New Archery Grading System Introduced.
Our Archery section recently introduced a new Grading system which signifies the progress made in developing accuracy with a bow on our range.
There are 9 grades in total, which are shown in the table below, from lowest to highest. We aim to hold a grading shoot every month, and the scores from these grading shoots are used to determine which grade is awarded. Grades are awarded half yearly. Scoring for each grading shoot is done at 20 metres over 5 rounds of 5 arrows (25 shots total, max possible score 250). Scoring zones are as follows:
White – 0 to 50
Yellow – 51 to 75
Orange – 76 to 100
Purple – 101 to 125
Blue – 126 to 150
Green – 151 to 175
Brown – 176 to 200
Black – 201 to 225
Master Black – 226 to 250
However the grading system is not a “point in time” score for a single shoot as in a competition, depending on the level of the grade the archer must have multiple scores from different grading shoots in the scoring range to qualify for the patch, with more qualifying scores required for the more advanced grades. A single grading shoot in the 0 to 50 range is enough for a White belt award, however for Orange, Purple and Blue you must have a minimum of 2 grading shoots in the applicable range, Green or Brown needs 3 grading shoots, Black needs 4. Master Black only needs 1 grading shoot in the 226 to 250 range, however you must have attained Black first. It can thus be seen that the system is designed to encourage consistency, and a single “lucky score” will not result in the award of a more advanced level patch.
Two other Clubs regularly shoot on our Archery range and the patch design incorporates elements from the 3 clubs involved. The main colours used are associated with the clubs – the Green, White and Orange background represents East Coast Shooting Club, the “home” of the archers. The Dragon and the Tiger (representing Wisdom and Ferocity respectively) represent Ballinter Bushi Kenpo JuJitsu Kai, and the Trefoil design represents the USS Cuchulain Star Trek Club. We have also taken the three points of the Trefoil to represent the motto of our archers – Courage, Honour and Integrity.
The attached photos show some members receiving their badges along with the club president who scrounged one as he likes badges.
