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 can offer.
For outdoor shoots…
This is basically a normal shoot day, announced in advance as a Target Day, with as many people as we can muster shooting the same or similar ArcheryGB “Rounds”, and with formal scoring similar to a competition. The shooting line at its normal position in order to allow longer distances to be shot. There are different distances so there’s sometimes a bit of target moving involved during the shoot. It’s fun and gives you 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 to do it with someone on an adjacent 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….
If you score high enough on the round, it counts towards your ArcheryGB Classification and badge. These 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 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 fill in a claim form and hand it in with copies of your score sheets 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.
FAQs
Sighters. You get 6 arrows as sighters at the longest distance you’re shooting, but not at the shorter distance(s).
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’re shooting the ArcheryGB Outdoor Imperial Rounds (there are Metric rounds as well). These are broadly: York and Bristols (12 dozen), St George, Albion and Windsors (9 dozen), Westerns (8 dozen), Nationals (6 dozen), Warwicks (4 dozen).
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.
Scoring on apps: We’re already supporting scoring on phone apps and it seems to work well. You can score using an app ONLY IF it allows a counter-signature from your fellow archer and can export to Excel or PDF or similar so that there is a paper record. Your fellow archer needs to key in your scores and you theirs, just as if it were a paper sheet.
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. So, that’s part of the reason for introducing them.
Page last updated 02 Dec 2024
