The Southern Regional Indoor/Outdoor 18M Championships (held on October 3–4, 2026) delivered a truly unforgettable weekend of archery. Beyond the intense competition against top-tier regional rivals from South Africa and Namibia, Team Zimbabwe faced a legendary test of grit, adaptability, and pure sportsmanship. Day 1 threw an unexpected curveball when the field of play had to be completely relocated mid-competition, turning a standard tournament into a tactical exercise in improvisation.
If moving fields halfway through wasn’t enough excitement, Day 2 turned up the dial with some very fierce winds that tested every archer’s form and mental resolve. Among those battling the elements was Tafara Takura, who faced a frustrating series of equipment problems right from the start of her day. Despite her gear putting up a relentless fight, Tafara showed true competitive spirit by grinding through the adversity.
Top Zimbabwean Results & Highlights
Compound Divisions
- Compound 50+ Women: Iona Bartosz put on a masterclass performance, taking 1st Place Overall with a combined score of 1113 (39 ten-scores, 76 nine-scores, and securing the top overall Zim compound score), and regionally edging out Namibia’s Ilana Malan and South Africa’s Alta Havenga.
- Compound 50+ Men: Rowan Swales finished a strong 7th overall in a packed division with a combined score of 1090.
- Compound Men: In a massive, highly competitive division dominated by regional powerhouses, Zimbabwe’s elite compounders held their ground brilliantly with top honors in this division going to Namibia’s Jannie Meuwesen, who took gold with 1157.
- David Landsberg finished 12th overall with a stellar 1105.
- Jesse Steele closely followed in 13th with 1103.
- Brody Gillott sneaking in at 14th with 1098.
- William Hartnack secured 16th with 1070.
- Compound Under 21 Men: Jonathan Howard delivered a podium-worthy performance, securing an impressive 3rd Place Overall with a total score of 1104 (32 tens, 80 nines) behind South Africa’s Armand Vivier and Valentino Galante.
Recurve & Barebow Divisions
- Recurve Under 21 Men: Matthew Gratwicke claimed a fantastic 2nd Place Overall finish with a total score of 1029 (29 tens), while teammate Thando Chikadaya finished 5th overall with 954.
- Barebow Men: Zimbabwean stalwart competitors packed the leaderboard, with Clinton Madende finishing 6th overall (906 total) and Barry Blanchard right behind in 7th overall (902 total), holding their own against a strong contingent of South African and Namibian arrow slingers.
- Recurve Women: Zahra Surti and Tafara Takura gained valuable international-level competitive experience in a tough open field, finishing 11th and 12th respectively.
Overall, the tournament showcased incredible growth across Southern Africa, with top podium spots hard-fought among athletes from South Africa, Namibia, and Zimbabwe. The high standard of shooting across divisions highlights the phenomenal growth of competitive archery in our region.
A tournament of this magnitude doesn’t run itself, and we owe immense gratitude to everyone who worked tirelessly behind the scenes:
- Abbeys Prep School for the use of their fantastic grounds and facilities.
- Wayne and his team for handling our transport needs seamlessly.
- Shania for the brilliant printing and certificates (keep an eye out—they will be presented soon!).
- Our judges and support staff for managing setup, scoring, and admin.
- All the archers and supporters who showed up, embraced the chaos, and made it an amazing weekend.
- And a special mention to Barbara Manning and the entire team at SANAA for organizing and coordinating the tournament.
Congratulations to all our archers, coaches, and supporters for turning a hot, wild, and windy weekend into a masterclass of resilience!
For the full combined results from Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe: Download the PDF here.
While the Zimbabwe only results are up on ianseo
