Barebow rankings: Your chance to have your say

Sarah Hubbard, a member of the Barebow Ranking Administration Group and current UK barebow number 1, explains how it might be time for barebow archers to adopt the standard ranking system used by compound and recurves.

We’re seeking the views of barebow archers across the UK about the current ranking system.

Barebow community, how do you feel about your ranking system? Do you feel it’s time to switch things up?
Archery GB and the Barebow Ranking Administration Group have created a survey so you can share your opinions of your ranking system. The closing date is 1 September.
The aim of the survey is to get your feedback, and only then might changes be made to fit your suggestions. If you want to be a part of this and have your opinion heard, read on, and don’t forget to fill out the survey at the end.

Due to the current economic crisis and availability of certain shoots, we want to make acquiring a National Ranking as easy and accessible as possible to everyone.

Barebow as a discipline and community is growing at a very encouraging rate, and we are receiving increasing recognition and publicity for what we do.

We are now recognised by World Archery as a target discipline and have world records, giving us the same status as recurve and compound archers in that respect.

With that in mind, we, the Barebow Ranking Administration Group and AGB staff who have been managing and maintaining the rankings, have been looking to the future and how we might be able to continue to move forward.

We currently work to different criteria with regards to the National Rankings, but perhaps it's time we consider different options. We would like to be given the same opportunities, be able to compete on the same stages and become equal with recurve and compounds. So, should we now think about using the same national ranking criteria?

We want to hear what you think about us moving to the ranking system used for the recurve and compound archers in the 2024 season.

The current barebow ranking system:

• Shoot 2 x Record Status WA 1440 rounds, 2 x 50m WA50 rounds, 1 x Record Status York/Hereford round
• All to be shot at Record Status competitions

The standard system used by recurve and compounds:

• This is the ranking system we are proposing to take up for barebows
• Shoot at least one of any of the Tier 1, 2, 2+ or 3 events
• Points are awarded depending on the event tier and position of the archer at the end of each competition
• Points can be used from up to five world record status events in the UK

The Tiers

Tier 1 events:

• The National Tour Stages and Final
• The UK Masters 70m/50m and Head-to-Head
• The British Target Championships 70m/50m & Head-to-Head

Tier 2+ events:

Either a WA 1440 or a Double 70m/50m which takes place the day before or the day after a Tier 1 event at the same venue (for example the WA 1440 at the British Target Championships).

Tier 2:

All World Record Status 70/50m and head-to-heads in the UK, which are not closed events. 

Tier 3:

All World Record Status Single/Double 70m/50m Rounds and WA1440 rounds.

For more information on the standard system, please see the link here.

So, what now?

Please fill out the survey below and tell us what you think about this change. Do you think it's a good idea or a bad idea? Do you want more information on how it all works?

Please take your time to think about it before you respond but be honest, and if you have any more questions please ask. This change would affect us all, so we want to know what you think!

Survey here