The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
A make-shift archery range in his home and exercises every time he’s at the top or bottom of the stairs – it’s all part of lockdown life for self-isolating archer Sam Newton.
Instead of Dublin for the European Transplant and Dialysis Sports Championship, the 38-year-old will not be leaving his Spalding after virtually the whole of his summer season was cancelled.
Newton is classed as vulnerable due to the kidney and pancreas transplant he received in 2014 after being diagnosed with kidney failure at the age of 21.
As a result the double world transplant champion has left the house just once for blood tests since mid-March and is being urged not to do so until mid-June.
All transplant competitions have already been cancelled until September.
“I’m still smiling,” Sam says when asked how he is. “Our entire summer season has effectively been ended before it’s even started.
“I did think I’d be ok with self-isolation and like many I don’t think at first I appreciated how serious this situation is.
“I thought I’d be able to drive down to the practice field and practice as I never see anyone anyway.
“But the governing body have told us not to do that so I’ve had to adapt.
“I always keep training anyway and I’ve been shooting inside my house.
“I’ve got my own target and I’ve put that up in the back of my lounge and if I go to the front of my house and fire arrows through the lounge it works out at around 20 metres which is the distance the British championships are held at.
“But it does affect the body when you’re positioning to fire through your own home in a way you wouldn’t outside.
“You can also work on technical things and conditioning.
“I’ve put a stretchy band at the bottom of my stairs and every time I’m there do ten stretch exercises.
“Then, when I’m at the top I do 20 press up and 30 tricep dips.
“Given I’m on water tabs at the moment and going to the toilet about ten times a day, I’m definitely building up my stamina.”
Sam, who lives by himself, is keeping busy and he’s still working from home as a teaching assistant for Spalding Academy.
He’s taking part in video chats, particularly with others from the transplant community and also video calls his mum every day.
But he’s particularly missing being out on the training field and is now working on being ready for next year’s indoor season, particularly December’s scheduled British Championships.
After that, there’s the World Championships which head to the USA and Texas next summer.
It will be a special tournament for Sam as he returns to the worlds as a reigning champion having won his first tournament there last year.
“The first place I’m going when this is all over is to that practice field,” Sam said. “I’m making sure I spend at least 15 minutes a day getting fresh air.
“It’s a little depressing thinking about the next outdoor championships I’ll be competing in being in March next year.
“But I do have the world championships to look forward to which it looks like I’ll be flying to on my 40th birthday.
“Before that we’ve all got to follow the government guidelines and be patient.”