Cochrane archer Frank Dostaler has returned with three gold medals in the World Police & Fire Games and last weekend placed high in the standings of the National Outdoor Championships.

The Calgary firefighter topped three events in the 50 and over age group in field archery, 3D archery, and target archery, all in the freestyle unlimited categories at the World Games, hosted by Winnipeg from July 28 to Aug. 6.

Dostaler, 54, had some impressive scores in his rise to the top of the podium, including 864 out of 900 in the target archery event.

FrankFrank Dostaler in the field of the World Games. (photo submitted)

While shooting, he wasn't exactly sure how well he was doing until a fellow competitor told him it was a good score, possibly higher than the winning score last year.

"So I texted a friend of mine who has competed on the Canadian National team, and I asked him what a good score is. He told me anything over 860 would be a really good score so I thought maybe I'd make the podium, and I ended up winning it.

"It was a pleasant surprise. I said to my wife, 'Ignorance is bliss' because there was no pressure. I didn't even know what a good score was, so yeah, that worked out pretty well."

That same tactic may have helped him in the 3D event, where all targets were placed at unknown distances.. He was shooting with an archer expected to win the tournament. Seven targets into the event, he asked not to be told the score anymore. As it turned out, Dostaler had a one-point lead coming into the 24th and final target.

frank 5Frank, left, out in the field with fellow competitors at the nationals. (photo submitted)

"I had no pressure again. Ignorance is bliss. I didn't know what the score was, and he just, unfortunately, misjudged the distance a little bit and didn't make quite as good a shot as he would have liked. I happened to pretty much make a perfect shot and got the 11 points. I found out later on that I won the whole tournament, so that was a big surprise for me because I don't normally shoot unknown distances."

The field event offers the challenge of shooting a total of about 72 arrows at 24 targets. Twelve of the targets are known distances and 12 are unknown distances in a rolling forest of uphill and downhill shots. 

"So you're dealing with shadows and wind, and you know, elevated shots and angled shots, plus the complicating factor of 12 of the targets that are of an unknown distance."

It was only the second time he has competed in this particular archery discipline and says his training has been enhanced by becoming a member of the Cochrane Archery Club.

He praises the club for its support and the use of its facilities over the last few years. The club is spearheaded by Dr. Derrick Smith.

"He is gracious enough to allow us to shoot on his land and in one of his buildings. He's just a wonderful man, a huge supporter of the art, and fantastic archery himself."

frank 3Frank with some of the medallists from Team Canada. (photo submitted)

Dostaler followed it up by placing eighth overall in the Under 50 age group of the Canadian National Outdoor Championships last weekend in Cranbrook, B.C., after tying for 18th the year previous.

A passionate archer who has bow hunted for about 18 years, Dostaler began to compete seriously after stepping back from his highly-active role with the Cochrane Cowboys Wrestling Club about three years ago. 

"Probably in the last seven or eight years, I started to enjoy shooting my bow more and would be practicing more and more. I was shooting just for the pleasure of shooting, not just to practice for the up-and-coming hunting season. Then probably around 2017 or 2018, I went to my first tournament and quite enjoyed it."

He now competes regularly in tournaments, including indoor nationals in the summer and 3D nationals in the winter.

This was Dostaler's first appearance at the World Police & Fire Games, which features 67 sports. It attracts 8,500 athletes representing law enforcement, firefighters, and police officers from almost 70 countries.

Dostaler has one more tournament to round out his season before preparing for the bow-hunting season.

"I'm thoroughly enjoying my archery time. It's more than replaced my wrestling time."

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