ARCHER Mike Shepherd says north-west company Spectra has hit the bullseye with an all-weather target which is set to transform the sport in the UK.

Spectra, a packaging firm in Arpley, Warrington, has helped to end an eight-year quest by UK archers to replace the traditional paper target faces, which are ruined by rain.

Spectra has come up with a version made of Tyvek, a type of polythene and orders are flooding in from as far away as New Zealand.

Mike, 71, of Higher Poynton, Cheshire, is chairman of the New Century Bowmen archery club, which is already using the Spectra targets. He said: ''They're especially good for tournament organisers.''

Spectra developed the target faces with Arrowhead UK, an archery equipment supplier based in Moretonhampstead, Devon. They are designed to withstand the worst weather and prevent the inks from exploding on to the arrow tips, which can affect the marking of shots.

Spectra, which turns over £18m and employs 160, has gained approval for them from the International Archery Federation, the sport's governing body. Marc Stabernack, Spectra's sales and marketing chief, said: ''They fit well with our strategy of developing new markets. We are printing the target faces in boxes of 50 and have already sent out thousands.''

Archery is an Olympic sport witharound 20,000 enthusiasts in the UK.

Tweet