WORLD FIELD CHAMPIONSHIP SWEDEN 2006

This last trip to Sweden for the World Field Champs was great. Obliviously there was a good outcome, but above that this trip had many great things about it. For me it was a tournament that had meaning. Meaning to a lot of things like it was most likely my last bow with a single cam. I could be the last time I was able to meet with the many pros that I established and talk to them while I was on their same side. I was comfortable with the team the US put forth with Cooper, Cousins and I.

I flew out to Europe the week before the tournament to go to my friends Chris Parkins wedding. He had a nice party and it was good to see all my UK buddies there. The wedding consumed the first weekend and then it went on to practicing with Liam Grimwood during the week leading up to the shoot. Liam needed to be adjusted some for the Euro Champs and I needed to get some shooting in before heading to Sweden that following weekend. Practice went well. I smashed a lot of nocks and x10s but I didn’t get a ranging system working very well at all. I was a little bit worried that I would even qualify in the un-marked round if I shot the same as I was in practice. I had to work mainly on my ranging system more so then the shooting itself.

I got something half way figured out and to be honest with you I made a change to my scope by flipping it over so that I could get a better feel for aligning the solid black housing on the rings. Ill take a photo and show you. When I got to Sweden it was poring rain like really poring! I thought it was going to be a long week for sure. However it was nice on the official practice day. Actually I shot only a few shots on the official butts and then moved behind the clubhouse to the four unmarked targets they had. I worked on shooting them from different shots and angles the whole time. There later on after lunch, me and the boys went to Morgan’s home range across town and did some practicing on our own. We all had stuff we needed to work on and improve on before scoring started. I was really happy with how I shot. I don’t think I missed any really. The first shot was a bunny that was marked at 20m. I missed one there but that wasn’t a good shot at all and I was comfortable with the bunnies. Actually now that I look back at it that was the only bunny shot I missed all week. I cleaned every bunny shot for the entire official scoring! That’s awesome.

On the first day of scoring I felt really good. My shooting came so easy. I shot awesome all the way through the course really. I made only a few mistakes that would be costly. I miss-set my sight 2 times and it cost me 4 points. I just don’t know why I do that. There is no excuse for it. Other than I just wasn’t paying attention. With a 355 being the cut for the top 16 after the first day those 2 mistakes could prove to be really costly. I was ok sitting at a 356 but still another dumb move like that and ill be out. I did what I went there to do and shot very well on the marked round. I missed a 60m arrow that I was disgusted about but finished anyway with a 359, moving me back into the thick of things tied with Clint and Dave. Both of which beat me out on 5’s and they would be in the top group for the first elimination round.

Eliminations were really easy for me. I was happy with the lack of emotional flux that I had during the Thursday rounds. I cleaned the first elimination with a 180 score. There were a lot of guys at 179 and that ended up being the cut. For the next round I was on the top bale with Dave, Clint and Baldur’s. I was a nice course but really gusty and windy. Dave and I kept each other in check through the whole round and waited for key times to shoot. I made a bad calculation on a cut for a target on this round and shot a 4. Clint and I tied with 179 and would have to have a shoot off for the 4th slot in to the finals. Like always first arrows were a 5 from me, and then an X from Clint. I moved my sight some and shot the exact same arrow for the second arrow and shot an X. Clint shot a 5 this time. So here I was in the closest to center situation once again for a spot to get into the last spot on the team once again. The wind was howling and I really couldn’t tell what way it was going to be honest. I had put about 9 clicks on my sight on the last arrow and since it hit an x I thought that’s what I want to do. However, when I shot I felt really good about it being close to center. But I could tell by the crowd that it wasn’t and that Clint had a chance to beat me for sure. My arrow had landed just inside the 5 ring. When Clint’s arrow left I just thought to myself that regardless of where this lands I would be happy for either of us to be in the finals. Clint is a good friend and an extraordinary competitor. His arrow drifted to the right like mine did, only his found its way outside the 5 ring. I was in the finals!

On the day of finals I was feeling good. I wasn’t shooting well though to be totally honest. Normally at 45m I can stack X’s but I was loose there and my shots just felt partial if you can understand that. I had to face Morgan once again in the first round. I knew that he was shooting as good as me and that most likely it would end in a shoot-off. I told myself to pull back and not wait around and make strong shots. However, in that match I think I tried shooting too hard and felt like I was rushing the shots. I shot terribly against Morgan. My next match against Axel, I took the recommendation of Dave and decided to be a little more patient with the bow and give it time to go off. I made good clean shots like I had all week really and ended up on the podium with a 2 point lead over Axel. To Axels credit it is the best I have ever seen him shoot and I know he will improve on that and once again be contending for a medal there. I was happy for Morgan, happy for Dave and happy for myself.


It has been very difficult shooting with this bow for the past few tournaments because of all the emotio nal baggage I am carrying with it. I don’t know for sure but most likely this is the last tournament with a Mathews bow. Almost Ten years to the month with the single cams. Two years ago when I was at this shoot Morgan and I were the only ones to be seen. Now this year there were 3 of 4 in the finals. Funny how things change. Life goes on my friends and let this be a reminder that you need to stand up for what you feel is right. Stick it to the Man if that is what you have to do to defend what you feel is best. I’ve been to two of these World Field Champs and have been in both Finals and have Medals from both. What pays off is hard work and taking what you are doing serious. Realize that near perfect scores are necessary at these events and if you want to contend you better step up to the plate and learn what you need to do to do it. I wish you all well and thank you so much for the support over the years. These medals are as good as yours as they are mine. You are the support that keeps me going. Hope to pick up where I left off in December at Face 2 Face.

Good Shooting,

Dudley