If you do competitions especially travelling nationally then on a weekly basis the AGB fee is peanuts compared to all the other costs incurred by Competitors, Hosting Club and Judges.
However, I do struggle to understand why AGB are seen as only for competitive archers and it is competitive club archers that benefit more than archers that just shoot at their club.
It is Clubs that put on shoots not AGB and provide all the facilities, organisers and field party they are also responsible for the shoot making a profit and running smoothly - all these unpaid volunteers do a fabulous job giving up their weekend and hours prior to the shoot getting it all organised sometimes just for lunch and a few burgers throughout the day.
Competitions need Judges, again volunteers who had to pay to become qualified and have similar costs to the competitor, they probably get some of their travelling expenses back (as they should (paid out of the entrance fee)) lunch and a small thank you gift.
All the equipment used is supplied by the clubs.
It is the hosting club volunteers that ensure everything runs smoothly.
The host club takes all the financial risk if cancelled.
Most shoots follow WA Rules
Awards are WA Awards
Even Imperial Round shoots only have a few idiosyncrasies in the rules and are sadly being shot less and less.
Target Competitions would still be put on by clubs without AGB as it is in most cases a form of fund raising to keep subscriptions lower.
Most postal and intercounties leagues are run by volunteers not AGB
To be fair AGB might give me a UK Ranking which in reality counts for nothing as the system is so open to playing the system unless you are in the top 8 -16, sometimes a badge and my name in small print in a magazine.
All the achievements in the Magazine would not happen without all the club volunteers and the efforts of the unpaid.
A good percentage of go to coaches in the UK are not even qualified.
I enjoy competing and it is great to attend well run shoots and I am grateful to all the people involved, but when I drill down and itemise who does what this is not AGB's doing it but 99% the hosting clubs efforts and enthusiastic volunteers with the 1% blessing of AGB.
Please somebody tell me I have missed something.
However, I do struggle to understand why AGB are seen as only for competitive archers and it is competitive club archers that benefit more than archers that just shoot at their club.
It is Clubs that put on shoots not AGB and provide all the facilities, organisers and field party they are also responsible for the shoot making a profit and running smoothly - all these unpaid volunteers do a fabulous job giving up their weekend and hours prior to the shoot getting it all organised sometimes just for lunch and a few burgers throughout the day.
Competitions need Judges, again volunteers who had to pay to become qualified and have similar costs to the competitor, they probably get some of their travelling expenses back (as they should (paid out of the entrance fee)) lunch and a small thank you gift.
All the equipment used is supplied by the clubs.
It is the hosting club volunteers that ensure everything runs smoothly.
The host club takes all the financial risk if cancelled.
Most shoots follow WA Rules
Awards are WA Awards
Even Imperial Round shoots only have a few idiosyncrasies in the rules and are sadly being shot less and less.
Target Competitions would still be put on by clubs without AGB as it is in most cases a form of fund raising to keep subscriptions lower.
Most postal and intercounties leagues are run by volunteers not AGB
To be fair AGB might give me a UK Ranking which in reality counts for nothing as the system is so open to playing the system unless you are in the top 8 -16, sometimes a badge and my name in small print in a magazine.
All the achievements in the Magazine would not happen without all the club volunteers and the efforts of the unpaid.
A good percentage of go to coaches in the UK are not even qualified.
I enjoy competing and it is great to attend well run shoots and I am grateful to all the people involved, but when I drill down and itemise who does what this is not AGB's doing it but 99% the hosting clubs efforts and enthusiastic volunteers with the 1% blessing of AGB.
Please somebody tell me I have missed something.