Heary targets gold

NEXT autumn Sean Heary aims to take part in one of the world's biggest sporting extravaganzas, almost 18 years after he feared he might never walk again.

Heary, who lives in Beauparc, has qualified for the paralympics in Bejing in 2008 as a member of the Irish archery team. However, back in the early 1970s, when he was just 18, he was afflicted by sciolsis, a condition of the spine, which left him temporarily paralysed.

He subsequently underwent an operation that helped him recover mobility for 20 years. When he was 38 the condition returned and at that stage he required another operation. There was however, a price to pay as his legs were left considerably weakened and there was a great deal of uncertainty about his future well-being.

"After I had that operation I didn't know if I would be paralysed or if I would walk again, the doctors even didn't know, they couldn't say for certain either way," he explained.

While he often employs a crutch or stick to get around, he also uses the wheelchair "to speed things up" when the need requires.

Now in his mid-50s Heary is one of Ireland's top archers, 11 years after taking up the sport. He has represented Ireland in a number of able-bodied competitions including the World and European championships and the Euro Nations, a competition which involved teams from Britain and Ireland.

Heary was forced to give up his job as an upholdster after the second operation, as he could no longer stand for long spells. It would have been enough for many people to give up hope and despair. Heary didn't go down that road.

He had long enjoyed watching and taking part in sport. As a youngster Heary turned out for Seneschalstown football teams up to minor level and he also played pitch and putt for years.

When even the pitch and putt became an unrealistic pursuit after the second operation he eventually set about becoming one of the best archers around. He got involved in the sport by accident and found it to his liking.

He admits that losing a lot of his mobility was "a terrible blow". He didn't dwell on it and instead sought to seek out the positive.

Married to Carmel, the couple have three children Elaine, Paul and Sarah and three grandchildren Joseph, Sean and Rebecca, he instead focused on achieving something in other areas.

"You can't just sit around, you have to get up and get going. There's people worse off with all sorts of complaints and disabilities. It's not a problem really," he explained.

Heary is a member of the Summerhill Archery Club and says that there he receives that type of guidance that has helped him attain international standard.

"I work hard, but I have good coaches such as Jim Conroy. Jim has coached me from the start. He has competed in two Olympic Games, he's a top coach, a top guy."

So far this year Heary has taken part in nine competitions and in at least three he has ratcheted up 1,300 points, quite an achievement especially when the bad summer weather is factored in.

Like most sports, the weather can have a big bearing on how archers perform with wind conditions particularly influential. 

A few weeks ago Heary set not one, but two new Irish records at 90 metres and 50 metres. He also won the silver medal in the national championships this year and in the past he has claimed the national and the Irish open titles. He has notched up 1,300 points in four competitions so far this year. It's the type of scoring that puts Heary in the Premier League.

To be an archer, he says, there are a number of qualities required. A steady hand, an ability not to get flustered in the heat of the action, not to feel over elated when things are going right or to feel too downhearted when the arrows miss the target.

The Irish Amateur Archery Association have taken a professional approach to the sport and has appointed a full time coach, Dutchman Hans Blum. He has drawn up a fitness programme for the national squad that includes diet and "mental training."

"Like any sport, particularly at international level, attitude is a factor entering competitions. Alcohol is out for top archers, especially in the lead up to a competition. You need to eat well, plenty of fruit and fibre is required.

"It can frustrating when things are not working out; on the good days all the hard toil in training can be worthwhile.

"Archery is one of these sports you can participate in when you're 17 or 70 and it's great from that point of view. For me it's great to be able to compete against able bodied people and to compete against people half my age, and to beat them. It's brilliant. I find that very satisfying at my age."

As part of his training regime Heary shoots up to 800 arrows a week, spending over two hours a day practicing. It can be a hard physical grind. Time spent lifting weights in the gym is frowned upon as archery is about muscle flexibility rather than sheer strength.

"If I have a bad score and the lads slag me off I say it's not bad for an auld grandfather in a wheelchair," he adds with a laugh.

Throughout his career Heary has preferred to use the "compound" bow, saying it allows for more accuracy compared to the more conventional recurve model. 

However, so far, the compound variety is not allowed in the Olympic Games and only has been sanctioned this year for the Paralympics in Beijing.

While Heary will got some financial backing in the form of grants for his trip to Bejing he will also have to bring "a helper" with him, which will be his wife Carmel. 

Funds will have to be raised in the coming year and assistance in terms of a sponsor will be required. A new bow, costing in the region of E1,000 will be required. Whatever it takes he is determined to get there.

It's a long road to China, but Sean Heary is already on his way.