Strange Rounds?

[Guest]

Does anyone know why a 16 year old junior male shoots a Men's Fita while a 55 year old veteren shoots a Ladies Fita? Shouldn't we be encouraging our juniors more than our vets? Or why a 60+ shoots the same round as a 14 year old girl? So a 60 year old male compounder with possibly 55-60 pound bows and potentially 20+ years of experiance is considered in the same league as a young 14 year old recurver who is unlikely to have shot for more than a few years and also unlikely to be able to shoot the poundage.

What is wrong with this picture??? No wonder there were no U18 boy compounders at the State target.
Wake up AA!

[Guest]

It appears that the writer of the article has something against the chronologically challenged archers. There also appears to be a rash generalization as to the numbers of years experience a 60 year old archer has. Many folk take up archery later in life so the assertion of 20+ years of experience may not be accurate. The younger folk should be encouraged but we more chronologically challenged folk must also be accommodated.

[Marcus]

That's because you are getting up there Ian. ;)
Firstly, I wrote it. Secondly I did add the word potentially in there, and I admit I may have spelt it wrong.

"So a 60 year old male compounder with possibly 55-60 pound bows and potentially 20+ years of experiance is considered in the same league as a young 14 year old recurver who is unlikely to have shot for more than a few years and also unlikely to be able to shoot the poundage."

I think that is a fair and accurate statement. If old people want to shoot 55# bows at 60m using compound bows with expensive carbon arrows then fine, couldn't care less. But a 14 year old having to shoot further? It's out of control! When I was 14 I shot 55m max with a 40# bow and Beman arrows, 70m was not fun till I got better gear (which I got by walking to Dad's toolbox and going "you're not using this, thanks!") A 14 year old coming into the sport without a parent also being involved is very expensive and there is no way they could afford to. Also remember that a 60 year old with one month experiance is still fully developed while a 14 year old with one month has not.

I don't have a problem with old people, just keep em off the road! :D