Folkard closes in on Games spot

The 28-year-old former Myton School pupil is now one of four archers chasing the three London spots at the third and final stage which got under way yesterday (Thursday) on the garden terraces of Lilleshall Hall.

Seven ladies and 11 men were invited to take part in the 2012 selection process, with the first stage involving shooting four FITA 70 rounds over two days, with the top six archers going on to stage two.

In the ladies’ competition, Folkard finished stage one in third place behind Alison Williamson who is hoping to make London her sixth Olympic appearance, and Amy Oliver.

Also going through were 16-year-old Rebecca Martin, Charlotte Burgess and Nicky Hunt.

Stage two involved two days of round-robin matches, with Folkard winning 13 of her 20 encounters to move up to second place behind Oliver, with Williamson dropping to third.

Burgess secured fourth place to stay in the running, while Hunt and Martin bowed out.

The final stage will feature a series of round-robin matches in front of an invited audience, which will help simulate the Olympic atmosphere.

The final team will be announced at a press conference at Lord’s, the venue for Olympic archery, on May 9.