The Archery GB Field Classification scheme allows archers of all levels to understand their skill level and progress through the various awards available. This starts at Archer 3rd Class classification and runs through to Elite Master Bowman.
Our sport is always developing and as part of this progression, we have revisited and updated the field classification scheme, both modernising and creating more awards to give all archers a roadmap to progress along, no matter their skill level.
Inclusivity is important in our sport and that is why the new update includes new Archer tiers to give beginners a more substantial way to mark their progression through the sport. New archers should typically be able to achieve a classification within their first 1-2 years. Additionally, for those looking for a bigger challenge we've added an Elite Master Bowman classification, which will be no easy task to achieve in a field season.
There are nine different classification levels available to all archers, which are grouped into three sets of three. An archer starts off with the Archer tier, with 3rd Class, 2nd Class and 1st Class awards. They then move up to the Bowman tier, again with 3rd Class, 2nd Class and 1st Class, and then finally the Master Bowman tier, where the naming gets a little more fun with Master Bowman (MB), Grand Master Bowman (GMB) and Elite Master Bowman (EMB).
These levels cover the full range of experience for the vast majority of archers, with Archer 3rd Class achievable by many new archers within their first year or two in the sport, whereas Elite Master Bowman will be a challenge for even the very best in the country to maintain.
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Tier |
Sub-tiers |
Rounds |
Type of Event |
Administered by |
Archer |
Archer 3rd Class Archer 2nd Class Archer 1st Class |
3 rounds as listed in classification tables |
Any event |
Clubs |
Bowman |
Bowman 3rd Class Bowman 2nd Class Bowman 1st Class |
3 rounds as listed in classification tables | Any competitive event | Clubs |
Master Bowman |
Master Bowman Grand Master Bowman Elite Master Bowman |
3 x 24-target rounds as listed in classification tables |
Any record status competition (Scores must be from three different record status events) |
Archery GB |
The bowstyle, gender and age of the archer determines the specific scores applied. The scores across different rounds are calculated from classification tables in the resources section of this webpage. In addition to the skill element, each award has a minimum distance required for each classification.
You can view the Field Classification Tables in the Resources section of this page. Many people also make use of third-party online tables, calculators or score tracking apps for calculating their handicaps and classifications. Whilst it may take some time for all of these to become up-to-date with the new schemes, Archery Calculator already supports the new tables.
To help you understand how to calculate your own classification, we will now walk through the different tiers. As the largest part of membership is Adult Recurve, we will base the following examples on this category.
The Archer tier is designed so that a wide range of club-level archers should be able to achieve one of its levels. Most archers should be able to complete Archer 3rd Class during their first 1-2 years within the sport.
To achieve any award in the Archer tier, the archer needs to shoot 3 rounds. For Archer 3rd Class, these rounds can be from the white peg distances. If the archer reaches the minimum score required, then the scored round contributes towards their classification. Once they have shot 3 rounds at that classification level, they have achieved the award. Congratulations! The archer then may look at aiming for the Archer 2nd Class award.
As an archer progresses through the Archer tier the difficulty increases on two fronts: distance and consistency, so a harder score level must be achieved on the longer peg rounds.
To find the specific scores applying to your bowstyle, age and gender please view the tables in the resources section of this webpage.
At the Archer level, we encourage clubs to make these awards as accessible as possible with it being possible to obtain the scores during practice. That said, we do encourage the score to be shot following the rules of shooting and be witnessed by another archer to ensure the integrity of the scoring process. Target clubs are also encouraged to participate in the scheme by running events at their clubs with targets set out at the different distances. The aim of this would be to provide archers with an introduction to field archery that is familiar and not daunting, encouraging them to the point where they might enter their first field event or find a local club.
This level of classifications is typically administered by Records Officers or Coaches, so ask them what requirements they have.
Once they reach Archer 1st Class standard, archers move up to the Bowman tier. At this level archers are typically taking part in competitive events from club level right up to national level. For these awards 3 scores are still required, but they must now be shot from the age- and bowstyle-appropriate peg.
With the Bowman classifications, the archer should be quite familiar with shooting rounds and probably is ready for a more formal shooting environment. Archers should now be shooting their scores at competitions, club target days, friendly matches or any other event in line with rule 304. It doesn’t need to be too formal, but as a guideline it should be an event organised in advance, with multiple people taking part and with rules around practice and scoring being followed as if it were a competition. For example, these might be a 12-target round shot as part of a winter league or internally organised club target day/evening.
The Bowman classifications are still administered at club level, so we recommend discussing events with Records Officers to avoid any confusion. To find the specific scores applying to your bowstyle, age and gender please view the tables in the resources section of this webpage.
Journeying through the Bowman tier, archers are likely to have encountered their first full Record Status competition. These are now a requirement for the Master Bowman tier, with only scores from the 24-target rounds shot at World Record or UK Record Status events eligible to count towards the classification. Note also that only one score from a particular event/weekend can be used to count towards the award. This is so that archers do not shoot the same course twice in one weekend.
Master Bowman is the first award in this tier, moving up to Grand Master Bowman and, finally, to Elite Master Bowman. This final level represents scores which would typically be competitive at international events. While these scores are achievable, doing so consistently across a season is a huge achievement and only a handful of archers will likely be able to do so in a given year. It’s possible that no one will achieve this level in some years!
The claim form for Master Bowman classifications will be launched ahead of the field season once WRS and UKRS events begin. In order to obtain a Master Bowman classification, scores will need to be shot during this upcoming field season (2025 onwards).
To find the specific scores applying to your bowstyle, age and gender please view the tables in the resources section of this webpage.
Click here to submit your Master Bowman claim (available from 1 January 2025)
If after reading this webpage, the Shooting Administrative procedures, and FAQ you still have questions, please email enquiries@archerygb.org.
The Handicap and Classification scheme is subject to an ongoing review process to ensure it meets progressive changes in our sport and infrastructure.
While we’ve conducted this review to improve the inclusivity of the classification system, we recognise more work is needed around inclusive language throughout our sport. This forms part of our wider strategic ambitions.
