Cooktown’s Don Woods will be donning the green and gold once again after being selected to represent Australia at the International Horse Archery Association World Championships in the United States later this year. Photo: Supplied.
Archery on horseback may seem like something pulled from the screen of an action movie, but it is a very real part of one Cooktown champion’s life.
After winning the 2024 Australian Horse Archery Association National Championships, Don Woods has been selected to represent his country at the world championships for the second time in the United States in September.
In 2023, Woods was chosen to ride at the International Horse Archery Association World Championships in Mongolia – an experience he thought would never again present itself.
“I thought of Mongolia as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, so to be able to do it again, I’m a little proud,” he said.
With several major competitions coming up, and Cape York’s wet season making consistent training difficult, the horse archer said now was the time to really focus.
“There’s been a lot of training hours put into maintaining the level I achieved last year, but December through to March is not an easy time to do anything,” Woods said.
“To be brutally honest, which is important for setting goals, I don’t feel that I have achieved any higher level than where I was at nationals, just with the season closing and only being able to practice seasonally.
“I’m happy that I’ve maintained my skill level, but now, coming into March, April, it’s my time to start training for the next level.”
As part of his training regime, Woods will be touring across southern Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria from April as both a competitor and a trainer.
He explained athletes usually borrowed a horse when leaving their home turf, however, in 2025, Woods will be taking his four-legged teammate with him on tour.
“That will be the first time I’ll have done any major competitions on my own horse,” he said.
“I’ve always wanted to do it; it’s been a goal of mine for a while, and I’ve been trying to kick a few goals over the last 12 months.
“As the furthest north person who really travels at the higher level of the sport, it’s different for me and means a lot.”
