Express ss MIDLAND
www.midlandexpress.com.au
Tuesday, November 9, 2021
ress Exp
0 $4,E0AW0AY AND MIDL
GIV
Express MIDLAND
MIDLAND PROPERTY
.com.au
& Living pages 25 – 37
Exciting new y a w a e v i g 0 0 $40
Candy card
see page 13
Straight aim for Hugo
At just 17 years old, Hugo Lobb has 12 world records and multiple gold and silver medals to his name.
Amy Hume
KN260386
9 walker st castlemaine @ the mill ph: 5470 6270
The Heart of Vienna Open 7 Days 8 am to 4 pm KN260388
PALMER,, STEVENS & RENNICK Barristers & Solicitors Ba
• Property and Conveyancing • Criminal Law • Family Law • Wills and Estates • Commercial Law • Employment Law • Appearing in all Courts
Please contact us on 5422 6500
8 Jennings St, Kyneton
email: psr@psr.net.au
KN259947
“
Archer Hugo Lobb has the Olympic Games in his range after being ranked eighth in the world. At just 17 years old, the Riddells Creek teen has 12 world records and multiple gold and silver medals to his name. The end of 2019 saw him compete in the World Archery Indoor Series, which took him Rome, Lancaster, Las Vagas and Sydney, where he secured gold in men's category. In 2020, he broke four of his own world records. These were: 50 metres Barebow Cadet Men, 50 metres Barebow Junior Men, 18 metres Barebow Cadet Men, and 18 metres Barebow Junior Men. Most recently, Hugo was named winner of the Nicely Played Award in the Macedon Ranges Youth Awards (see story page three). Hugo said he has used down-time during the pandemic to sharpen his skills. "Over the long months of COVID inactivity, archery gave me something to focus on and work towards," he said. He began archery as an eight-year-old at Bacchus Marsh after trialling several different sports. "I didn't really click with anything the way I did with archery," he told the Express. "For the majority of my archery career, I've been a self-propelled athlete: meaning, I don't have a designated coach," he said. "I prefer to learn from multiple people rather than expecting one person to have all the answers. This has played a big part in shaping both my archery career and who I am today." Hugo competed in his first world event in Wagga, 2016, and took up some formal coaching. It was a chance meeting with Australian Olympic bronze medallist archer Alec Potts that changed everything. Alec encouraged Hugo to take on the Youth Nationals for Archery Australia. "That's when the trajectory really took off with national and international competition," Hugo said. "He helped me get my first decent bow and really got me started on my path of getting more into the heavier competition. "Since then, I've had so much support. It's been really good." From Australian Bowhunters Association members to his workplace (an archery store in Somerton), Hugo has had a community of people cheering him on. But until now, Hugo has humbly kept news of most of his archery achievements within his sporting circles. "I'm not too fussed about it (my world records and ranking) but it's nice to see my hard work pay off," he said. I prefer to learn from multiple people rather than The next achievement in Hugo's sights is to represent Australia in the Olympic Games. expecting one person to have all the answers. Getting into the Olympic team would be a dream. That's This has played a big part in shaping both my the next goal," he said. "This year is going to be dedicated to training for that – archery career and who I am today.” getting qualification scores to get to the next step. "It would be wonderful to get to Paris 2024 but, more likely, I'm aiming for the LA 2028."