LIPHOOK Scout Group Archery won Junior Team of the Year at the East Hampshire Sports Awards at Old Thorns Manor Hotel, beating Alton Rugby Club Under 11s and Petersfield Town Juniors FC.

Group Scout leader Bryan Jackson said: “We are very proud of the achievements that our archery club has made in a very short period of time. Taking part at county and national Scout competitions they have been getting excellent results and coming away with a number of top awards.

“This is due to the dedication and time the various leaders have taken in running the club and the hard work of the members themselves. We were very pleased to have been nominated by East Hampshire District Council and to win the Junior Team of the Year.

“This has really delighted and inspired all the team, not only the good shots but also other members and we thank EHDC for this.

“A grant from Hampshire and Isle of Wight Sportivate helped us to get started and permission from The Deer’s Hut to shoot in their field, enabling us to practise at longer distances and improve and develop as quickly as we have, has been invaluable and their ongoing support is very much appreciated.”

Liphook Scout Group Archery Club was formed in September 2014 and practises every Sunday morning for two hours.

In early 2015 they entered their first national Scout archery competition, held in Hertfordshire over two days, and won five national medals, two gold, two silver and one bronze.

The next competition was held in September – the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Scout Archery – and over two days the club won more medals than any other group in the competition, totalling 19 and winning a clean sweep in three of the events.