The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1886-07-17 00:00:00

THE WIMBLEDON MEETING:

For the twenty-seventh year in succession, Wim-
bledon Common, on Saturday, presented the animated
scene which always marks the opening day of the
camp of the Annual Meeting of the National Rifle
Association. For some weeks past the common has
been resuming the appearance so familiar to the
habitués: the association offices appear not to have
been moved since last year, whilst the clock-tower
and the refreshment pavilion still form the same
landmarks. The N.R.A. lines and the regimental
camps will be found in just about the same spots, the
great umbrella tent tirain affording the midday
shelter for the enjoyment of the music of the band.
As usual, the London Scottish have been the first to
put in an appearance, some of the members getting
into camp three or four daysago, but beyond a few of
the Colonial teams and the usual official staff,
the canvas town was practically uninhabited
until Saturday. Them a considerable change
came over the scene, competitors, mainly from
the more distant parts of the country, arriving in
rapid succession. The offices of the camp quarter-
master were in the state of siege usual to the first
day of the meeting, everyone naturally wanting to be
served first with the necessaiy camp equipment. In
the course of time, however, all were satisfied, ana
the usual bustle of the men settling down into their
temporary homes was seen on all sides, the ready
manner in which, in many cases, the bare ground 01
the tent was made to look comfortable by the arrange-
ment of the straw-stuffed palliasses clearly showing
that it was by no means the first time that the occu-
pants had paid Wimbledon a visit. The glaring sun
of the earlier part of the week and the threatening
rain of Friday had both passed away, leaving that
dull grey light so beloved of the Scotchmen, many
aspirations being breathed in good Gaelic that it would
be continuous throughout the meeting. The year 1880
will be remarkable from the fact that it will be the
first time that representatives from every Volunteer
force in the British empire will be represented. India
sends a team of 15 under the captaincy of Lieut.-Col.
Rivett Carnac, the honour of a place in the team being
keenly contested in all the different provinces. Canada
are again well to the fore with 20 men and are sanguine
of repeating their former victories in the competition
for the Kolapore Cup, if not to secure the blue ribbon
of the meeting itself; the Shanghai riflemen will also
be in evidence, whilst ,or the first time Australia has
sent a band of volunteers to show in friendly conten-
tion for the guerdons at, Wimbledon the same spirit
which animated them in sending the now famous con-
tingent to the Soudan. The entries for the meeting
show a most satisfactory increase over those of former
years, the leading competition, the Queen's Prize,
showing a larger number than in any year since 1878,
whilst the popular St. George's has a greater entry
than in any year since the institution of the vrize.
The increase of the number of badges in the Queen's
Prize shoot from 60 to 100 seems to have given uni-
versal satisfaction, it having been for a long time felt
that, as the number of competitors increased, so
should the number of these coveted honours be multi-
plied.
On Sunday morning the usual church parade was
held in camp, which had thoroughly settled down into
working order, great satisfaction being expressed at
the rumour that H.R.H. the Princess of Wales will
distribute the nrizes at the and nf the meeting.

The competitors at Wimbledon had bau weather on
Monday, for the rain commenced at gunfire and con-
tinued till the shooting concluded in the evening. As
might therefore be expected, visitors to the camp
were very few. The Huniphry Cup was won by Ox-
ford scoring 739, against 72.5 scored by Cambridge-

On Tuesday the shooting for the Queen's Prize
was begun. Lieutenant Coulthurst, sth Middlesex,
made the highest score for the day-34. Several
competitors scored 33 points. Private Winser, 2nd
Sussex, made the highest score, 33, in the Alfred
Competition.