Local archer is headed for Beijing

People in the East Kootenay now have one more reason to keep a close eye on what's going on at the 2008 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Beijing this summer. Jaffray archer Kevin Evans will be representing Canada and this region at the Games and he stands an excellent chance of bringing home a medal. Evans is currently ranked first for the disabled archer male open class.

Evans has also received several awards for being athlete of the year, he has bested four World and two Canadian records and he won a gold medal at the IPC World Championships last year. "This will be Kevin's biggest shoot ever," says fellow archer Ken Rawson. "It's not every day someone you know goes to the Olympics." If this someone is also your best friend, it becomes even more special, he admits.

Rawson feels the trip to China is a great reward for an athlete who has given so much to the sport of archery. "I have seen Kevin drop everything he is doing to go help someone with their problems," he states. "I have seen him leave an archery shoot with a dozen broken arrows and requests for three dozen more. He will stay up till 3:00 am to get them fixed and built just so someone can shoot the next day."

The fact that Kevin Evans only has one arm does not stop him from shooting a bow and arrow with excellence. Evans lost his left arm in a drilling rig accident several years ago. He has battled back from this injury and has developed a special bow with a shoulder strap and trigger release strapped under his chin. "If you watch very, very carefully you might see him move his muscles under his chin to release the home-made trigger, and away the arrow goes," Rawson explains.

To support Kevin Evans and ensure his wife, two children and parents can accompany him and show their support in Beijing, the Cranbrook Archery Club is holding a fundraising shoot on August 16 at the Cranbrook archery range. The event is open to the public and will be filled not only with two rounds of 15 3D targets, but also with silent auctions, raffles, shooting demonstrations and contests with lots of prizes. Kids and beginners will get a chance to try archery and Kevin Evans will be there as well to demonstrate his skills.