World Indoor Archery Championship 2023, Medway Park
The World Indoor Archery Championships 2023 is coming to town! 🏹
Quite literally 30 seconds walk from Address Apartments Arden Street, Medway Park is hosting the 2023 World Indoor Archery Championship.
And for the second year in a row we are proud hosts of the competitors in the World Indoor Archery Championship from all round the world. From South Africa to Switzerland, Germany to Canada, we have the world’s best archers staying with us across Arden Street, Gillingham and Gardiner Street, Gillingham.
We wanted to learn more about the World Indoor Archery Championship, and we wanted to share some facts with you!
3 Interesting Facts about the World Indoor Archery Championship 2023
Here are 3 Interesting Facts about the World Indoor Archery Championship 2023 🏹
What is it?
We all know what archery is. But just in case… Archery is the sport, practice, or skill of using a bow to shoot arrows. The word comes from the Latin arcus, meaning bow. Historically, archery has been used for hunting and combat. In modern times, it is mainly a competitive sport and recreational activity. A person who practices archery is typically called an archer, bowman, or toxophilite.
The World Indoor Archery Championship is an annual event that takes place for the worlds top toxophilites to come and compete!
EFAA is the organisational body in charge of the event.
EFAA formed in 1970 and some of those members are still shooting today.
The EFAA currently has over 1000 members of all ages ensuring that we maintain the tradition of our ‘Family of Archers’ and accessibility for everyone.
The English Field Archery Association have hosted 2 WFAC’s, 2 EBHC’s and 7 EFAC’s, ensuring the team can provide a wealth of knowledge and experience and are excited at the opportunity to host an international indoor event for the first time.
Within the EFAA the team have ran a number of National events, Indoor and Outdoor.
Members of our organising team have been involved in the event teams for a number of other tournaments. These include being a games maker for the London Archery Olympic and Paralympic event, National series AGB Finals, European Archery Festival (Indoor), AGB Youth Festivals and a number of national level tournaments. In addition, members have taken lead roles in organising county and regional tournaments, a number of British University and College Sport Indoor and Outdoor events.
How does scoring work?
There are 2 main rounds: IFAA Indoor Round (PAA) and IFAA Flint Round.
Target: 40cm Blue with White spot or optional 5 spot version
Distance: 20yds (Cubs 10yds)
Number of Arrows: 12 ends of 5 arrows (60 arrows total)
Scoring: 5 (white centre), 4, 3, 2, 1 for each blue ring (max 600) (5-spot 5 and 4 only)
IFAA Flint Round
Target: 4x20cm and 35cm standard field or optional 4 spot version of the 35cm (35cm and 50cm for cubs)
Distances: 25yds, 20ft, 30yds, 15yds, 20yds, 10yds, 30-25-20-15 Walkup (shot in that order) marked distances
Number of Arrows: 2 x 7 ends of 4 arrows (56 arrows total)
Scoring: 5 (black centre), 4 (white ring), 3 (black ring) (max 280) (4-spot 35cm 5 and 4 only)
More about where the World Indoor Archery Championship competition is being held
Kent, often called the “Garden of England” is on the southeast coast of England with first class transport links to Europe via the ports at Dover and Folkstone and the Channel Tunnel, to the rest of the world via close proximity to the London airports.
A County with a strong history, a saxon kingdom in its own right, home of Christianity in England, site of the Norman invasion, launch point and planning centre of the d-day landings to name a few.
Closer to the venue the castle at Rochester and the Chatham Royal Docks are worth a visit, at the back of the venue is the Royal Engineers Museum. Kent is famous for its hop production which is a key ingredient in the British beer industry.
Gillingham train station is within walking distance of the venue 40 minutes from their is London St Pancras International and access to the capital, as well as international trains to the continent.
The World Indoor Archery Championship is being held at Medway Park. This sporting complex, located in Gillingham is a very accessible location in the south of England. The venue contains two large sports halls with a number of smaller rooms available for use. Hall 1 would provide room for 40 bosses, and accommodate both the Flint and Indoor round. Hall 2 would accommodate registration, trade stands and a 10 yard blank boss practice range. Hall two is also a potential venue for the opening and closing ceremony along with the awards and banquet. From this venue, archers are under an hour away from the centre of London via train.
Medway Park has a strong reputation as a quality venue for international, national and regional competitions.
The Modern Pentathlon World Cup in April 2010 was the first global sporting event to ever be hosted in Medway. Thousands of spectators enjoyed four days of competition as the world’s leading multi-sport athletes, including world and Olympic champions, did battle in the five events of fencing, swimming, horse riding, running and shooting.
Medway’s commitment to the promoting and staging the event, coupled with their wider legacy development of the sport, secured Medway the award for the Best Promoted Event of the Year, presented by the sport’s governing body the UIPM.
Such was the success of the event that Medway Park was chosen to host the 2011 Modern Pentathlon European Championships, an official Olympic qualification event.
The venue has also hosted a youth international basketball international test series, and is home to the national league basketball team, Medway Park Crusaders. Other events that took place in 2012 include a GB Wheelchair Rugby national finals weekend, a national basketball finals weekend and the British Transplant Games.
Timetable for the World Indoor Archery Championship 2023
Monday 13th February: Registration, bow inspection, official practice and opening ceremony
Tuesday 14th February: 4 sessions Indoor (PAA) Round
Wednesday 15th February: 4 sessions Flint Round for first half of the competitors
Thursday 16th February: 4 sessions Flint Round for second half of the competitors
Friday 17th February: 4 sessions Indoor (PAA) Round
Saturday 18th February: Closing Ceremony and Banquet
A more detailed timetable is available here.
The shooting groups can be downloaded here.
So, there’s all you need to know about the 2023 World Indoor Archery Championship! 🏹
Good luck to all the Archers! (Especially Address Apartments’ guests ☺️)
If you would like to book our wonderful apartments ready for the 2024 World Indoor Archery Championship please click here to search. We welcome you!
When it comes to accommodation, Address Apartments does it differently
We’ve reimagined the travel experience to give you more space, more comfort, and more flexibility. Whether you’re here for a short trip or an extended stay, our modern apartments are the perfect fit. Don’t settle for less—book with us today and elevate your next visit.
About the Author
Koran is the Director of Address Apartments, a trusted provider of serviced accommodation in Gillingham, Kent. He works closely with business travellers, contractors, relocation professionals, and holiday guests, helping them find comfortable accommodation for both short and extended stays. Drawing on his experience managing serviced apartments across the Medway area, Koran shares practical advice on direct bookings, contractor accommodation, relocation housing, and getting the most from serviced accommodation.
