ArcheryFox
Active member
Before anyone gets smart, yes I know it is (Grand) Master Bowman.
I recently got around to read the latest edition of ArcheryUK, and saw that they are asking for feedback from AGB members on the classifications (page 58).
One thing that struck me in particular was that there was a suggestion that the MB and GMB classifications might be opened up to 720 rounds.
This got me thinking - aside from defining the nation's 'top' archers, I have always been brought up as both a junior and a senior to see the MB and GMB classifications as representing a mastery of archery across a range of distances, including long distance, and the ability to sustain this excellence across a 12 doz round.
I realise that there are more and more 720 rounds every year, and that the national tour is a 720 round, but I wonder if such a change might devalue the meaning of the award and what it stands for at present.
Of course, this is just my personal interpretation following those that brought me up in archery, so I would be interested to hear what other people see these awards as representing.
Footnotes:
The (G)MB has also had clearly defined criteria as being a 12 doz round including the longest distance. If the 720 were to be added it opens a whole can of worms regarding other rounds such as the St. George/Albion/Windsor, National, Western which could be argued to meet the same criteria as the 720.
Further there is the question of setting the scores, as it is relatively common that archers shoot a higher handicap scores at closer distances.
I recently got around to read the latest edition of ArcheryUK, and saw that they are asking for feedback from AGB members on the classifications (page 58).
One thing that struck me in particular was that there was a suggestion that the MB and GMB classifications might be opened up to 720 rounds.
This got me thinking - aside from defining the nation's 'top' archers, I have always been brought up as both a junior and a senior to see the MB and GMB classifications as representing a mastery of archery across a range of distances, including long distance, and the ability to sustain this excellence across a 12 doz round.
I realise that there are more and more 720 rounds every year, and that the national tour is a 720 round, but I wonder if such a change might devalue the meaning of the award and what it stands for at present.
Of course, this is just my personal interpretation following those that brought me up in archery, so I would be interested to hear what other people see these awards as representing.
Footnotes:
The (G)MB has also had clearly defined criteria as being a 12 doz round including the longest distance. If the 720 were to be added it opens a whole can of worms regarding other rounds such as the St. George/Albion/Windsor, National, Western which could be argued to meet the same criteria as the 720.
Further there is the question of setting the scores, as it is relatively common that archers shoot a higher handicap scores at closer distances.