Bedford’s Illaria Knibb, who trains at Clophill Archery Club, is celebrating after taking home a European silver medal from the JVD Open in Eindhoven, Netherlands on Sunday 9 November.
Competing in the final of the ‘Vegas Style’ Barebow Women category at the Indoor Sportcentrum Eindhoven, Knibb finished narrowly behind Aurore Behin from France but well ahead of American, Julie Yacca in comfortably securing the silver.
Over 1,200 archers from 48 countries descended on the Netherlands for the latest ‘Kings of Archery’ series that saw nine champions crowned at the end of a hectic weekend.
All competitors, including Knibb, shot the first two rounds (a total of 60 arrows) on Friday and Saturday, followed by the third and final qualification round (30 more arrows) on Saturday evening and Sunday morning.
“Initially, the nerves were high”, said Knibb, speaking to Bedford Independent.
“Being my first international competition with no expectations of me, I knew that this was the start of my international journey and so I wanted to do well.
“As I settled into the round, my scores picked up which is what helped me get closer to a place in the finals. When Sunday came around, I had 30 arrows left to guarantee the finals and so, again, I was shaky but scored enough!
“I was a bag of nerves however with the support of my friends in the crowd and my coach by my side, I shot the three arrows that were tied top of the finalists.
“The next three shots weren’t my best but with just three points between us, I came second to an amazing archer”, added Illaria.
Bedfordshire also boasted archers in other categories, including Rene Bekker who made it into the men’s finals, finishing seventh, while Sarah Russell competed in the women’s recurve category.
But the weekend’s glory belonged to Knibb, who will now look to build on an impressive silver, as she is being considered for the European Games that take place in Bulgaria in February 2026.
This individual success comes off the back of a team triumph at the recent National County Team Championships in Shropshire, where a team including both Knibb and Russell finished fourth in the Tier One Barebow competition.
Read: Bedford archers contribute to gold for Bedfordshire at the National County Team Championships
With the turn of the year may come more success for Illaria as she prepares for upcoming events.
“Barebow is a category that doesn’t yet have the option to be shot in either the World Championships or Olympics but I’m hoping as time goes on, this will one day change”, says Illaria.
“Until that day, my ambitions are to stay in the top five in the UK and continue to compete on the international stage. My scores are being considered to represent GB in the European Games, which is something I hope I can compete in”.
