Dudley archer hits gold in World Championships

That was the perfect gift for Wordsley's Steve Prowse after he shot his last arrow and claimed the top prize for visually impaired archers at the World Archery Para Championships.

As well as winning gold, in the course of the competition Mr Prowse - who is a member of the Wolverhampton Company of Archers - also set a new European and world record.

The competition in Donaueschingen, Germany, last week was the first time the visually impaired category has been part of the championships since 2007 - when 57-year-old Mr Prowse was also victorious.

He defeated Great Britain team mate Peter Price in the 30m final in Germany, on the same day he celebrated his birthday.

Mr Prowse said: "Obviously I'm delighted to win.

"I think I knew we had a pretty good chance of winning medals and I suppose you go there to win - that was the intention.

"But you can never tell how it's going to go, as it's all about what happens on the day.

"The nerves take over and it feels like you're shaking and you never know what's going to happen."

Mr Prowse and other visually impaired archers aim at the target by positioning themselves using foot blocks.

They then also have a 'sight' on their knuckles which they use to alter the trajectory of their arrows.

All of the archers are accompanied by a partner who tells them where their arrows have entered the target - but nothing else.

This allows the archers to refine their aim for subsequent efforts.

Mr Prowse said approaching the climax of the contest he was starting to get nervous - but his years of experience helped him through.

"The hours and hours of practise come in and your shot routine takes over," Mr Prowse said.

"The thousands of hours you've practised for take over and you just do it.

"I'm out there five or six days a week and there's hours of practising through the wind, rain, snow.

"There's no indoor range where I train so you either do it outside in the rain or don't shoot at all."