COLAC archer Lorraine Black returned from Mildura with two gold medals – and a car full of Mallee dust – after the most successful weekend in her career.

Black was riding a high during the seven-hour drive home after near-flawless performances at Australian Bowhunters Association national titles.

The veteran sharpshooter clinched top honours in the 3D and field archery disciplines shooting in women’s Compound A Grade class.

“It’s been 11 years since I’ve competed at national level and three years since I did a 3D competition,” Black said.

“I was out to do the best I could and I ended up winning both by 100 points,” she said.

“I couldn’t think to be nervous, it’s just overwhelming.

“I find if I switch my brain off and it’s on automatic pilot, that’s when I score well. When I start thinking about it, that’s when I miss a few.”

The national titles ran across four days, with two days dedicated to each 3D and field archery.

Black finished with a score of 934 for the 3D competition, which was reduced to three rounds after a dust storm hit the Mildura range on Good Friday.

She shot 1508 in field archery, including 860 on Monday, a score more likely to feature in the masters’ class.

Black was one of three Colac Otway Archers to celebrate medals at the national titles.

Barb Kelly, shooting in women’s Compound B Grade, won gold in the field archery with 1178 over the three days, and silver in the 3D.

Daniel Phillips, shooting in sighted division men’s Bowhunter Unlimited Flight Two, won silver in the field archery and bronze in the 3D.

Tim Kelly – Barb’s son – also competed in men’s Compound A Grade and was in the top-10 in both disciplines.

“We were probably one of the smallest clubs, we had four up there, some had 10 to 15 members shooting,” Black said.

“To get that many awards was really good. It was hard, the muster was 8am every morning, you came in for lunch and you didn’t get in until 3 or 4pm,” she said.

“The courses are spread out because they have land to spare, you were walking long distances to get there.”