Crystal Palace Bowmen

Handicaps and Classification

Shooting and scoring a round, and then giving the scoresheet to the records officer (Terry) enables him to calculate your handicap and classification.

Handicaps

The handicap is a way of checking your archery is improving even when shooting different rounds each week.

To get an initial handicap, during the year you have to shoot 3 rounds.

Handicap medal

The initial handicap will be the average of the 3 handicaps rounded up. For each round with an improvement, the handicap is recalculated as the average of the new handicap and the old rounded up. Since the handicap is only made from your best scores, you will often shoot rounds with scores below your handicap level.

Handicap Improvement Medal

The Handicap Improvement Medal (shown right) is awarded by the club each year to the club member that achieves the greatest outdoor handicap improvement over the year. The ArcheryGB "Shooting Administration Procedure 6", paragraph 6 (page 6-4) gives the details. The winner shall have been a member of the Club for at least six months prior to 1 January and shall be in possession of a current handicap on that date, and shall have shot a minimum of 8 rounds. The medal is loaned by the club as it is property of Archery GB.

Classification

ArcherGB classifications are based on the percentage of archers reaching a particular handicap level. So 1st class may be set at 40% of archers, and Grand Master Bowman at only the top 1.5%. As bows, arrows and training improve, the scores needed are adjusted, so it's necessary to check using the latest copy of the ArcheryGB "Shooting Administration Procedure 7" which can be found online (see the links page).

For Archer you need to shoot 12 dozen arrows, e.g. 3 x 4 dozen Warwicks, and get scores above those listed in the tables all in the same year to achieve the classification. You then need to repeat that every year to keep it. For the Bowmen classes you need to shoot 18 dozen. For Archer 3rd class to Bowman 1st class, these can be shot on club days and Terry will do the work. For Master Bowman, Grand Master Bowman and Elite Master Bowman it has to be shot at a record status event, shooting 36 dozen arrows at either 12 dozen rounds or WA 70ms, and then claimed from ArcheryGB.

The 3rd class Archer can be gained at any age by shooting Warwick 30 yard rounds, 2 dozen at 30 yards and 2 dozen at 20 yards. For the younger juniors it may be easier to shoot the 6 dozen short metric IV or V which are at a shorter distance of 20 or 15m. See the Scores for Rounds page for details.

badge There were badges available from archery shops for the old classification scheme. There are new badges for the new scheme from Merlin Archery and probably other shops..

Crystal Palace Bowmen Tassles

CPB Tassle Tassles are awarded for achieving an ArcheryGB classification.
This part is out of date and needs updating.

Bow TypeTassle Acorn
LongbowBrown (was Wood)
BarebowWhite (was Clear Plastic)
RecurveGreen (was Wool)
CompoundGrey (was Metal)
ClassificationColour
3rd classGreen
2nd classBlue
1st classRed
Bowman 3rd classYellow Green
Bowman 2nd classYellow Blue
Bowman 1st classYellow Red
Master BowmanBlack/White
Grand Master BowmanPurple
Elite Master BowmanWhite