ON TARGET: Anything you can do, I can do better was the mantra that kept father-son duo Geoff and Mitchell Rogers on target for glory. The pair walked away with state and national indoor archery titles for their age divisions this week, each breaking Australian records in the process. PICTURE: KATE HEALY
PRECISION aim became a case of like father, like son for the Rogers this week.
Geoff Rogers claimed his first Australian indoor archery title and broke an Australian masters’ record in the process.
In a rare double, his son Mitchell also walked away from state championships in Morwell with an Australian indoor title and national 20/under record.
The mirrored feats came as a surprise. Geoff and Mitchell, who shot a perfect 300, both contested in an 8am time-slot in the Victorian indoor championships and had to wait until late Saturday evening to learn their standings.
All state championship scores across the nation – contested simultaneously – had to be tallied.
“We went to the pictures, watched the last group compete because we had a few friends competing, and we drove home about 2pm but knew we were a pretty good chance to have won the Victorian titles,” Geoff said.
“I was checking the scores on the computer in Ballarat that night and saw I’d won and my score was in red, which meant it was a national record, then checked Mitchell’s and saw his score was also in red.
“There was a bit of celebrating but mostly we were pretty tired by that stage.”
Both had been promoted in age group this season – Geoff from open to masters and Mitchell from 17/unders to 20/unders.
For Geoff it was a promising prospect and chance to “beat the oldies” but it was a tough step up for Mitchell.
“It’s a good start to the age group,” Mitchell said.
The pair train four to five times per week, which Mitchell is juggling with year 12 studies at Ballarat High School.
Their next aim is to claim the double at next month’s state field championships in Geelong.