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The man in charge of the Bowmen of Guernsey was left surprised when he was named the Martin Lucas Sporting Hero of the year for 2023.
"I didn't know anything about it at all, but apparently my niece did and that's why she dragged me along here," said Steve Yates on Thursday night.
Once the shock had subsided, and the news had sunk in Steve said he felt "really proud" and "humbled" with his award.
"I can't really express it, but yeah, I'm just amazed because, as I say, it's a sport and I do it because I love it and if I'm making that impression on people that they want to nominate me for something like this, then I must be doing something right."
Steve first got involved in the sport more than 30 years ago and since then he has encouraged family members, including his sister and two nieces, to take it up. He's also competed locally and internationally, coached others and co-ordinated the logistics for the sport locally and at competitions elsewhere.
"I just love it," he said.
"I've been there at the higher levels and won Island Games medals and won national medals and stuff. But you can do it at whatever level you like, so you can go for the big things if you want to put the hours in but if you want to, you can just have a shoot on a Wednesday and just enjoy yourself.
"It's very family orientated. I've got my nieces and sister involved and we've got parents and daughters, parents and sons. Whole families do it together, and it's lovely to see."
Last summer's Island Games left a legacy for many sports, archery included - with an increase in numbers taking part and another beginner's course starting soon.
"I didn't really see much archery that week because I was organising it, but it was a great week and we had a lot of interest after that so we ran a beginner's course. We had 14 that have joined, so we're now up to something like 60 members, which is really busy, and we've got another course running in March."
Archery is open to anyone over the age of 10 with families encouraged to try it out together.
"The best way to get involved is to message us on our Facebook page, Bowmen of Guernsey, and we'll pick that up and we will try and run beginner courses for it, " said Steve.
"We had a big influx over the Island Games so we're worried that we're going to get too successful!"
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Eight medals for Team Guernsey's archers
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