Ludlow's Great Britain archery star Kay Lucas switches to open compound class (From Ludlow Advertiser)

Ludlow's Great Britain archery star Kay Lucas switches to open compound class

12:30pm Friday 18th January 2013 in Sport By Ian Morgan

ARCHERY coach Kim Lucas admits he might be faced with a tough sporting decision later this year.

Kim, from Ludlow, has been involved with London 2012 Paralympic gold-medallist Danielle Brown for the past five years.

But Kim’s wife, Kay, has just switched from the recurve standing discipline to the open compound class - and will now be competing against Dani.

“Kay has now joined the same bow class as Dani,” confirmed Kim, who was delighted with Dani’s MBE in the 2013 New Year Honours.

“The closer that Kay gets to Dani in terms of competition, things could get a little awkward because I also coach Kay.

“I had the privilege of going to the World Cup finals in Japan with Dani and she finished second.

“It was different to the Paralympic Games - it also involved able-bodied and I was on the stage with her. I was there for her Paralympic final as well.

“At the moment, Dani has got the better of Kay, but it might be different towards the end of the year.”

Born-and-bred Ludlovian Kay was a reserve for the Great Britain women’s recurve team at London 2012 and also trains with Dani, from Telford.

Kay represented GB at the Beijing Paralympics in 2008, finishing ninth.

In 2010, the former Long Mynd Archer struck gold in the women’s recurve at the European Championships in France.

And, at the World Championships in Turin in 2011, Kay achieved her first Grand Master Bowman score.

But Kay suffered two balance problems which affected her Great Britain trial shoots last year. She will now be sitting in a wheelchair when she competes.

Kay is already at number 23 in the Target Archery rankings for the women’s compound.

“Kay is doing well and she’s had selection shoot scores,” said Kim. “She’s now moved into a much more competitive class. There was a bit more breathing space in her old class - but that’s not the case in this one.

“In the men’s compound class at the Paralympics, for instance, the best two in the world got knocked out in the first round.

“You don’t know what’s going to happen - it’s all on the day.”

Kay has suffered from a nasty cold since the beginning of December but has been training for the year ahead.

She has set her sights on representing Great Britain at the 2013 World Championships in Stoke Mandeville, Aylesbury.

“It’s going to be a very interesting season ahead,” said Kim.

“It’s always a quiet season the year after the Paralympic Games, and it’s a great time to make changes.

“Kay is going to hone her skills and it’s a good time to do it.”

Kim said there were also changes in Archery GB. Michael Peart has been appointed as the new Paralympic head archery coach.

“I would love to work with Michael because he’s a great coach,” said Kim. “I don’t think I would be asked to help but you never know what the future holds.”

Meanwhile, Alison Williamson, from Long Mynd A, is third in the Target Archery rankings for the women’s recurve.