I know pairing up shooters can by difficult, especially with the diversity on the women's course. For 20 out of the 40 I was paired with 2 cubs. I know smaller groups move faster, but I felt I was at a slight disadvantage. I always had to shoot first. I know this shouldn't matter, but I think we all have a tendency to use each others arrow as a guide.
Other than that it was a great day at Bedford.

I agree. I also had to shoot 20 targets first every time. I think that rule either needs to be changed or the people at the scorer's table need to put at least two people from the farthest stake in a group. I thought that was why they were there putting us in groups. I personally thought the people working at my tent didn't have a very good idea about how everything worked. I saw a shooter try to get someone to sign of on their scorecards after 20 targets and the person at the tent said "Oh, we don't need to see your cards until you are done with all of them" I have always had to get my scorecards checked when I came off of a range!

i know that technically, you are supposed to be busted, but if i were in a situation such as yours, i would opt to hang out at the check in tents until some folks from my class were there, and approach the table with them and hand over my cards. i feel your frustration. i have been in that boat before, luckily, i had another open shooter with me, so i shot first every other target.

On Friday, I opted to hang out until someone from my stake(45 yds.), not necessarily from my class, came along after they tried to put me with all hunter class shooters(35 yds.). The two people at the tent acted like that was absolutely awful. But, oh well, I am the one that is competing, not them.
They could solve this problem by putting shooters who shoot the same stake on one course. Two different stakes at the most on one course, if need be. Then us shooters wouldn't have a problem finding someone who shoots at the same stakes as us.
I don't know if it was you that I saw illustr8, but I saw a girl shooting from the green stake shooting with cubs at the white stake. I felt for that shooter.
For as long as these shoots have been going on; I think this should not happen.
Also, groups still aren't being busted! They come along and say they are together and "wa la" they stay together. And I am not talking about the groups who decide to stay together after they have met each other and shot together the first day.
These problems need to be addressed and should have been addressed a long time ago. This is a competition, not a shoot for fun shoot.
I like the IBO and their shoots, but these problems are getting worse, not better. I truly hope the IBO officials find a solution for these problems soon! If these problems were fixed and I am sure most of them can be; IBO would be the a greater and better organization that would grow even bigger then they are now. Just my honest opinion. Good Luck IBO!

I shot G & H with the 2 cubs (boy and girl). They were good kids and I didn't mind, especially since their mom was there.
I usually shoot with a group of guys around our local clubs. They are really good shooters and we use each others arrows.
The boy did feel sorry for me having to go first. So the last five targets he ran up and shot first. He was a pretty good shot. That ended up being my best set of 10.
I wouldn't want the job of putting the groups together, but I don't think they worried about anything but getting 3 or 4 people together and sending them out.

Hope they can't figure out who you are because that was a bit of a no no. The table does the best they can with fairly inexperienced folks manning them. It is in your right to request to only shoot with a group of your own stakes. It might mean you wait longer, but you can asked to be placed that way.

Why do you say that?

I asked to be grouped with others shooting my stake and the people manning the tents were more than happy to do so. I had to wait a little longer to get grouped but didn't mind at all.

I thought the people working the tents were supposed to be the ones that know what is going on!!! If you have someone that is new to the ibo, how are they supposed to know what is right and what is wrong? If someone is shooting for the first time and is made to shoot first every target, how likely is it that they will enjoy themself and want to come back?

Try to keep in mind pretty much everyone you see helping with the shoot is a volunteer offering to help friends and family of the host clubs man the positions. Many of the shooters no doubt have a better understanding of rules and procedures and should step up with help and suggestions when they see it is needed. Reading threads after a major shoot makes me think that many IBO members could do a little more to support the organisation then paying dues and shoot fees. You get out what you put in.

Just my individual opinion.

Steve