PARALYMPIC coaches have met blind teenager Lewis March as the brilliant young archer continues to gain national acclaim for his skills.

There is a 12-strong squad of paralympic archers. Lewis's meeting with the coaches in Newcastle is part of the process of considering the incorporation of blind archers into The Paralympics.

Lewis, 18, of Mallory Close, Ramsgate, has been going from strength to strength since winning a Ward and Partners Children's Award in 2006 in recognition of his sporting achievement.

Although he only took up a bow in November 2004, this March he won his category in the National British Blind Sport Championships at Lillieshall.

It was the latest award amongst a host gained at prestigious tournaments all over the country, as he makes the transition from being a junior to a senior competitor.

His performance was helped enormously by the £1,000 prize money he won through his Ward's award.

Lewis's mum Carole said: "This has enabled Lewis to graduate from the equivalent of a Ford Fiesta bow to a Rolls Royce, it has been brilliant to see how he has progressed.

"It has also meant we could get a special case for all his equipment and other items he needed."

Lewis lost his sight due to a rare form of cancer, aged three. He first tried archery through Thanet and District Sports Association for People with Disabilities (TADSAD) and took to it like a duck to water.

He is a member of British Blind Sports, shoots fortnightly at Westerham, the Centre of Excellence for Disability Archery in Kent with his coach Peter Drewry, the British Blind Sport Development Team, and weekly with TADSAD.

Blind archers shoot with the help of a trained spotter, in Lewis's case his dad Peter, tactile references, a tripod-type aid and foot locators. Their success depends largely on achieving good stance and positioning.

Lewis, who has an older sister Lisa, has benefited enormously from help received from the Kent Association for the Blind.

Mrs March said: "If Lewis wants to go all the way with his archery, we will support him. He loves it so much."

The former pupil at Charles Dickens School, Broadstairs, is now in the sixth form at Archbishop’s School, Canterbury.

He has completed an adult maths certificate there over the last two years and is now studying life skills and IT.

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