Super-gran Kay Lucas is grinning from ear to ear after achieving qualification for the Paralympics.
Ludlow’s archery ace is part of the 11-strong squad to represent Britain at this summer’s Games in Beijing.
Qualification for her first Paralympics completes an astonishing 12 months for 46-year-old Lucas, who became a grandmother for the first time earlier this year and also achieved a world ranking of No 3, but maybe there is still more to come.
“I will be heading off to Beijing to enjoy the experience but most importantly to win a medal,” she said confidently.”I’m really proud to think my name’s on my GB shirt because I’ve earned it.
“I don’t have to buy a shirt with someone else’s name on it, like football fans do, mine is on my shirt.
“My first big tournament was the European championships in 2006 in the Czech Republic - it was my first time on an aeroplane and I came back with two bronze medals.”
Lucas was momentarily paralysed in a car accident in Station Drive, Ludlow, in 1995.
And just 18 months later she was dragged out of her car near Ludlow College by a man and woman and kicked and punched, leaving her with multiple back injuries.
But she has triumphed over adversity, retrieving the bow she had disguarded for seven years before the attack to give herself a great chance of a Paralympic podium finish.
Head coach and archery Team Manager Tim Hazell said: “Kay is one of the top archers in her class and is focused on taking that into the Games to be there at the finals.
“Overall this is a very strong squad we are sending out and I have no doubt that we will be bringing home some medals.
“I am delighted for all the archers who have made the squad, they are all there on merit and they will do us all proud.”
Archery is very much a family affair for Lucas.
She is coached by her husband, Kim, while her daughter Maia is also a qualified archery coach and son Craig a keen archer.
Lucas is joined in the team by Paralympic champions John Cavanagh (London) and Kathy Critchlow-Smith as well as Games debutants Mike Karaphillides (Luton), Mick Beard (Cornwall), Pippa Britton (Newport, South Wales), Lynne Burton (Chelmsford), Mel Clarke (Norwich), Danielle Brown (Yorkshire) Fred Stevens (Hinckley, Leicestershire) and John Stubbs (Warrington).
She is the oldest woman on the team, though Cavanagh, Karaphillides and Stevens are all longer in the tooth in the men’s division.
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