Gladys archery champion keeps hobby on target

Only a few years after rediscovering his childhood hobby, Tim Ewers has reached a point that, according to one old-timer, many aspire to but few attain.

Ewers, of Gladys, first picked up a bow at age 13, fueled by no more than childhood curiosity.

“As a kid … like everybody else, you see a bow and arrow, and you just pick it up,” he said.

After a few years, he said, normal high school distractions led him away from the hobby, which he returned to about five years ago.

In 2005, he entered his first tournament just to see what the competition was like, he said, and ended up competing in seven tournaments that year.

Now Ewers is a national champion, this year capturing first place in his category at the National Field Archery Association’s indoor and outdoor national championships.

“I set (my goal) as I’d like to win one national championship,” Ewers said. “I didn’t care if it was indoor or outdoor, but I had no idea I’d get one of each in the same year.”

Webb Babcock, owner of Webb’s Sporting Goods in Madison Heights and a former archery champion, said he sees in Ewers the qualities of a tip-top archer.

“What he does, there’s only probably two or three people in the world that’s on his level,” Babcock said.

Ewers said in his experience shooting across the country, he’s run into archers from Australia, Germany, France, England, Africa and Scotland.

“They just all come over here for the national tournament,” he said.

Ewers estimated he shoots between 10 and 15 tournaments in a year, most of them in Virginia, but a few expeditions take him as far north as South Dakota or out to Las Vegas.

He’s already participated in 10 tournaments this year, including his two national championships.

And according to Babcock, his preparation has included shooting maybe 10,000 arrows in practice.

“If you want to win, you got to put the time into it, and he certainly does it,” he said.

Ewers said dedication to excellence in his sport is something that has always characterized him, though he may not stick with a particular hobby for long.

“Like everything I’ve ever done from Putt-Putt, bowling, racing, whatever,” he said, “I hope archery’s not the same way, but it’s kind of like, once I’ve achieved my goals, I’ve kind of stepped away from that for something else.”

He added that his bow hunting may be a factor in keeping him involved in the hobby.

Babcock also praised Ewers’ skills when it came to game, mentioning a turkey Ewers killed this year in Campbell County.

Ewers described the bird as “the Virginia state record, and number five ever killed in the country with a bow,” adding it had four beards, ranging from 7½ to 11½ inches, and weighing 23½ pounds.

He deflected some of Babcock’s accolades, adding, “That ain’t something you just set out to do. It’s kind of the luck of the draw.”

For Babcock, Ewers’ right eye may be the most critical part of his success.

“It’s as good as a hawk,” Babcock said. “I’ve been joking with him – I’ve told him if he ever dies, I’d get his wife to will his right eye to me.”

Ewers, who has a stepdaughter attending the University of Virginia and one daughter attending William Campbell High School, said he has even brought his family in on his hobby.

His wife Angela and their daughter have “shot sporadically,” he said.

“My daughter, she killed a deer … first time I ever took her. 11 years old,” he said, “And believe it or not, she hasn’t been since.”

Babcock said that, regardless of what Ewers does in the future, he should be proud of his accomplishments so far.

“That’s everybody’s dream that shoots archery, is what he’s done,” Babcock said. “Very few ever see that dream come true.”

Ewers also threw some praise Babcock’s way, as the 68-year-old still dabbles in archery.

“When I’m 68, I hope I can draw a bow, much less compete,” Ewers said.