A 15-year-old latecomer to an archery contest in County Durham at the weekend showed competitors he has more than one similarity to Robin Hood after winning first prize.

Whereas Robin of Loxley could claim to be king of the shooters in Sherwood Forest, Alexander Chisholm-Loxley, who lives a stone's throw from Hamsterley Forest, near Bishop Auckland, County Durham, can proudly boast the fact that he won the shoot-off at the World Wand Championships, held in the grounds of Raby Castle, near Staindrop, on Sunday.

The schoolboy missed the deadline for entering the competition and was only allowed to compete after his mother spoke to the organiser.

He even had to borrow a bow and arrows.

Archers had to shoot at a wooden baton in the ground.

During the morning round, where the winner is the archer who scores the most hits was won by Stan Rylance, from East Bolden, Tyneside.

But the biggest shock was in the shoot-off round in the afternoon, where the distance from the wand is increased from 20 yards to 50 yards.

Alexander, a pupil at Durham Johnston School, in Durham, got through to shoot-off final and faced four experienced archers.

"Everyone just thought one of the other finalists would win," said Fred Bates, the chairman of The Archers of the Tees, who organised the contest.

"Everyone went berserk when he won."

"It's unusual for juniors to take part in competitions, but with this one, we just open it up to anybody who thinks they can have a go."

Alexander, who has been a member of St Giles archery club, in Durham, for just over a year, said: "It was the first time I had ever shot in a competition like that, and only the second time I had shot at targets like that."

"I wasn't expecting to win. I was pretty shocked, but very excited," said Alexander, who says he was inspired to take up the sport by Lord of the Rings, rather than Robin Hood.

Alexander won a medal and will have his name engraved on a trophy, which will be kept in Raby Castle.