The distances are from ten to forty yards depending upon the choice of the winner of the previous end. This allows the competition to fit in the space available at most SCA archery fields. If the range conditions permit, then longer distances may be used.
The targets are the five rings of a standard 60 cm five color face with a two inch wide vertical band which represents a wand. For easy in scoring, the lines of the circles should be visible through the wand or marked on the face of it and the center point of the target should also be visible or marked on the wand. The wand may be drawn on the target face or tape such as duck tape may be used. The circles of the target represent different size targets from approximately six to twenty four inches in diameter. If the target is `red' then only those arrows inside the red and gold circles count. If the `black' then only the arrows within the: black, blue, red and gold count. etc.
The first set of range, target size and stance is the choice of the marshal in charge. However, the MIC should not announce what the distance is. It should be unknown to the archers. The MIC should just show them where the line is for the first end.
The `stances' are: 1) Standing. 2) Kneeling, on one or both knees. 3) Sitting, posterior on ground. 4) Parthian, back toward and toes pointed away from target, rotate torso and shoot back over your shoulder. 5) Crouching, both knees bent at approximately a ninety degree angle. 6) Twister, feet pointing opposite way they normally would ( a right handers feet would point left). The bow should not be drawn until the archer is facing the target. If an archer, due to a disability or injury, can not assume a stance, they may assume one of the other stances which is most similar to it.
At the decision of the marshal in charge of the competition, the archers may shoot one at a time or as groups depending upon the number of archers. Each archer should carry at least six arrows. When shooting in groups, only the most central previous arrow is left in the target when the next group shoots.
Arrows are pulled and scored at the finish of each end. Arrows that miss the target may be searched for only after each round. To avoid damage if the target is getting too crowded, the arrows, except for the most center arrow may be pulled before all the archers have shot. This is done at the discretion of the marshal. The shooting may then continue with the center most arrow still in the target. .
Each archer whose arrow strikes within the target area gets one point for the hit, except for the winner of the end who gets two points. The winner of each end is the archer with the most central arrow within the target area for that end. This is measured from the center point of the target to the near edge of the arrow. A ruler or similar device is recommended to compare the distance. With the wand, the arrow within in the wand and closest to the center of the target wins. An arrow closer to the center, but outside the wand does not win. If no one hits within the target area, then the archer with the arrow closest to the center calls the next conditions for range, size and stance for the next end, but does not get a point.
If there is a tie that is too close to determine, then those archers may agree upon the next conditions or the MIC may decide if they can not agree. They each get two points if the arrows are within the target area. They get no points if the arrows are outside the target area. .
The archer that wins the end gets to call the conditions for the next end. They will pick any distance between ten and forty yards, e.g. 13, 17, 27, 36, etc.. on a line perpendicular to the target face and at least five yards further or shorter than the range in the previous end. They then pick a target size that was not used in the last two ends. They then pick a stance that has not been used in the last two ends. The MIC shall keep track of the conditions for each end. In all but the first round, the winner of the last end of the previous round shall call conditions for the first end of that round.
The winner of the competition is the archer with the most points at the end of the four rounds and twenty four arrows. If there is a tie, it may be broken by a shoot off with the conditions determined by the Marshal in Charge. The archer with the most central arrow wins. If the tie continues, then continue shooting under the same conditions until there is a winner.
The competition may be made more of a `sudden death' type of competition by removing the archer whose arrow strikes the furthest from the center of the target at each end. And an arrows that misses the target entirely will also remove that archer from the shooting.
The walking to and from the target to the shooting line may be reduced and time saved if it is possible to set up two targets so that after the arrows are pulled you turn and shoot at the target at the opposite end of the range. This should be done only if it is possible to set it up safely in both directions.
Webbed by Gregory Blount of Isenfir