Cebu Beats Two Archery World Records

Cebu City has surpassed the two Guinness World Records attempts this time in Archery – the “Largest Archery Lesson” with a total of 754 students who learn the ropes of the game and the “Largest Archery Tournament” with 13, 102 participants from the different schools in Cebu. Both were achieved at the Cebu City Sports Center Gym.

The participants and students of the two world records attempts were using improvised bows made up of PVC pipes.

The current record holder for the “World’s Largest Archery Tournament” was achieved by the National Archery in the Schools Program (USA) at the Kentucky State Fair and Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville, Kentucky, USA with 9,426 participants played from 9 to 11 May 2013.

The archery world record is for the greatest number of people taking part in the same archery competition and is measured by the number of people who compete in the tournament.

The event had its first inception on December 2012, and a brainchild of Southeast Asian Games gold medalist winner Dondon Sombrio, but had to move anew due to 7.2 magnitude earthquake and super typhoon Yolanda.

Along with the Cebu Archery Club of Architect Sombrio and coach Pacheco Valenzona, Archery coaches and Archery National Team member, Cebu City Sports Commission (CCSC) Chairman Edward Hayco agreed to create a grassroots program for archery in Cebu City.

“After almost two years, we finally made it. There were times that we almost gave up but we kept going until we achieved what we longed for,” CCSC Chairman Edward Hayco said at the press conference yesterday.

Hayco also added that the world record is only means to promote sports and fitness to the grassroots.

The two archery world records attempts have yet to be submitted to the Guinness World Record for validation.

CCSC has achieved a record for the largest chess tournament in 2012 and the largest dance class in 2009.

Thus, CCSC sets off plans for the next world records – the largest arnis and scrabble tournament.