Tortola, BVI — Arrows flew and history was made on Sunday, October 5, 2025, as the Virgin Islands Field Archery Federation (VIFAF) hosted the first-ever National Indoor Field Archery Championship at the Tortola Multipurpose Complex.
The David Abednego Cup began at 10:00 AM with the Cubs shooting their 10 yards. The competition continued throughout the day in Barebow Unlimited, Freestyle Unlimited, Bow Hunter Unlimited, Barebow Recurve, and Freestyle Recurve.
The groundbreaking event marked a significant step forward for local sports, attracting archers from Trinidad and Tobago, Puerto Rico, and across the territory — from enthusiastic students to seasoned adult competitors — all vying for national titles in a sport steadily gaining traction in the Virgin Islands.
VIFAF President Reuben Stoby described the event as a major success and a positive step for the sport’s development. “We are pleased with the outcome of the event,” he said, emphasizing the Federation’s mission to create opportunities for both youth and adults to participate in the sport.
Spectators enjoyed a day of intense focus and friendly rivalry as archers showcased their accuracy, control, and composure under pressure. Sherwin Francis of Trinidad impressed the crowd and younger archers alike by scoring 299 points out of a possible 300 after 60 arrows.
The event also included opportunities for newcomers to try the sport, further expanding archery’s growing fan base. Cubs, children under 13, were excited to participate. Locally, all our Cubs and Youths are a part of the National Archery in the Schools Programme (NASP) at their local schools. This tournament offered students the opportunity to experience the thrill of international competition without leaving home.
Special mention must be made of Ava Ghoirse, local archery champion, who secured dual gold. Ms Ghoirse, the only archer to compete in two categories, shot a total of 120 arrows, scoring 11 5s and two bullseyes (x)
The results are as follows:
Barebow Unlimited:
Cubs Males (all of the BVI)
- Gold: Maximillian Zurich 129
- Silver: Jeilon Donovan 102
- Bronze: Ruby Pickering 95
Cubs Females (all of the BVI)
- Gold: Robyn Stoby 73
- Silver: Chloe Hibbert 26
Youths Female (all of the BVI)
- Gold: Ava Ghiorse 161
- Silver: Princess Vergel 47
- Bronze: Simora Donovan 28
Youths Male (all of the BVI)
- Gold: Oshane Mason 111
- Silver: Thomas Aldridge 105
- Bronze: Ethan Ismael 95
Freestyle Unlimited:
Youths Male
- Gold: Sebastian Feliciano of Puerto Rico 269
- Silver: D’Marcus Richardson of the BVI 149
Adult Males
- Gold: Sherwin Francis of Trinidad 299
- Silver: Rammishad Brown of the BVI 285
- Bronze: Juan Alicea of Puerto Rico 283
Adult Female: (all of the BVI)
- Gold: Ritseeniyah Georges Buxo 244
- Silver: Javlyn Frett 238
Barebow Recurve:
Adult Males
- Gold: Lohendy Salva of Puerto Rico 198
- Silver: Reuben Stoby of the BVI 157
- Bronze: Zacchari Stoutt of the BVI 108
Bow Hunter Unlimited
Adult Males (all of the BVI)
- Gold: Kerry Ottley 278
- Silver: Meshach Stoby 231
Freestyle Recurve
Youth Females
- Gold: Ava Ghiorse of the BVI 218
- Silver: Juliana Marcano of Puerto Rico 210
- Bronze: Mariangela Rodriguez of Puerto Rico 208
Youth Males (of Puerto Rico)
- Gold: Julio Cruz of Puerto Rico 168
Young Adult Female
- Gold: Elina Soto of Puerto Rico 227
Young Adult Male
- Gold: Carlos Carmona of Puerto Rico 228
Adult Female
- Gold: Natcha Leon of Puerto Rico 264
The championship is expected to become a fixture on the annual sporting calendar, with organizers already planning to expand future events to include outdoor and regional competitions. Chief sponsor of the event, David Abednego, in his post event interview, offered his recommitment to making the event an annual one.
With bows drawn and targets hit, the first BVI National Indoor Field Archery Championship has firmly placed the Virgin Islands on the regional archery map — a fitting start to what promises to be a long and successful sporting tradition.
The VIFAF expressed heartfelt thanks to all its participants and supporters—special thanks to the Cedar International School for assisting with the transportation of international archers to and from the venue, SNS Express for delivering the medals on time, and NOVA Vita for providing the banners and VIFAF shirts.
