As well as entering competitions, classifications are a great way to track your own personal progress. And you get to display the badges you earn on your archery kit, too!
At Rickmansworth Archery Club we use a number of different classification systems but the common element to each of them is a score table giving the scores that it is necessary to achieve for each classification level. In many cases these scores will differ depending on the age and gender of the archer and the type of bow they are shooting – but for some it will just be a score to achieve irrespective of age, gender or bow. In most cases three scores over the required score will be necessary to qualify for that classification or award.
Outdoor classifications
For Target Archery, AGB publish a comprehensive range of national classification tables for outdoor rounds that categorise archers into 9 classes of ability – Archer Third Class through to Elite Master Bowman. There will be different scores leading to each classification for each of the age groups U12, U14, U15, U16, U18, U21, Senior and 50+, Men or Women and Recurve, Longbow, Barebow or Compound bow types. You can hold different classifications for different bow types.
For more information on the scores needed to achieve a classification, please download the following based on the type of bow being used:
Here at Rickmansworth Archery Club we also run the ‘252’ award scheme, which can help archers track their progress and improve their confidence to shoot at longer distances. This is where an archer shoots three dozen arrows at a single imperial distance (e.g. 20 yards, 30 yards etc). The archer must score at least 252 points three times at a single distance over a season to be awarded the badge. The score needed differs slightly for compound bows, barebows and longbows. You can find more information and the qualifying scores here.
Indoor classifications
AGB also publishes an Indoor Classification system just like it does for outdoor. Prior to the 2023/24 season indoor categories were graded from H up to A but from 2023/24 onwards a new classification system mirroring the outdoor one has been introduced with 8 classifications from Indoor Archer Third Class through to Indoor Grand Master Bowman. The same principles apply, an archer must achieve a minimum scores three times over the indoor season to be awarded the badge. You can find the qualifying scores for each type of bow here.
The club has recently also introduced the ‘Portsmouth award’ badge scheme, which has proved popular. An archer must shoot a Portsmouth round (60 arrows at a distance of 20 yards), and can claim a badge when scoring between 300 and 590. Badges are available in 25 point increments from scores of 300 to 575 and then 5 point increments up to 590.
Progress Awards
For archers who are new to the sport and have joined the club after undertaking a beginners course, we operate the AGB Progress Awards scheme to encourage everyone to keep scores and monitor their progress. The Progress Award round is 36 arrows at distances from 10 yards or metres to 50 yards or metres. Progress Award Badges for age groups U12, U14, U16, U18 and Senior and bow types Compound, Barebow, Longbow or Recurve are given out upon achievement of qualifying scores. There are 5 categories – White through to Gold and they are awarded for both Indoor and Outdoor shooting.