New classification tables came into force for outdoor competitions in January 2023 – brief guide
The classification tables are based on Men or Women categories, subdivided into different bow styles, Compound, Recurve, Barebow and Longbow and different age categories. (note Flatbow, Horse bow etc use the Barebow category under Archery GB rules).
There are different classes:
- Archer Tier – includes Archer 3rd Class, Archer 2nd Class and Archer 1st Class classifications. These are based on scores achieved for specific outdoor distances which for the first time do not need to be shot in actual competitions. They can be put on by clubs managed and scored in the same way as competitions but at shorter distances. There is a minimum of 12 dozen arrows needed to be shot above a threshold score and the classification can be awarded.
- Bowman Tier – includes Bowman 3rd Class, Bowman 2nd Class and Bowman 1st Class. These need to be achieved during competition rounds and the total number of arrows is 18 dozen. They may therefore be achieved in just 2 competitions such as a Windsor 9 dozen arrows, and a St. George – also 9 dozen arrows. WOAC’s first two competitions of the 2023 outdoor season.
- Master Bowman Tier – includes, Master Bowman, Grand Master Bowman and Elite Master Bowman. This Tier is for the really good club / county archer going up to national level archer and can only be achieved in appropriate Record Status Competitions and awarded through Archery GB. A minimum of 36 dozen arrows are needed to be shot above a threshold score for the classification to be awarded.
The classifications are arrived at from looking at the archers score and factoring in the above categories and using the classification tables. To give examples from a recent competition:
- A senior male archer, shooting Compound in the Windsor round exceeded the Archer 1st Class target with a score of 902, he must now repeat that for another 9 dozen arrows to achieve that Classification.
- A senior male archer shooting Barebow in the Windsor round with a score of 631 exceeded the Bowman 3rd Class target score, this is a higher classification for a lower score. He also needs to repeat that for another 9 dozen arrows to achieve that Classification.
- In the same competition, a 50+ Senior archer shooting Barebow in the Windsor round with a recorded score of 628 – losing the win to the Archer above by 3 points – exceeded the 50+ Bowman 2nd Class target score. Again, a higher classification for a lower score. However, the 50+ category was not identified in the Score Sheets, so he has only achieved a Bowman 3rd Class target score and also needs to repeat this for another 9 dozen arrows to achieve that Classification.
Handicap
- Handicaps are achieved for an individual competition round based on tables provided by Archery GB. These tables take into account the archers age to the extent that many competition rounds have named Junior Rounds. There is no adjustment for gender or bow style.
- The idea behind the handicap is that an archer attending a competition may submit their handicap and be included in a handicap award where this is provided by the organiser. Spoiler alert – those competitions offering handicap awards are not common within club and county archery.
- There is however a medal which is awarded each year at the WOAC AGM to the archer with the most improved handicap.
The Classification and Handicap tables are available from Archery GB –
https://archerygb.org/resources/outdoor-classifications-and-handicaps
