else.

"With some refinement to her technique, support with her mindset and upgrades to her equipment, I’m excited to see what 2024 brings for Liv.”

Liv said: “Archery is my absolute passion in life and I shoot and train altogether six times a week and my aim this year is to be selected for Archery GB’s National Age Group Olympic performance pathway.

"It’s my dream to make it to the Olympics one day and I’ve got a busy year ahead with lots of competitions coming up and I’m really looking forward to improving and getting selected.

“I’m grateful to everyone who has helped me on my archery journey so far. My parents invest a lot to support me, especially my dad, who is always near the shooting line with me and of course driving me everywhere I need to be.

"Archery is a great sport and I’d encourage everyone to give it a try.”