PHOTOS:
Sian in archery mode
Sian Richardson
Sian gets on her bike
Sian enjoying her running
Sian Richardson is the secretary of the Ford Archers Club in Fishguard, doubles up as the county coach co-ordinator for Dyfed and is a great ambassador for her sport because although she enjoys competing, for her it is participation that counts most of all.
She has also ridden horses galore, run marathons and taken part in triathlons but readily admits that she regularly comes last or second to last but this mother of five children again emphasises that she doesn’t mind in the least, it is just getting out there and being involved that matters most – but more of that later.
Sian loves to be involved in archery
Sian took up archery in 2009 because her son Wil wanted to try the sport out and she went along with him. Wil took to it like a duck to water and ended up in the Welsh junior team – and Sian liked the way they were made so welcome, took it up herself and has been really involved ever since, to that extent that she qualified as a coach and has represented Dyfed Archers on three occasions again their opponents from Glamorgan, Gwent and Powys.
Sian readily admits that she prefers making the tea to coaching when Fort Archers meet but husband Alan has also qualified to coach and is much better at it because he is good with technical matters and works with Geraint Williams in trying to improve the techniques of a club that has a youngest member aged six and an oldest hovering around the 70 mark.
Everyone welcomed
“We pride ourselves on being inclusive,” said Sian, “and are delighted to welcome new members at our weekly meetings, held in Fishguard Leisure Centre during the winter months and outdoors near Scleddau in the better weather.
“We have all the equipment needed to start so newcomers don’t need to buy their own bows etc until they are sure they want to continue.”
Sian is certainly a great saleswoman because during our short chat we learned a great deal about archery in Fishguard, starting out with the fact that they shot from 80 yards outdoors with ten points for hitting the gold, nine points for placing the arrow in the inner, down to one point, Indoors the distance has to be reduced to 20 yards but with a much smaller target and only 72 arrows shot, half the number shot outdoors.
Modest Welsh record holder
There is also a whole range of different bows, from the simple long bow that Sian likes most to the complex, high-tech bows with complicated sights similar to those on rifles, and a range of different rounds like York and St George rounds. The York rounds are fired over several distances from 100 to 60 yards and there are fewer arrows in St George rounds. It might take thumbscrews to get Sian to admit it but she is the proud holder of Welsh records in her category with a York score of 441 and a St George round of 241!
On the Dyfed front, Sian is joined in the annual matches against the other counties by Alan in the Bare Bow section of the team, with no sights or gadgets.
“There is a man and women selected for each discipline and we have become good friends with the opposition,” admitted Sian, “although the rivalry remains the same, despite that fact.”
Loves coastal activities
Prior to her archery, Sian has loved riding horses and took part in cycling and other physical activities centred on the nearby coast and sea, mainly with a view to keeping her five kids busy. She was also head chorister at St Davids Cathedral at a time when they were raising money and out of the blue volunteered to do a sponsored run in the Cardiff Half Marathon. It was quite out of her comfort zone but she trained for six months – and not only was delighted to finish in a time of two hours and 34 minutes but also helped swell the choir’s coffers by £700!
Boosted by the adrenalin rush that followed, Sian then took part in the 40-mile tour of Pembroke despite never having cycled more than two or three miles with her young quintet, and was again thrilled just to complete the challenge it posed. There followed another cycling event as she took part in a team for the Go-Tri event in Goodwick, doing the cycle run, before something cropped up that changed her sporting life.
Inspired by Rosie Swales
Sian had read about Rosie Swale’s charity exploits when she was younger and read an article about how Rosie was running 26 marathons in as many days and was looking for volunteers to run a mile with her and collect money in buckets. Sian contacted ‘Activity Wales’ to volunteer and took Ella and Wil with her for the very first of Rosie’s marathons, running at Manorbier.
She was so inspired by Rosie that she decided to go back and help on the 26th and final day – and ended up staying with the well-known character for the whole of the 26+ miles”! She had a bucket to collect coins and they stopped to talk to people so that the marathon took over nine hours but was a terrific achievement for Rosie – and the start of running for Sian.
Loves taking part for the fun of it
It is great to report that whenever Sian runs in a challenge she sets herself the target is always to complete it – and is keen to impress on others that coming last or last but one is OK as long as you try your best and enjoy it. This was evident when she entered the Brecon to Cardiff Challenge, over 50 miles on the Cardiff Old Trail, where she took 13 hours to beat just one other competitor.
It was a similar story when Sian took part in the Pembrokeshire Coastal Challenge organised by VoTwo and involved three marathons in as many days along the coastal path between Dale and Pwllgwaelod. Again Sian was more than pleased to complete such a difficult challenge.
Long distance no object
She has also undertaken long-range cycling challenges with daughter Ella and this intrepid duo also took part in the Mumbles and Wales Triathlons. Sian can last in the latter event, which finished at Goodwick, to rapturous applause ad a welcome sandwich supplied by Activity Wales!
Next year it is Sian’s aim to enter the ‘Iron Man Wales’ in Tenby, all other things being equal.
“Again, my aim is to complete the course, no matter what,” said Sian, “because it is taking part that counts.”
It is a simple statement that is hard to argue with – but there is no doubt that Sian Richardson is a guiding light for anyone who wants to stretch their wings a little; in archery, endurance events or any other sport!
** Stop Press! Since the writing of this article Sian is thrilled to say that she has been accepted for the ‘Iron Man in Tenby in 2014! **
