Alna Board of Selectmen Chairman Dave Abbott won the second place silver medal in his class at the Maine Senior Games archery competition Oct. 1 in Yarmouth.
Abbott narrowly lost the 65-69 age group compound bow competition by one point.
Each competitor was given 10 shots at 40, 50, and 60 yards, with a maximum score of 100 points given at each distance. Ten points were awarded for each bull’s-eye hit. One point was deducted for each succeeding ring hit outside the bull’s-eye.
Abbott said the contest was a miniature version of an Olympic archery competition, and out of a possible 300 points, he scored 295.
Though he missed first place gold by the slimmest of margins, Abbott was not dwelling over his second place finish.
“If I shoot the way I should shoot, I don’t care if I win or lose,” Abbott said.
This was Abbott’s first time competing in the Maine Senior Games.
The Maine Senior Games are organized by the Southern Maine Agency on Aging, and are also held at the national level as well.
An archer since he was a kid, Abbott said he has participated in archery competitions off and on since the 1960s.
A member of the Maine Archery Association, Abbott has won the organization’s state championship multiple times.
“The state championships are what I’m most proud of,” Abbott said.
Abbott’s skill with the bow has led some in the Alna community to seek him out for pointers. Abbott, for his part, is happy to help.
“I’m always willing to help out anyone interested in the sport,” he said.
