Live Oak High School graduate Ryan Hough, of the Yuba County Sheriff's Department, brought home three gold medals from the 2009 Western States Police and Fire Games. He took first place in three archery competitions - a field round open, a 900-round open, and a 3-D round open.
"It felt pretty good because I haven't competed in a long time," Hough said. "It's something me and my family always used to do and we just kind of fell out of it. So it felt good to get back into it and do pretty well."
The first day's event, the field round open, had 28 different targets laid out across five to 10 acres, with targets at different angles ranging from three to 80 yards away.
On the second day of competition, Hough won the 3-D animal course in which the distances aren't marked.
"You don't know the distance you're shooting at, so that's another challenge," he said. "You have to be able to calculate your distances in your head.
"That was the first time I've shot an unmarked round, so I was happy that I was able to place first in that."
The third day involved shooting 30 arrows at a target 60 yards away, 30 from 50 yards, and 30 from 40 yards. Normally, these three events aren't completed in three straight days, it's one event on a weekend. Considering the conditions, Hough was pleased with his performance.
"I could've shot a little better on the third day," he said. "Shooting three days in a row like that, it's pretty tiring."
The annual event, held in Santa Clarita, CA this year, includes many events held at the Olympics like wrestling, swimming, track and field, weight lifting and a triathlon. It also has a couple job specific events that include pistol (police action) and dog training.
Competitors must be a full time law enforcement professional as a member of a police department, CHP, sheriff's department, corrections or a firefighter. There is a world competition that Hough is unable to make this year, but hopes to attend a couple years down the road.
Hough's parents had him shooting around 4-years-old and he competed all through high school at local clubs. He stopped after high school, but began practicing regularly again about six months ago.
"I just graduated from the police academy, so I was able to shoot more during the week and on the weekends," he said.
There was camaraderie at the games, but still a competitive atmosphere. The archery events had a good turnout of 24 competitors.
"I like that you pretty much get what you put into it," Hough said of his interest in archery. "You can succeed if you try hard enough. You don't have to depend on anyone else."
Hough wasn't the only one from Yuba County to have success at the competition. Kym Ross set new records in the javelin,hammer and high jump, took first in the long jump and discus, and second in the shot put.
Chris LaRue took second in the 4x100 relay, as did Charles Johnson, who also took first in the 4x400 relay, second in the 200 and 400-meter races, and third in the 100.
Scott Rounds had some bad luck when his bike chain broke while he was in the lead during the second leg of the triathlon.
