STOKE-MANDEVILLE, England -Just 53 days remain until Opening Ceremonies of the 2008 Paralympic Games.  As the competition in Beijing gets closer by the minute, athletes are taking advantage of every opportunity they can to test themselves before the big event.

The 2008 U.S. Paralympic Archery Team is taking its opportunity, this weekend, at the 4^th European Disabled Archery Grand Prix.  The team has completed the first day of ranking competition with the following results:

Men's Open:
Eric Bennett (Surprise, Ariz.)                            5th       671
Joe Bailey (Flushing, Mich.)                              9th      656
TJ Pemberton (Edmond, Okla.)                        12th     643
(First place score = 678)

W1 Compound:
Jeff Fabry (Tulare, Calif.)                                  1st        672
Chuck Lear (Lee's Summit, Mo.)                       6th       523

Ladies Recurve - Standing:
Lindsey Carmichael (Lago Vista, Texas)           7th       477
(First place score = 591)

W2 Recurve Men:
Russell Wolfe (Williamsburg, Va.)                   7th       561
Kevin Stone (Kodak, Tenn.)                             9th       543
(First place score = 602)

Elimination rounds begin on Wednesday, July 16, and the team competition will be held on Thursday, July 17.  Men and women recurve archers are being permitted to compete on the same team during this event.  The U.S. will enter a team of Stone, Wolfe and Carmichael.

Visit the British Wheelchair Archery Association website for more information