The Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1860-09-21 00:00:00

THE CHESTER RIFLE CONTEST,
• . • YESTERDAY.

The contest was vigorously resumed yesterday morn-
ing on Leaso we Common, within a few hundred yards
of the residence of Sir Edward Cust, Bart. The day
was favourable. A little rain fell in the afternoon not
in sufficient quantities, however, to impede the proceed-
ings of the day, or to damp the ardour of the volunteers.
The spectators were numerous. The aristocracy of the
county was strongly represented, and the muster of
volunteers was tolerably large. Amongst the officers we
noticed the umpire, Col. Clarke Kennedy, C. 8.; Col.
Wilbraham, C.B. ; Captains J. Cadell (Ist), W. Chase-
bees (3rd), Edwards (11th), H. A. Grey (4th), F. P.
Jdnes (4th), W. Hope Jones (14th), V. A. King (2nd),
W. Laird (sth), Nicholson (30th); Sir Edward Cust,
Messrs. John. Laird, H. H. Laird, S. Ledward, John
Ravenscroft, the honorary secretary Mr. Hadfield, and
the head constable of the Cheshire police, Capt. Smith.
The grounds presented a gay and lively appearance.
Official and refreshment tents stood here and there, and
flags were.displayed from every prominent point. The
greatest good humour prevailed amongst all classes, and
no person seemed to express the least dissatisfaction
with the arrangements, the treatment which they
received, or the results. A body of police was in atten-
dance ; but their presence was not, we are happy to say,
necessary. The inward man was provided for by trust-
worthy caterers, the volunteers being provided with
refreshments at all official tents at a regulated tariff.
The gentlemen immediately connected with affairs were
indefatigable in their several spheres ; and we beg to
return our thanks to Mr. Hadfield, the secretary, for hie
courtesy to the press generally. Shooting commenced,
as on the day before, at eleven o'clock, and continued
until after five in the afternoon. On the whole the
proceedings were successful. No one expected all the
competitors to be "crack shots ;" but no one, we feel
assured, who took the surrounding circumstances into
consideration—the short time the Cheshire volunteers

have been in existence, and the patient practice it
requires to enable a man to learn the rudiments of the
art of shooting—could have felt disappointed with the
result of the day's labour. Indeed, the steadiness with
which each and every one of the candidates handled the
rifle, and the correctness of the majority of their aims
was really surprising, and elicited words of approbation
and encouragement from senior army offleera present.
Nor could they justly withhold their commendation, for
among the competitors for the prizes offered to the best
shots open to all comers, were two sergeants and a private
from the Stirlingbire Militia; if years are a test of
experience, these men ought to have carried away all the
prizes, ami with ease. A great philosopher, however,
once said that a man might be young in years and old
in hoiirs : and the truth of his remark has been singu-
larly proved in the history of the volunteers. In the
present instance, the highest number of points made by
tho of " 4perience" was eight, whilst E. A. Coul-
born, of the Lanark !Volunteers, made in all fifteen.
The best shot on the ground was Mr. Frost, of,the 14th
Cheshire Rides. With unerring precision, this geritle-
man, daring the two days, striick the target again and
amain. He scarcely ever made a miss. Fate seemed,,
bound to his rifle : and the old Napoleon Buonaparte
would have declared that lie bad the " Devil in his eye."
The encomiums showered upon him were well earned;
and, the many prizes which he took away ought, as
Lieutenant-Colonel King remarked, to have made his
wife, if he 44c1 4pe,. or his sweetheart, be he single, hug
him caressingly., Qther3 proygd themielyes skilful
Marksmen ; and all and every one of the competitors
will, if they continue the practice, become perfect in the
art before the leaves of another autumn are strewn over
Leasowe Common. We shall make further remarks as
we deal with the competition for the prize of the day.
THE FIRST CONTEST.

prizes for winners of the prizes won the day before,
and the neTt' bect, shots at ranges of 700, 750, and 800
vards; e4ch firing five shoPs
For the best I'diot.---the magistrates' prize of £5O, with
an additional prize of a splendid ornament valued at
£lO 10s, presented by Lady Edward Cast.
For the second best shot—A prize of 25 gnineas, pre-
pnted by Mr. J. R. Shaw.
For the there liegt• shot—Llo, presented by Captain H.
M. Edwards, of the 11th
For the fourth best shot—Xlo, presented by Sir Phillip
Egerton, M.P.
The size of the targets at 700, 750, and 800 yards
was 6 feet by 12, with 3 feet centre.
Sixteen gentlemen entered into the contest. The
tiring centinned during the whole of the day. The
skill displayed by the competitors was something
remarkable. Thera was decision apparent in every
inoveznent. 4 perfept acqnaiutan9e with the rift was
i4nibited at every titrn• The position of the body, with a
view to ease and firmness, had been carefully studie,fly all
the ,
eontewling parties and the consequent grace of their
deportment was a subject of ceaseless admiration. Every
one did, his best—and that well ; the points made told
the result. At a range of 700 yards Mr. Frost, Mr.
Wakefield, and Mr. Golbourne accomplished six points
each; five other gentlemen made five each; and three
made four points each. At 750 yards ,there was a
marked difference in the quality of the shooting. Mr.
Froit w...ade only pile, Mr. Golbourne one, and Mr.
Wakefield two koluts. 4t thislanae the highest nnm-
bee of points gained was Olive." 'The tontesnllC4 lay
between Messrs. Wakefield, Golbenine, Watson, ErierlY,
and Frost: In the second range, exalting at his pre?
rims good fortune, Mr. Frost became careless ; but
now, when he found that he had powerful rivals to
conquer, his aims were steadier, and his success accord-
ingly greater. At 800 yards he made four points,
making a grand total of- eleven. A gentleman who had
hitherto shown no great skill, compared with Mr.
Frost, made three pojats ; the number made by the,_
other competitors' being smaii. Mr. Cawap made in
all ten, I*. Rilerly tiine' and Mr. Wakefield eight points.
Therefore the magistrates'lpriza and Lady Cust's orna-
nitent was won by Mr. Frost, by one poiat only, and he
will doubtless value it the more bemuse he had such
corals to deal with; and T,ddy Gust and the,
magistrates of the coanty of Chester mast be satisfied
that their money was not distributed 'to tinwerthy 'cern-
petitors, The second prize canr by right to'
Cawap, the third to Mr, Briolt 4114 the fourth to Mr.
Wakefield.

The following is a tabular return of the number of
points made by each competitor at the three ranges :
No. of points:
700 750 800 Total
_
yards. yards. yards.
Frost .... .......... 14th C.R.V 6 ... 1 ... 4 ... 11
Worthington ...26th ~
... 4
Itotn&r• ..,^ha' „ ... i',) ... 0 ••• 6
Viral% ', ew
Qregory 11th 7,
Watson
Beerly lst „
... 2 ... 0 ... 7
'
Walrekeld Bth " ' 6.. 2 ... 0 - 8
cyan Oh t,
Litticr ...... 5.. __fat „
Weascr 6th -. .. 0 .. 2 6
Ward 6th ~
E. Webb 11th ,• , t ...
11
::: ... 3
IL Webb 11th .
~
Ashworth l3th „
Qolborne Ist „

Name.

Corps.

THI4 SECOND CONTEST.

Prizes.for all comers (bond flue residents of Cheshire)
shotfor at 300, 500, and 600 yards : at 300 yards, off
the shoalder p9sition being- allowed in shooting. at
the two remaining ranges, excluiQing the use of aid in
the shape of artificial rest. Tire sizes of the fargeN
were, as follow :-300 yards range, 6 feet by 4, With
8-inch bull's eye and 2 feet centre ; 500 yards and 600
yards ranges, 6 feet by 8, with 2 feet centre. Any
description Of rifle was allowed.
For the best shot—A prize of £25, presented by Mr.

-•-•
Ledward.
For the•second best shot—A Whitworth rifle, presented
by lir. .Tohn TAO.
For the third beit Colts revolver, presented by
Mr. Train.
'or the fourth best shot-=2IQ, given lqy Mr. J. Tolle-
nuter,e

There were thirty-seven competitors. Three of thg,w
belonged to the Stirlingshire Militia, one to the Lanark,
and one to the Lancashire Volurteers. The shooting,
as in the former instance, continued the whole day ; and
as the afternoon advanced, the excitement; which was
at all times great, considerably increased: at the close
of the proceedings it was intense. The shooting was
steady—in all instances creditable ;in many remarkably
good. We have not space, however, to do justice to the
skill displayed;'and leave it to our readers to form their
own judgments from ihe autlierN; Opt "of :Pio 0114-,
,
returns appendefl,

yards Yards Yards
SOO. 500. 600.

Name. Corps. pnts. pots. pats. Total
E. R. Coulburn I anark V
~ is
James Roper 2nd C.R.V 5 ... 1 ... 0
.. c
F. Wilbraham
Capt. Marshall 22nd „ • 4 ... 4•• • 3 ... H
H. Beresford 22nd ~
Sergeant Rallet 3rd ~
John Lloyd 3rd „
T. S. Stitt and
~
.....
C. M.'Wilimot '.ini; „ 1 ••• 4) •• •• 1 ••• 2
E. Prowse 2nd „
It. B. Psowse 2nd „
R. Gaskell 2nd „
George Lance 3rd „
W. E. F. Greene ...3r d•
Sergt. G.-Jackson...Strligshire Mil 2 ... 2 ... 1 ... 5
Sergt. H. Irwine ... „
H. Henderson N
W. rmpbferton 2nd C. :v 2 -,... 0 ... 2 .., 4
Capt. 4 11, Greg •••Tith ~•••••,••• i 1 -.?, ; ~. 2 ... .5
James Collinge l4th „
C. Bell lst i, ... .. ~. 0 ... 5 ... 1 ... 6
George-Dutton 6th „
.T. Fisher Ist „
F. Williams let „
Thomas Williams ...2nd C.R.V. ...., 3 ••• 1 ••• 0 ••• 4
Henry Ratcliffe sth C.A.V 2 ... 1 ... 0 .. 3
Buxton
• ,
Sergeant. Russell
Charles Inman Bth L.A.V 2 ... 3 ... 0 ... 5
H. S. Bower
Lieutenant Craig ...11th C.R.V.
I.: H. 111yers Ist „ -
11. M. lioftua 2nd „ ..... . ... 1 ... 2 ••• 2 ... 5
J. N. Cunningham 2nd „
Ensign Adtheatt •,...Bth „
Sirgeant Adshead...Bth
George Cunliffe 4th ','. 6 ... 2 ... 3 ... II
As will be seen from the returns, the 'first prize was
carried off by Mr. Colbourn, the second by Mr. Buxton,
the third by Mr. Rollett, and the fourth by Mr. Collinge.
. A contest also took place for three
i
pr.zeS—twO of 45
and one of 4 _ q—amontst a 64mber of volunteers
the first prigeleing'w, on • by Mr. VOlbOurie, the second
by Mr. Bell', arid the'third by Mr. ButtOn! '
This completed the public'competition.
Whilst, however, these contests were taking place, a
large number of the men not otherwise employed en-
gaged in private contests at a game called "Aunt Sally."
A small fee was charged for every shot, and the money
thus collected was divided amongst the men who used
their rifle most successfully. In this olonner 'thirteen
or fourteen • volunteers' realised, on Wednescliq, ' about
thirteen shillingi each. It was not k
nown last evening
what the result of 'yesterday's genie's et '"Aunt Sally"•
amounted to. The electric target was a novelty, and
attracted the attention of 'volunteers and visitors during
the day. 4. telegraphic wire Was laid from the spot on
which the competitors stood to the target, and by an
ingenious invention the needle was made to show the
point at which the ball hit the targat. If it missed,
the needle stood motionless ; if it. struck on the right or
left sides, the needle turned in these directions.
After the competition was closed,. the names of the
winners on Wednesday and Thursday were announced.
The Lancaster rifle was won by Watson; the Wesley
Richards rifle by Frost; and the Whitworth rifle by
Gregory, The rifles were presented by Mr. J. Laird.
Captain ring's prize was won by Mr. Frost, and the
Wallasey prize by Worthington; Mr. Vyner's prize of
41.4 ,by Horner, and his RIO pzize by Mr. FraT•
Colonel Cl;Ainc g
T-ENlsfain read oyes the names of the
suCcesifhl competitors, and 'alluded in Very.' flattering
terms to the result of the twd dayS' meetings. The
shooting, on the Whole, he said, was creditable; at the
short ranges, excellent.. v w..
---- . mentioned the name of
-mr..Frost with much commendation. rernarkicg•th lie
iaoc.eady end Skilful, and one of tb,, IT O, aV;sl.4.. ilci4
rer erect;,
.1 sir, LAIRD, in pro Posing a vote of thanks to the Um-