Blackchair Helping to Rewrite Stories
Blackchair will support individuals or projects offering a helping hand just when they need it. Our goal is to engage in 6 projects a year with multi year support packages.
Archery Twins of Gloucestershire
Ava and Amber Snell, widely known as the “Archery Twins of Gloucestershire,” are 14-year-old identical twins from the Forest of Dean. As dedicated and highly competitive archers, they are proud and respected members of the Newnham on Severn Archery Club.
Their archery journey began in 2019, where they spent their first three years competing in the barebow discipline. During this time, they quickly made their mark, collectively achieving around 12 national records alongside multiple county records. Their success also earned them the honour of representing the Gloucestershire Archery Society at county level.
Since 2022, Ava and Amber have trained under Patrick Huston, a two-time Olympian and three-time world gold medallist, through Huston Archery. Initially continuing in barebow, they refined their technique and form to a high standard before making the progressive transition to recurve. This shift required significant dedication, and both athletes committed themselves fully to mastering the discipline.
In November 2022, Amber faced a major personal challenge when she was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. The diagnosis brought both physical and mental hurdles, but her resilience and determination never wavered. Today, she continues to thrive in the sport and is recognised as an exceptional archer.
Amber is also an “Ambassador for Success” with the National Health Service, which supported her with advanced medical technology, including the Omnipod 5 insulin pump and Dexcom G7 continuous glucose monitor. These tools allow her to effectively manage her glucose levels, enabling her to train and compete at a high level.
Ava achieved a major milestone in December 2024 by winning the Junior National Indoor Championships in Stoneleigh. Having previously secured the title, she became the back-to-back Under 14 Junior National Indoor Champion for 2023 and 2024.
In January 2025, the twins stepped onto the international stage for the first time, competing in the World Indoor Series in Nîmes, France, followed by another event in Strassen, Luxembourg, later that year. These experiences allowed them to compete alongside some of the world’s best archers, while also building connections with fellow athletes and potential sponsors. It was a defining moment that fuelled their ambition for international competition.
Throughout 2025, both Ava and Amber focused heavily on refining their form, putting in consistent effort to embed technical improvements. Their hard work paid off in March 2025 at the GWAS Indoor County Championships, where Ava secured gold, and Amber took silver.
In June 2025, they expanded into field archery, competing at Merlin Field Archers. Shooting from the blue peg, Amber claimed first place and set a new national record in the Under 15 recurve category, marking an outstanding achievement in a new discipline.
July 2025 brought further recognition, as the twins were named Global Child Prodigies. They received their awards at the Houses of Parliament in Westminster, with their achievements featured by the BBC across BBC Points West and BBC Radio Gloucestershire.
Later that year, at Sunset Field Archers, both Ava and Amber set a national record with identical scores for the single WA 24 mixed blue peg round, while Ava also claimed the national record for the double WA24 mixed blue peg. Their growing involvement in field archery continues to strengthen their technical ability, resilience, and adaptability, with more competitions planned for 2026.
The 2025 Junior Archery Series concluded with Ava earning the title of “Women’s Recurve Under 15 Junior Outdoor Champion,” further solidifying her position at the top of her category.
In September 2025, both athletes were invited to join Archery GB’s National Pathway Programme. As part of the Academy, they now have access to elite training facilities and support systems, placing them firmly on the pathway toward future selection for development and world-class programmes.
National rankings for 2025 placed Ava at No.1 and Amber at No.5 in the UK for Women’s Recurve Under 15, highlighting their continued excellence.
In December 2025, Ava represented England at the Home Nations Cup during the Junior National Indoor Championships. Despite competing with an injury, she played a key role in securing gold for the England recurve team and also earned an individual silver medal in the Women’s Under 15 recurve category.
In January 2026, the twins returned to Nîmes to compete again in the World Indoor Series Championships. These international appearances are an essential part of their development, offering valuable competitive experience and exposure on the global stage, with more events already planned for the year ahead.
With every milestone they achieve, Ava and Amber move one step closer to their ultimate goal of representing their country at the Olympic Games.
