Here at Devizes Bowmen, we are keen to celebrate the successes and progress that our archers are achieving. We promote the Archery 252 scheme and award badges for achieving this score at distances from 20 yards to 80 yards. We also encourage archers to shoot nationally recognised rounds to get a handicap (like in golf) which can be used in some of our club competitions.
Handicaps
To obtain a handicap an archer must shoot at least three rounds. These need to be shot with at least one other archer and the results need to be recorded, witnessed, signed and submitted to the records officer.
Each year we award a trophy to the archer who has achieved the greatest improvement in their handicap.
You can see what your handicap would be for a particular round on our handicap calculator page
Certain scores for certain rounds can also earn you a classification (more badges!)
Classifications
Classifications are important to because they are a good indication of where you are in terms of scoring ability and provide a benchmark for levels of improvement. There are nine classification levels: third class archer, second class archer, first class archer, third class bowman, second class bowman, first class bowman, master bowman, grand master bowman and elite master bowman. You can hold different classifications for different bow types.
To gain a classification you need to shoot rounds up to a minimum number of arrows for the classification. 12 dozen arrows are needed for the archer tier, 18 dozen arrows for the bowman tier. The highest three classifications, Master Bowman, Grand Master Bowman & Elite Master Bowman, can only be achieved with scores achieved at record status competitions.
Our classification pages shows you what score you need for each classification level for your gender, age-range and bow style for all the different rounds you might choose to shoot. It is split for indoor rounds and outdoor rounds.
Classification Lifetimes
Classifications last until the end of the next season i.e. an outdoor classification gained in the 2024 will persist until the end of the 2025 outdoor season. If the archer doesn’t reacquire it (or better it) they will lose that one and would be awarded a classification based on solely on the scores from that 2025 season. If they haven’t shot enough to get a new classification, they revert to an “Unclassified” status until they gain a new classification.