Shoot and forget your troubles': how archery brought a New Zealand community together

Archery draws Dave Henshaw despite his long coaching career and recognition for services to the sport. He has taught people in wheelchairs, those with learning difficulties, teenagers, and elite archers. Christchurch Archery Club became a diverse and thriving community, and an event is named the Dave Henshaw Classic. Henshaw coached Neroli Fairhall, who won gold at the 1980 Paralympics and the 1982 Commonwealth Games, then competed from her wheelchair at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. At elite level, he emphasizes reading body language and sensing when an archer is too tense. He earned the nickname Yoda for his adapted catchphrase about doing rather than trying.

"When you pick up a bow and start shooting, there's just something about it, the 83-year-old says. Don't ask me what it is I don't know. As groups of archers shoot outside, Henshaw describes the diversity of people he's trained and worked with during his 50-plus years with the Christchurch Archery Club, in New Zealand's South Island. They include athletes with disabilities, teenagers not drawn to team sports, and Olympians."

"Dave Henshaw can't quite explain the fascination of archery. That's despite him coaching archers to Olympic events, helping his club become a diverse and thriving community, and earning a King's honour for his services to the sport. When you pick up a bow and start shooting, there's just something about it, the 83-year-old says. Don't ask me what it is I don't know."

"Henshaw coached famed New Zealand archer Neroli Fairhall to gold at the 1982 Commonwealth Games, after she had won gold at the 1980 Paralympics. Shooting from her wheelchair, Fairhall then made history by competing at the Los Angeles Olympics in 1984. Henshaw has since coached others to shoot at the Olympics and youth Olympic Games."

"At the elite level, Henshaw says a top coach must have the ability to read body language and sense when an archer is too tense. He earned the nickname Yoda, based on the legendary Jedi master from the Star Wars franchise, for his adapted version of a catchphrase from Yoda, who said, Do or don't do. There is no try. But Henshaw quips, I used to say to people that the only similarity between Yoda and myself is I've got wrinkled skin."

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