Lac la Hache archer Adrian Messner, 63, realized an eight-year dream when he won a silver medal in the Masters 50-plus traditional division of the 3D Archery Outdoor Nationals at Silver Star in Vernon, Aug. 3-6.
The dream began at the 3D Provincial in Vanderhoof in 2004, where he entered as an independent, and won the gold. That same year, the Nationals were held in Prince George and he won his division.
Messner says he told his wife, Maureen, he wanted to continue shooting until the National championship was held in British Columbia again. Normally, there’s a 10-year cycle before they return to a province, but it just happened to be back in B.C. in eight years.
Since the 2004 titles, Messner has attended and won the Outdoors 3D Nationals in St. John, New Brunswick (2005), Barrie, Ontario (2007). He also won gold at the 2010 Indoor Nationals in Red Deer, Alberta.
Because he had won the Provincials several times during those years, he was asked to become a member of the B.C. Archery Team. Messner declined because he had new grandchildren and he wanted to spend time with them.
At the same time, he was diagnosed as being a diabetic and spent time dealing with, and getting used, to the life changes the disease forced on him.
“I had to restructure all of my training, schedules and the way I worked. I had to get my bow redone because I was getting older and didn’t want to pull 55 pounds anymore, so I went down to 50 pounds.”
Noting he knew the Nationals were slated for Vernon in 2012, Messner says he set a training schedule, so he would peak at that time. He adds mental preparation plays a very important role.
“It’s like the dream – if you can dream and write it down, you can do it. I made a lot of sacrifices and did a lot of training because of this passion, or almost an obsession, as my wife used to say.”
He adds there are many good archers in this area, so there is a lot of good competition to keep him sharp.
“We have a group around here who on any given day can win over the others.”
Messner wanted to become a member of the B.C. Team going into the Nationals, but in order to do that he had to win the Provincials in Salmon Arm, June 24.
“I wanted to be part of that family one more time and I wanted to be on the podium one more time.”
Despite the inclement weather, he won the Provincials and two-thirds of his dream was realized.
Prior to the Nationals, Messner says he got a “real shock” when he found out who he was shooting against in his group.
He knew his competition was going to be stiff, but was surprised to see Peter Garrett from Ontario was on the list. Garrett won the World Indoor 3D Championship in Austria in 2011.
“That is the tip of the triangle and, obviously he is the best in the world.”
Noting he could have been nervous about going up against Garrett, Messner says he just told himself that if he wants to win, he had to shoot the way he can and believe in himself.
When the first day of the shoot arrived, Messner says the nervousness was gone and he was just shooting against another man because he was as nervous about shooting against him.
Messner says Garrett was up 22 points at the end of the first day, but they went head-to-head for the next to days. Garrett only won the National gold by 27 points.
“We were on the same waive length. We were always supportive of each other.… Overall, it was a really great experience and I was happy to work and compete of someone of that calibre.”
Messner says he is not sure what the future will hold.
“I told Maureen I was going to spend time with her and go after some of her goals and some of her dreams now that she wants to do.
“But you can take a bow anywhere. I love to shoot and I will still shoot because that’s how I keep my diabetes in check. I’ll do some shooting here, and you never know.”
Messner says he started shooting with a fibreglass long bow he got from Army and Navy store when he was a child.
Then, he didn’t shoot again until he went to university and would go out a little bit on weekends, but “it wasn’t anything to serious.”
Messner says he started getting more serious about developing his archery skills in 2002, but then got truly immersed in competition in 2004 as he prepared for the Provincials.
In summing up his dream, Messner says every journey starts with a first step.
“2004 was the first one and, now, I’ve come to this step here.”
Without saying it, he hints there may be one more big shoot he would like to compete at.
“To stay young and active, you have to set goals. Rest assured I’ll be setting some goals pretty soon.
“I know the people who are doing the Worlds; I know the people are there and I know the road, but it depends on how things go.”
Family, grandchildren and stuff like that become part of your life, he adds, so that’s all very important, too.
“I want to especially thank all of the people who helped me get where I am because there’s been lots of people over the year’s who have given me encouragement and advice. There has always been real good support in our community and everywhere else.”
