Pat Stoddard
Pat Stoddard of Libby has been invited to a competition in Jordan for horse-mounted archers. Photo by Kootenai Valley Record.
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Libby horseman headed to competition in Middle East
by Janine Price, Kootenai Valley Record
April 21, 2011
Libby’s Pat Stoddard is one of only three persons in the United States to receive an invitation to a renowned competition abroad featuring horse-mounted archers.
Stoddard was recently sent a personal invitation from King Abdullah II of Jordan. The invitation came with a brief history of Jordan and the monarchy, noting that Abdullah II was the eldest son of King Hussein, who ruled Jordan from 1952 until 1999. Another pamphlet detailed the structure of the Al Faris International Horseback Archery Competition that will be held on June 9 and 10 in Amman, Jordan.
"I’m highly excited!" Stoddard said.
Archers from 15 countries will compete in a series of events that revolve around a variety of mounted archery styles including Turkish, Hungarian and Korean. Dating back over 12 centuries, the competitions are based upon knight battles that relied heavily on horsemanship and archery skills. Matches are played out on fields ranging from 90 to 150 meters in length with strict rules guiding the timing of horse and archer during the target shots.
"The Turkish competition will be tough as it requires a certain number of gallops around a pole and then releasing an arrow at a target atop a high pole," Stoddard said.
Stoddard was suggested as a participant in the competition by an acquaintance he met during a training camp in Hungary in 2002. Stoddard believes his Native American apparel that he dons for competitions may contribute to the uniqueness of his performance.
Stoddard is adept at his craft and has won competitions throughout the western United States. He was a focal act at the Great American Wild West Show in Denver, Colo., and last year he was featured on the publicity flyers for the Horseback Archery Challenge held in Bend, Ore.
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Editor's Note: See the April 19, 2011 edition of the Kootenai Valley Record for the printed version of this story. The Kootenai Valley Record publishes once a week, on Tuesdays, in Libby, Montana. They are a locally owned community newspaper, located at 403 Mineral Avenue in Libby. For in-county and out-of-county subscription information, call 406-293-2424, or e-mail kvrecord@gmail.com.
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