Fakenham Club Target Days & ArcheryGB Classifications
We’ve introduced Club Target Days for those who want to improve their skills, be a bit more competitive, and who want even more BLING! than 252s and Portsmouths can offer.
What is a Target Day?
We define this as a normal shoot day, announced in advance as a Target Day, with “a significant number of those present” shooting formal ArcheryGB “Rounds”, and with formal scoring similar to a competition.
We are a relatively small club with a wide range of abilities and ambitions. For outdoor shoots, some people can shoot longer distances, some can’t yet, so we have to be flexible in what Rounds can be shot. We can’t expect everyone to shoot exactly the same. So some might be able to shoot an “Albion” (9 dozen arrows starting at 80 yards), while others might choose a “Warwick30” (4 dozen starting at 30yards). We also can’t expect everyone to want to shoot formal Rounds, which is why we say “a significant number of those present”. The aim is to give a taste of what it’s like to shoot in a formal competition but in a nice safe friendly environment. If you don’t want to do it, it’s just a normal shoot.
A bit more detail….
Formal scoring means you shoot with one or more people and write down each others scores, not your own. Normally you’re on the same target, but it’s feasible (and sometimes necessary, given our wide range of abilities) to do it with someone on a nearby target shooting a different distance.
A Round is a set number of arrows shot at 2 or more set distances. For example, a Warwick30 is 2 dozen arrows (4 ends) at 30 yds, then 2 dozen (4 ends) at 20 yds. A Western40 is 4 dozen at 40yd then 4 dozen at 30yd. You get the picture. There’s a list of all the possibilities on the noticeboard in the pavilion. The Classification Tables are below it showing what scores you need for what badges.
Getting the bling i.e. the Classifications
If you score high enough on the round, it counts towards your ArcheryGB Classification. Once you’ve completed enough, you can claim a badge for that classification.
For outdoor shoots…
For outdoor shoots, classifications start at Archer 3rd Class, 2nd Class, 1st Class, and go on to Bowman 3rd Class, 2nd, 1st. After that are Master Bowman and beyond, shot only at record status competitions. For indoor shoots there are indoor equivalents (see below).
For Archer, you need to shoot a minimum total of 12 dozen arrows to qualify, so this usually means shooting 2 to 3 rounds, depending on which you choose. These can be shot on normal days, not just Club Target Days, but it must be formal scoring.
For Bowman, it’s a minimum total of 18 dozen arrows, and this does have to be at a competitive event, which includes Club Target Days. So, that’s part of the reason for introducing them.
Once you’ve shot your 12 or 18 dozen, you hand in your score sheets or copies to Paul or Elaine, who will check it all and sign it off. The club is subsidising these badges, so now all you need to do is collect your bling. And maybe do a little dance of joy.
Your classification is the lowest of those rounds you submit. So if you shoot three Warwick30s and score enough for Archer 2nd Class on two of them but 3rd Class on one, it qualifies for 3rd Class. You don’t have to submit the 3rd Class one, you can try again and if you get 2nd Class, submit that.
Choosing a Round. We usually shoot the ArcheryGB Outdoor Imperial Rounds. There are Metric rounds as well which work in much the same way. The Imperial Rounds are broadly: York and Bristols (12 dozen), St George, Albion and Windsors (9 dozen), Westerns (8 dozen), Nationals (6 dozen), Warwicks (4 dozen). Each of the rounds starts with shooting a set number of arrows at a set distance, then a set number of arrows at a shorter distance.
Within each of these groups there are rounds starting at distances between 30 yards and 100 yards. So, a Warwick30 is 30yds then 20yds, and Warwick50 is 50yds then 40yds and so on. You choose whatever starting distance you’re comfortable with. As you’d expect, the shorter the distance i.e. the easier it is, then the more points you need to score to qualify.
For indoor shoots…
The principles are the same as for outdoor shoots.
The differences:
Rounds are obviously different, indoors most people will be shooting Portsmouths (5 dozen) or Brays.
The distance doesn’t change during a round.
The Classifications are Indoor Archer and Indoor Bowman.
For Indoor Archer, you need to shoot a minimum total of 10 dozen arrows to qualify, so this usually means shooting 2 Portsmouth rounds, but depending on which you choose. These can be shot on normal days, not just Club Target Days, but it must be formal scoring.
For Indoor Bowman, it’s a minimum total of 15 dozen arrows, and this does have to be at a competitive event, which includes Club Target Days.
When are the Target Days?
For indoor shoots, because many or most people are shooting the same round ie usually Portsmouth, and scoring formally, we designate each indoor shoot day as a Target Day.
For outdoor shoots, for 2025, because so many people were shooting formal AGB rounds and scoring formally in 2024, we are trialing designating each day which is not a clout practice as a Target Day.
Page last updated 20 Mar 2025
