Bermuda’s archers made a flying start to the Lancaster Archery Classic in Pennsylvania, shooting their way to national records and personal best performances in the opening qualifying round at the Spooky Nook Sports Complex on Thursday.

Camerin Pickering set a new senior recurve national record and personal best with a score of 590.

“I felt really confident going into qualifying,” Pickering told The Royal Gazette. “My scores were a little up and down in the first half. However, I managed to find my groove throughout the rest of the qualifying round.

“I’ve always liked the format here at the Classic because while scoring, Xs are counted as 11s. This allows you to accumulated more points.”

“I’m looking to carry this momentum into Saturday’s elimination rounds.”

Jaydon Roberts also raised the bar by establishing a new under-21 recurve national record and personal best score of 573.

“Overall I had a good shot,” he said.

“I had a bit of a slow start adjusting but was able to finish strong. I know what changes I need to make going into my next shooting events this weekend.”

Following in the footsteps of his fellow team-mates was Pickering’s father, William, who produced a score of 602 to set a new master compound national record and personal best.

“I was feeling good once I settled down and just stayed focused,” he said.

Ross Roberts, the head coach of the National Archery Association of Bermuda, is thrilled to see the trio live up to his expectations.

“We are just over halfway through qualifications and the team have settled in well and performing as expected,” he said.

“Great personal nest scores, which have set new national records in the Masters, Senior Recurve and Under-21 categories.”

Remaining team members Jamie Fraser and Bernard Wade III were scheduled to begin their qualifying campaigns on Friday.

Bermuda is also being represented in the Easton Youth & Collegiate Trophy Tournament, being held in conjunction with the Lancaster Archery Classic, which starts at the same venue today.

Roberts is also competing in that event, the largest youth and collegiate indoor archery competition on the East Coast, as well as team-mates Braedon Fraser, Robin Selley, Elektra Smith and N’Dera Smith.