THE year 2018 has proved to be a phenomenal one for Garnock Valley archery ace Jonathan Ralston.

After representing his country and winning silver and bronze medals at the British National Outdoor competition in July, the 11-year-old from Dalry has gone on to secure his place at the very top of his age group.

In August, he gained the title of Scottish U12 Male Recurve Outdoor Championship and was overall top scorer for the U21s and in October was winner of the Scottish U12 Male Recurve Indoor Championships in Montrose. This outdoor season saw him finish the top ranked U12 Male Recurve archer in Scotland and third in the overall male U18s rankings.

In his first full competitive outdoor season, Jonathan gained a Junior Master Bowman ranking - being the only junior male recurve archer in Scotland to do so. Archery GB recently published their National Rankings, declaring Jonathan the No.1 ranked U12 male recurve archer in Britain and placed 22nd in the U18s.

Earlier this month Jonathan further reinforced his position by becoming the British U12 Male Recurve Indoor Champion at Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire.

Jonathan has been selected for the Scottish Archery Pathways Squad which sees him hone his skills with the country's top coaches.

The current holder of 13 Scottish records, Jonathan broke three records in one day at the Lasswade Combined Shoot.

This year Jonathan was successful in receiving funding from Dalry Parish Boundary Trust which has been a great help with competition costs and fees.