Originally published in On Target, Volume 1, Issue 2, Spring 1996.
This is an open letter to all archers concerning the top ten placing at the end of each year. First of all I am totally in favor of the Top Ten placing. It is an honor for those who make the list and it gives the rest of us something to shoot for (no pun intended). It just seems a little unfair the way it is currently set up. As I understand it there is one class called "Open," which is open to all weights of bows and to both longbows and recurves. Obviously this class must be really huge and only the very best would have any hope of placing in it. Then there is Longbow I (for those shooting longbows 45 lb. and over) and Longbow II (for those shooting longbows under 45 lb.). The intentions behind splitting this class into the two sections was (as I have been told) to make it more fair for those archers who do not have the physical strength to pull a heavier bow.
Generally this has worked really well, except that I have noticed that a few archers have both a heavy longbow and a light longbow and are placing in both classes. However it is essentially one class with two sections, not two separate classes and participants should be in one or the other section, not both. It seems to me that if an archer has the physical strength to pull a heavier bow then he/she should compete in that category and if he/she wants to shoot the other for personal enjoyment that would be fine, but they shouldn't compete with it. After all, the archers with strength limitations really don't have the option to also enter the heavy class, which gives them only two possible classes to compete in, instead of all three. Perhaps each archer could declare which class they are going to compete in at the beginning of each year.
I also would like to suggest that the open class be split the same way, with no cross-entries. It would give many of us who may not be able to afford a longbow or just prefer a recurve a chance at an award which now seems hopelessly out of reach. Those of us shooting 25 lb. and 30 lb. bows have to elevate much higher to shoot from the 40 yard line and I do think it's harder for us than for those who can aim more directly at the target. The main idea is to take this very large class and split it into two sections, which will give more archers a chance at an award.
I realize that competing for an award is not for everyone, but for many of us having a goal that is possible to attain gives us a sense of something special to strive for, and attaining it gives a feeling of accomplishment and confidence. I would think that this would make our sport a stronger and more fun place for all to be part of, not just for those few who seem to garner the majority of the awards.
Please voice your opinion on this subject. Are these changes something that you would like to see happen?
I hope these suggestions will be taken in the spirit of bringing together archers of all abilities into a fair and supportive, as well as fun, pastime.
Thank you and happy shooting!
