Holmes has just returned from the United States with his third successive World Championship gold medal in the Bowhunter Recurve Class.

That medal will be added to an impressive haul which includes three European Championship gold medals and more than 20 national titles. Not bad for a 50 year-old who only took up the sport nine years ago.

And Holmes’ latest success in South Dakota turned into a serious family celebration as wife Elizabeth picked up the gold medal in the Ladies Recurve event.

Holmes led from start to finish in his three-day event eventually winning by a massive 74 points.

He said: “It was a very enjoyable competition and I was fortunate enough to shoot well and win. It’s amazing to think what we’ve managed to achieve since taking up the sport.

“Liz was outstanding. On the first day of shooting both Liz and I set new English National record scores for the Unmarked 3D round.

“And on the second day of the competition we were shooting the whole round in the rain thus adding an extra element to the competition.

“I only took archery up by accident in 2000 when I went along to a taster day and I still treat it as a hobby as it’s something I really enjoy.

“I’ve won the World title in South African, Switzerland and the United States now. The next one is in Australia and I hope I can get over there to defend the title, but the sport is self-financing.”

Holmes is a member of Nemesis Archers which is a club based in Woodhall Spa.

He works in Peterborough as a mechanical engineer, but practices once a week, while also competing at least once a week.

The World Championships take place every two years so the married couple hope to be heading Down Under in 2011.

Liz would then be seeking her own hat-trick of world titles as she also won in South Africa. She withdrew during the Switzerland event because of poor weather.

Archers in the bowhunter event shoot at targets shaped like animals from a variety of distances between 10 yards and 60 yards.

Holmes beat competitors from Germany, Switzerland and Austria as well as the host nation to claim his latest gold medal.

Mr and Mrs Holmes were part of a team of four achers that came second in the overall team event behind an Italian team.