Handicaps vs Classifications

Minimum Handicap Levels for Archery GB Classifications


Category Class Recurve Compound Longbow Barebow
Ladies GMB 27 15 59 49
MB 33 21 62 51
Bowman 41 29 65 67
1st Class 50 38 70 64
2nd Class 57 49 73 71
3rd Class 65 56 82 78
J Ladies U18 JMB 41 29 61 54
J Bowman 48 38 64 59
1st Class 57 49 68 64
2nd Class 64 56 73 69
3rd Class 70 66 77 73
J Ladies U16 JMB 50 38 66 59
J Bowman 58 49 70 65
1st Class 66 56 74 70
2nd Class 72 66 78 74
3rd Class 76 74 83 79
J Ladies U14 JMB 56 46 72 67
J Bowman 64 55 77 72
1st Class 73 65 82 77
2nd Class 80 75 87 83
3rd Class 87 84 93 90
J Ladies U12 JMB 65 54 78 73
J Bowman 70 63 83 78
1st Class 78 73 88 84
2nd Class 87 83 93 90
3rd Class 95 91 99 96
Category Class Recurve Compound Longbow Barebow
Gents GMB 22 10 52 40
MB 28 16 55 45
Bowman 36 23 60 49
1st Class 44 32 65 56
2nd Class 50 38 69 64
3rd Class 58 48 74 71
J Gents U18 JMB 31 23 56 50
J Bowman 39 32 62 57
1st Class 50 38 67 62
2nd Class 58 48 73 68
3rd Class 68 56 79 73
J Gents U16 JMB 40 32 60 53
J Bowman 48 38 65 60
1st Class 56 48 70 65
2nd Class 62 56 75 70
3rd Class 71 61 81 75
J Gents U14 JMB 50 38 66 60
J Bowman 58 48 72 67
1st Class 66 56 77 72
2nd Class 71 61 82 77
3rd Class 79 69 87 83
J Gents U12 JMB 61 48 75 69
J Bowman 69 56 81 75
1st Class 77 61 87 81
2nd Class 83 69 93 88
3rd Class 92 79 99 95


This table was compiled using publicly available information for comparative purposes only.  Any errors are probably mine.

1 comment:

  1. This table of handicaps/classifications is really useful and you may like to share it with other archers. Going forward Archery GB have stated they intend to discontinue associating classifications with rounds and just use a table like this with certain minimum distances / number of arrows being required for each class.

    So for example a Senior Gent seeking 2nd class will be required to shoot a minimum of 72 shots on a round starting at 60 metres or 60 yards or more.

    A word of warning to all the new barebow enthusiasts. (And this bit is just my opinion) You may be lulling yourselves into a false sense of achievement as many feel that the Barebow classifications are presently set at a comparably less demanding level than for the other disciplines. This is implied in your own blog notes above. This may be because Barebow is relatively new as a separate discipline (2008) and Archery GB hitherto have probably only had a small pool of score information available to them when "setting the bar". Some feel the bar has been set too low.

    In 2008 Archery GB ramped up the class achievement levels for compound archers presumably for this very reason, and many compound archers who had previously easily made Bowman or higher found they could no longer get to the required standard. So there is some precedent here. New and significantly improved Club, County and National Barebow records are being set all the time and I think it very likely we will see a re-evaluation of Barebow classification standards very soon. Good barebow archers are now shooting almost as well as Recurves who have the benefit of technology. Also more and more already good archers are switching from Recurve to Barebow for a change, and so they too have brought higher standards to the game.

    It is good to hear that trying Barebow has re-ignited your enthusiasm for Archery and this can only be a good thing. After all we do this thing for FUN!

    However, shooting barebow does not mean that sound principles of technique can be abandoned. True you no longer have access to sights, stabilisers or a draw check indicator. However shooting barebow, it is more important than ever that your alignment and release are good and consistent. You will need to continue to use your back muscles.

    I would suggest that you experiment further with your aiming method so that you can actually aim at something on the target rather than a random patch of mid-range grass that may or may not be available to you next time you shoot. The "shooting at daisies" method will become even less reliable as you step up distances and will almost certainly not work when you shoot in unfamiliar surroundings.

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