Archery
Supporting British Talent: Addison Plant Sponsors British Visually Impaired Archer Nick Thomas
Addison Plant is proud to be sponsoring Nick Thomas, a remarkable visually impaired archer from Talysarn, Gwynedd.
Nick was diagnosed with Stargardt Macular Dystrophy, a condition that causes severe central vision loss, yet he has never let this hold him back. After a successful sporting career in visually impaired football for England, Nick turned to archery in 2017 and has quickly risen through the ranks, becoming World Archery’s top ranked archer in 2025.
Balancing his training with his work supporting others through the North Wales Society of the Blind, Nick is an inspiring example of resilience, dedication, and sporting excellence.
Name & location: Nick Thomas, from Talysarn, in Dyffryn Nantlle, Gwynedd, Wales.
Disability / visual impairment: He has Stargardt Macular Dystrophy, which means loss of central vision. To him, looking directly at the target is just a “black hole with a blurry outline.”
Education / past sport: He holds a degree in sports science. Before archery, he competed in visually impaired football (five-a-side) for England (despite being Welsh) for ten years. He’s also done long jump, sprints (British 100m champion among VI), etc.
Other roles: He works as a development officer with the North Wales Society of the Blind in Bangor.
Here are a few things about how he does it, that are interesting:
He uses a “tactile sight” on a tripod, which helps with alignment given his lack of vision.
He has a spotter who helps inform him where arrows land, so he can adjust. The communication & feedback from the spotter is very important.
Uses a “colour and clock” system to describe target position, which is a way to codify “where” things are visually by reference to colours/sections of the target face and clock-positions.
He’s said to be resilient, used to managing external factors like wind, light, etc., which for VI archers are tougher to adjust to.
His remarkable achievements showcase his unwavering resilience, skill, and dedication, overcoming challenges from Stargardt Macular Dystrophy to excel as a world-class archer.
Nick recently secured gold at the Archery GB National Disability Championships and another gold at the British Blind Sport Outdoor Championships, where he also achieved his personal best. Most impressively, he went on to win gold in the Visually Impaired 2/3 category at the World Para-Archery Championships, marking a phenomenal milestone in his sporting career. Nick’s determination, focus, and passion for his sport continue to inspire us and demonstrate what can be achieved through commitment and perseverance. We’re honoured to play a part in his incredible journey.
