Club Records
Club Records
Handicaps, Rounds and classifications
I hope this quick guide helps explain what rounds you have to tackle to achieve the “classifications” up to Bowman.
Remember that all this is set down in the Shooting Admin Procedures available on the Archery GB website and on the Nottinghamshire Archery website there is a table of the different “rounds” available on this site and a link is provided at the bottom of this page
A round is a set number of arrows at set distances; a “Warwick” is 2 dozen at 60 yards and 2 dozen at 50.
This is all about seniors; for juniors the principles are the same but the distances are age related.
The senior ladies’ distances for a 12 dozen round (the Hereford/Bristol 1) are 80, 60 and 50 yards.
For senior gentlemen the York distances are 100, 80, 60 yards.
There are also metric rounds measured in meters for instance the longest being a gents WA1440 3 dozen arrows at each distance 90m, 70m, 50m, 30m.
A ladies WA1440 is 3 dozen arrows at each distances of 70m, 60m, 50m, 30m
To put in a “Bowman” score you need to shoot at least 6 dozen arrows in a round that includes your longest distance from the York/Hereford, WA1440
This means some sort of “National” (ie 4 dozen at the longer distance and 2 at the shorter). Not too many arrows to shoot and they can fit in an evening practice session.
If you’re hoping for a “First Class” score you will still need to shoot a 6 dozen round but can come down to a National where the longest distance is your middle York/Hereford distance.
A New National is 100/80, a Long National is 80/60, a National is 60/50 and a Short National is 50/40; this system applies to Western and Warwick rounds also.
If you shoot shorter distances or fewer arrows than this you will be limited to a “Second Class” score, a good ambition if you are at an early stage in your shooting.
There is also a handicap system that allows you to compare different rounds directly, for example a 450 York and a 476 Short National both rate as a 52 handicap (that’s Grand Master Bowman standard for a Gent shooting Longbow).
The handicap system also allows competition between archers of different abilities and bowstyles as there is a set allowance (like a head start for a faster runner) for each handicap.
The Notts league competition includes individual and team handicap awards for example.
Only the records officer can award and update your handicap.
What you need to do is submit three scores for recognised rounds to get your first handicap; this is then reviewed as you put in more scores. At the end of the season there is an annual review.
There is an award given each year for the archer who most improves their handicap senior and junior, this is reported to Archery GB and published in their magazine.
There is also a best first handicap award for seniors and juniors
For handicap purposes and awarding classification badges I will accept your word that someone else scored your arrows,
Send your scores to me at
recordsofficer.sherwood@gmail.com
If you use archery scorepad you can put this email address in and send it to me straight from the app
I will accept scores for all outdoor Inc frostbite and 252 rounds* and all indoor rounds
*252 rounds do not count towards a handicap
Please always include the details below when submitting a record claim.
- Name
- Date
- Bowstyle
- Round
- Score
- Age for juniors every time please as this makes a difference to classification
- Venue
The club records and current handicaps are on the website, I update the records/ handicaps regularly as and when scores come in and records/handicaps are achieved
If you are claiming a new club record I will need the paper score sheet (or a scanned copy/photo) counter-signed by your scorer in order to accept a new record. The score sheet can be added as an attachment
Good shooting!
Lee Waterfield
Records Officer