NEWPORT archer Pippa Britton admitted one poor arrow was the difference between finishing inside and outside the top four of the individual compound ranking round.

The 49-year-old began her second Paralympic campaign with the ranking round, used to determine the seedings for the knockout stages, and placed eighth overall.

Britton was as high as third at one point but slipped down to end with a score of 641 while fellow Brit and defending champion Danielle Brown was first after equalling her Paralympic record of 676.

Only seven points separated Britton in eighth and another Brit Mel Clarke in third with the top four receiving a bye to the quarter-finals, which take place on Sunday.

Britton, meanwhile, will be in action today for round one and she believes, if the ranking round is anything to go by, proceedings will be just as tight.

“I was third until something like four dozen arrows to go and I ultimately ended up eighth. The person above me is one point ahead me and the person above them is one point ahead of them,” said Britton.

“So it could have come down to a single arrow. My last two dozen were very nice but they were just blown off the centre and now I’ll face the archer that was ranked ninth.

“It is all about looking after yourself and controlling yourself and I was really pleased to keep the same level of focus and concentration right from the very beginning right to the very end and I can’t ask for more than that.”

Britton had to deal with constantly changing conditions during the ranking round at the Royal Artillery Barracks with wind shifting, sun shining and even rain pouring. She openly admits to struggling in the wind in particular and is eager for more settled conditions.

“You can only do the best you can do in the conditions. My disability affects my stability and obviously when it is very windy I struggle with that, but I was pleased that the scores were so tight,” she added.

“I have been in the arena where the knockout matches will take place and I think it’s going to be more calm.

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