Shay and Stuart selected for Archery GB Pathway Programmes

We are delighted to announce that both Shay Boyd (Conversion Academy) and Stuart Padley (Para Academy) have been invited to join the Archery GB Pathway programmes for the coming year. 

Well done to athletes, coaches and support network. We are very happy for you both. Read more about our archers stories below.

Stuart Padley

Stuart suffered a life changing Stroke in January of 2018, just days after he was engaged to Jacqueline .Stuart lost mobility down the right-hand side of his body and also Aphasia (this is condition that affects his speech due to an injury or damage to a specific area in the brain).

Stuart was admitted to the Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy for urgent medical care. He was confined to a wheelchair and unable to eat solid food.

After two weeks in the Victoria Hospital, Stuart was transferred to the Cameron Hospital, Windygates, that has a Stroke Unit. This was the start of Stuarts journey of rehabilitation. After a brief period, Stuart was able to eat solid food and take his first steps. His communication via speech was still not improving and his right arm still had very limited use.

At the time of Stuart’s Stroke, he was serving in the Royal Navy. Because of this he was transferred to Stanford Hall Rehabilitation Centre. His stay at Stanford Hall was filled with intensive treatment for his movement, communication, and well-being. It didn’t take long for Stuart to become the nurse’s favourite with his sense of humour and attitude toward the disabilities. He soon became ‘famous’ as the very first patient and was asked to declare the unit open, which Stuart was very happy and proud to do.

Stanford Hall introduced Stuart to Archery. As mentioned previously, Stuart has limited mobility and had to learn to shoot using his mouth and his left arm. Stuart is also a keen Golfer and he has had to learn to play again using his left arm only. He now plays off a handicap of 19.

Stuart was medically discharged from the Navy and settled into Civilian life very well. Moving into a new house with his amazing Fiancée, Jacqueline, and surrounded by his close family and friends.

Stuart thrived at his Archery and loved it so much that he applied to be a member of the 2020 GB Invictus Games team being held in Hague, in the Netherlands. Stuart was accepted. He chose Rowing and Archery as his sports to compete in. Due to Covid, the games were postponed until 2022.

In the Archery event Stuart shot extremely well and he qualified for the head-to-head round in first place out of 46 other archers. In the head-to-head, Stuart shot extremely well and reached the final against a particulary good French archer. The final was so close with the French archer winning the Gold Medal, Stuart in a very close second place achieving a Silver Medal.

In the GB Rowing Championships 2021, Stuart gained two personnel bests in one minute and four minute rowing events. This gained him 2 gold medals in his class.

Archery is now a massive part of Stuarts  life. He has joined a local club called Kingdom of Fife Fletchers,where he has benefitted greatly from expert coaching.

Stuart was invited to attend a GB Para Archery gateway event at Lilleshall over 3 weekends as an introduction to a higher level of Para Archery.

Because of the sessions Stuart has been invited to Join the GB Para Archery academy training squad at Lilleshall. This will involve one to one coaching, mental and life coaching assistance.

Stuart also receives instruction from the East of Scotland Development Squad.

Stuart has continued with the GB Para Archery academy, and has been entering national Archery competitions shooting against able bodied archers.

Shay Boyd

Meet Shay Boyd (18) who shoots for Largs Archers in the West Scotland and for the past 4 years has been competing nationally for Scotland, and the West of Scotland Archery Association, at U18 U21 and senior levels.

Shay is a recurve archer who is currently ranked 1st in Scotland in both Senior and U21 Male categories, and is a sponsored archer Shooting for Red Frog Archery and RamRods Archery.

Shay started archery at age 8 and showed a natural ability from a young age however he left the sport for a few years perusing other hobbies in martial arts and Scouts before returning to shooting in late 2019 as an activity to do at home during lockdown due to Covid.

Shay is an active member of three Ayrshire based clubs. His main club is Largs however he is also an associate member of Ayr and The Ancient Society of Kilwinning Archers. These clubs play a vital role in his training where he attends a minimum of 5 days a week averaging around 3000 practice arrows a month. This level of practice alongside gym work and core stability exercise has led to his continuing and growing success.

In 2024 he has had great successes winning :

·        The Junior Scottish Indoor Championships,

·        Scottish National Tour,

·        The U21 UK Junior National Outdoor Championships,

·        West of Scotland Indoor Championships,

·        West of Scotland Outdoor Championships.

He has had further successes in competitions including:

·        9th The British Target Championships,

·        11th UK Masters,

·        19th 2024 GB National Tour,

·        1st place Men’s Recurve Team in the Home Nations Cup

·        2nd Senior Scottish Indoor Championships.

Due to these performances, he is currently ranked 23rd Recurve male in the UK and holds 22 Scottish Records and 2 Archery GB Records for recurve archery.

Having attended at the Northern National Talent Development Program in York 2023 into 2024 Shay was supported to apply for further development through the AGB Academies and was selected to attend an AGB profiling day at Lillieshall. This alongside his successes has led to his inclusion on the GB Conversion Academy which keeps him on his path to each the goal of representing GB on an international level and the hope of becoming an Olympian in the future.