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Olympic hopeful attacked in park
Miles Skinner16/ 1/2008
TWO Olympic archery hopefuls were battered by a gang of drunk teenagers in a ‘vicious and unprovoked’ attack during a practice session in a Cheadle park.
Roy Nash and girlfriend Charlotte Burgess needed hospital treatment after the brutal assault in Bruntwood Park.
They were set upon by a mob of about 25 youths, which included girls, after Roy went to investigate shouting outside the Bowmen of Bruntwood’s indoor range on the park.
The 32-year-old was confronted by the gang at the door and attacked after trying to stop one boy jumping up and down on the bonnet of his car.
Charlotte, 20, followed when she heard breaking glass and was knocked to the floor, where she was kicked repeatedly.
The couple are both ranked among the top five archers in the country and hope to compete in the Beijing Olympics this year.
Roy, from Offerton, said: "As I went to apprehend the lad I was put down on the ground and used as a football. They started kicking me. I must have taken about 12 kicks to the head.
"Charlotte came out and tried to help when she heard a bottle smash and feared they were going to use it on me. Someone grabbed her ponytail and spun her round. She was knocked to the ground and kicked in the side.
"In a strange way, I’m glad that it happened to me because I’m relatively young and weigh 16 stone.
"A lot of the members are in their 60s and if it had been one of them they could have been seriously hurt or much worse."
He added: "It’s starting to sink home now because a lot of these people carry knives and in the current environment they are not afraid to use them."
Roy, the number five-ranked male archer in Britain, suffered bruises to his face and head. Charlotte, who is the British female number four, suffered bruising to her face.
Dave Hulme, a spokesman for the Bowmen of Bruntwood Club, said: "It was a vicious attack by drunken thugs who had no reason for being in the park under the cover of darkness.
"Roy was simply trying to protect his car from being vandalised and Charlotte bravely went in to help him when the attack started.
"Charlotte and Roy could have seen their international careers come to a sudden end if they had been badly injured."
Both were treated at Stepping Hill hospital following the incident on Friday night.
A spokesman for Greater Manchester Police said the incident is being investigated and anyone with information should contact 872 5050.
Most recent 2 of 3 user comments
P.S. he may not be as good an archer as someone from way back when but at least he's overweight.
16/01/2008 at 16:41
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