The Beacon chats to Huw Jones of the Kingsmark Bowmen.

How long have you been an archer?

It's six years since the family and myself finished the beginners course. I was trying to get two young daughters off the couch and out in the fresh air.

The eldest daughter came home from an adventure holiday and wanted to do abseiling... her second choice was archery.

Did it work?

Yes: the eldest daughter went on to shoot over 20 UK records, bare-bow.

The youngest daughter shot two UK records: one recurve, one bare-bow. Both daughters left me struggling to keep up.

Why did you join Kingsmark Bowmen?

I was born in Wales and my first language is Welsh, but I've spent half my life living in a foreign country: England.

When I started archery I had this wild dream of shooting for Wales. Last year I promised myself that, if I ever achieved my Master Bowman qualification, I would join a Welsh club and try to fulfil that dream.

After joining St Kingsmark I put together a two-year plan that would get me selected for Wales.

Did it go according to plan?

After joining St Kingsmark in October, I was selected to shoot for Wales in November.

And in December I was stood on the shooting line at the Ricoh Arena in Coventry wearing my new bright red Welsh Archery Association team 2012 shirt.

How much practicing do you do?

During 2012 I shot about 20,000 arrows in training and tournaments. This year it will be more.

To maintain stamina I also do a bit of running, usually about 20km a week cross-country.

With all that training, do you suffer injury problems?

Yes, but not due to archery. Last year I suffered a broken toe and two fractured ribs following a nasty fall on a 12km cross-country run.

My GP 'grounded' me for 'eight weeks minimum'. Being an idiot, I was shooting again within 48 hours, but needed a fellow archer to fetch my arrows for me.

A few weeks later I was representing Wales at the indoor international in Coventry, but could then walk and pull my own arrows... carefully.

What was your most memorable outdoor shoot?

Coming third in the English Archery Federation Championships.

I was the only visitor: 150-plus English archers and me. And I upset most of those 150 English archers by flying the Welsh flag all weekend.

Do you have any advice for budding archers?

Yes: If you don't try, then it won't happen.

Above all, enjoy yourself. It's only a sport.

Any regrets?

Yes: Not starting archery sooner.

Other achievements since joining St Kingsmark last October:

• 87 rounds shot in 55 different tournaments all over the UK.

• 24 Gwent County record claims.

• 50+ WAA records

...and I've enjoyed myself.