The host nation had more to smile about as Casey Kaufhold took her first world title 62-52 against France‘s Audrey Machinet, who placed fifth at this event in 2022. Machinet never looked fluent on the finals field, and against a rock-solid Kaufhold executing without hesitation, it was not close.
It was a mature performance throughout the week from Kaufhold, still somehow only 22, who burst into tears afterwards. “This is a title that I’ve been chasing for a long time. I know that field is new but the world champion title, I knew it was just a matter of time, I honestly just didn’t think field was going to be the first world champion title I had, but I am very happy for it,” she said.
“I honestly worked really hard. I shot a lot of arrows. I set up my equipment as good as I could. I prepared really well for this tournament. It just feels good to know that that paid off. If I win, great, I just want to enjoy. And I did both of those things, so I’m happy.”
The men‘s barebow final saw two mature and experienced competitors, Giuseppe Seimandi and multiple winner Erik Jonsson slug it out, before Jonsson badly faded to hand Seimandi the title. Seimandi, who won a European 3D title as a compound archer in 2018, took his first major title as a barebow after well over a decade competing at the top level.
Italy’s Eleonora Strobbe, another mature and experienced competitor took her second world field title in women‘s barebow, some 16 years after her first in 2010.
The Italian said: “I had a 2-3 year break from international events but otherwise I shoot because I like it, its like my life. I have a family, I work, but it is my hobby, my passion and I still love it. The course was really nice, in Italy we are used to up and down hills but its always challenging. It’s nice to not just be flat and shoot some up and down.”
“I don’t know why I love field archery. In field you don’t know what you will find.”
The competition closes with the team finals on Sunday.
