'It means all the more to win to encourage other people with disabilities that they can compete at a high level'

Meath para-archer Kerrie Leonard claims Irish National crown

Hannah McNamara

Para-archer Kerrie Leonard has once again won the Irish National Champion 2023 title at this year's National Outdoor Target Championships.

The Meath native who has been competing professionally in archery for the past 13 years, competed in the Compound Women open category which consisted of three separate matches and won all three.

As well as achieving her title she also was awarded the Ann Delaney Memorial trophy which alternates between categories every year. Kerrie thanked Ann's family who award this trophy each year: "Thank you to Richard Delaney and his family, this is a wonderful tribute and contribution to the sport."

Through competing in this championship Kerrie wanted to highlight how accessible and inclusive the sport is for people of all abilities:

"As I’ve said before it is an open category so it just reinforces that archery is an accessible and inclusive sport and it means all the more to win to encourage other people with disabilities that they can compete at a high level and see those results."

In February 2024 Kerrie will compete in the final qualifying tournament in Dubai to place for the Paralympics 2024 in Paris.