Seventeen-year-old Jesse Thompson faced the hardest course of his life to successfully defend his three-year title as Canadian champion taking top place last week at the Canadian 3D Nationals in Dauphin, Manitoba.

The rugged course - straight up and straight down - has well prepared him for the next challenge as he heads to the Worlds Championships Aug. 24-29 in Ellicottville, New York.

"It's going to be tough," Thompson said Monday at his Vineland home and he anticipates stiff competition from around the world. "The best will be from Iowa, Florida and Pennsylvania.

"But I've just shot one of the hardest courses and that was the best practise for the Worlds."

After a four-hour drive on flat prairie lands north of Winnipeg it was a shock to see the rugged course rise up out of nowhere for the nationals competition Aug.7-10 in Dauphin, Manitoba.

Competitors broke 80 targets down over three days of shooting, lining up their sights at 15, 30 and 45-degree angles over steep terrain.

They shot 26 targets the first day and Thompson had a fairly tight lead by nine points. The second day the course was easier. All competitors shot well and Thompson's lead was reduced to six points.

Day three it was all flat fields, windy and no cover - the hardest course - with everyone shooting at maximums up to 50 yards.

Thompson showed his grit under pressure and extended the lead back out to 20 points followed by second place competitor Isaac Ferreria and third place, Daniel Black.

"They were great shooters and great guys. We had fun the whole weekend," Thompson said.

The format for the worlds will include 20 targets the first day and 20 the second day. Day three, the top 10 will meet for a 10-target shoot off. Thompson has a clear fix on a plan to make the shoot offs, be seated in the top groups and then place in the top third.

Thompson trains out of Mackie's Mountain Archery in Beamsville where owner Bob Mackie is a sponsor along with other sponsors of the national champion including APA Archery T.R.U. Ball, Brunton Optics and the province.