You want to avoid it becoming an attendance contest, but you still want to reward dedication to the cause.
At Our Tomball Club Matches, where we shoot the Varmint for Score Format, we have 5 Matches spread out over the spring and summer. The first two, (Feb and March), are 100 yards. The next, (June), is at 200 yards. The fourth (Aug), is 100 yards, and we finish up in October with 200 yards.
The Shooter of The Year is determined by adding up the scores of your best of 4 Matches. That means if you miss a Match, or have a bad day, you can toss one Match. As Match Director, I keep record of the scores, at the end, it's a matter of adding up the best four of the best shooters.
As with all score shooting, the object first is to stay clean. Every year our Shooter of The Year has been clean for his best four Matches. Of course, a perfect score for 4 Matches would be a 1000 100X. It really helps to have at least one great 200 yard match.
I think it is very competitive. I managed to win it this year with a 1000 84x. I did drop a point at the last 200 yard Match, but I got to toss that one, as I shot clean at the June 200 yard Match.