Sarah Hubbard breaks own five-week-old world barebow record with 650

Great Britain’s Sarah Hubbard has broken her own barebow women’s 50-metre qualification round world record, shooting 650 out of a possible 720 in Wisley, United Kingdom at the third stage of the ArcheryGB National Tour. 

The mark remains subject to ratification.

The score adds two points to Hubbard's previous world record of 648 set only last month at stage 2 of the same tour.

“Holding it together on that last end is really tough. I've been there before. But I managed to do it again and was just absolutely super thrilled.”

Hubbard expounded on the pressure felt when she knew another world record was on the cards. “You're aware halfway through, you really know sort of about four ends towards the end, and then with three ends to go it really gets serious. Two ends you’re like, oh dear!” she said. 

The 42-year-old Hubbard has been competing since 2011, and credits a more settled personal and professional life with her stratospheric scoring ability this season. “I feel a lot more focused every time I turn up at a shoot now. And really kind of switched on,” she said.  

The new record is the third time she has broken the world mark. “I lost the record about about a year and a half ago (to Giulia Mantilli).  And last year I spent the whole year kind of like, ‘right, I want this back, I want this back’. But this year I'm not doing that. This year I'm just turning up and shooting,” she said.  

Hubbard’s immediate goal is to try and break the double 50m world record, currently held by Mantilli, and – astonishingly – to increase the 50m record even more. “I know I can do a 660. That's what I'm kind of working towards now,” she said. 

She has relatively limited international experience, placing third at the Kings Of Archery competition in 2023 behind Cecilie Skodje and Cinzia Noziglia, but 'strongly prefers' UK outdoor target competitions.

“I’m hanging on for barebow to sort of be in the outdoor international scene more. And when it is, I’m going to be there like a shot.”