What is the Western Round?
The Western Round is a traditional outdoor archery round recognised by Archery GB.

It offers a structured and enjoyable challenge for archers of all skill levels and is widely used in club shoots and local tournaments.

With its graduated distance format and manageable arrow count, the Western Round balances technical skill with accessibility.

 Format of the Western Round
In the standard Western Round, archers shoot:

• 48 arrows (4 dozen) at 60 yards
• 48 arrows (4 dozen) at 50 yards

Total: 96 arrows
Target face: 122 cm with five-zone scoring:

• Gold (Inner & Outer) – 9 points
• Red – 7 points
• Blue – 5 points
• Black – 3 points
• White – 1 point

For scoring details, see the Archery Scoresheet.

Variations of the Western Round
To accommodate a wider range of age groups and abilities, multiple variants of the Western Round adjust the shooting distances while maintaining the two-distance structure:

• Long Western – 120, 100 yards
• New Western – 100, 80 yards
• Western – 60, 50 yards
• Western 50 – 50, 40 yards
• Western 40 – 40, 30 yards
• Western 30 – 30, 20 yards
• Western 20 – 20, 10 yards

Each round includes:

• 48 arrows at the longer distance
• 48 arrows at the shorter distance
• 96 arrows total

This structure supports consistent scoring and allows archers to transition between levels as they progress.

Why Shoot a Western Round?

• Varied Distance Challenge – Encourages adaptability across changing target ranges.
• Efficient Format – 96 arrows offer meaningful practice without being overly taxing.
• Scalable for Progression – From beginners to experienced archers, the full Western series offers a clear development pathway.
• Recognised for Classification – All rounds qualify for Archery GB classification and handicap systems.

Equipment Considerations
All recognised bow styles may be used: recurve, compound, barebow, and longbow.

History
The Western Round appears to have developed from the early days of the Grand Western Archery Society in the mid 19th century.

Final Thoughts
Whether you’re new to the sport or preparing for higher-level competition, the Western Round and its extended formats (New Western and Long Western) offer a structured and rewarding archery experience tailored to your level of challenge and progression.