The Sun.
London, England, 1863-07-08 00:00:00

weapon, that he at once ordered one to be made for
the next deer-stalking season. Before leaving the
ground his Royal Highness stated his intention of
visiting the ground again, most probably on the
13th, to witness the match between the Lords and
Commons, and the contest for the Alexandra Prize.

The match to which the greatest amount of inte-
rest attaches, from its affording a sort of standard by
which to judge of the progress which the highest
class of rifle-shooting is making in this country, is
the international competition between the eight
picked shots of England and eight of Scotland. The
ranges are the longest at which, even in these days
of long range. competitions ever take place; while
the number of shots fired makes it next to impos-
sible that anythitg but steady good shooting can
succeed. The distances are 800, 900, and 1,000 yards
—l5 shots at each range. Last year the average
marks of the English eight reached 111.25, the
highest score being 121. On the Scotch side the
average was only 90.50 marks ; Captain Horatio
Ross's score of 113 being the highest. The efforts
made by the Scotch to attain a better result this
year, and by the English to maintain their position,
has led to an improvement in the shooting, which
appears likely to leave last year's shooting far be-
hind. Captain H. Ross for Scotland, and Lord Bury
for England, have selected their respective teams by
rigorous competitive trials of skill, which have re-
sulted in the selection of the following for England;
Viscount Bury (ex officio), Earl Ducie, Capt. Heaton,
Mr. Martin Ridley Smith, Lieut.-Col. Halford, Capt.
Hawker, South Middlesex Rifle Volunteers, Mr. A.
Ashton, Capt. Rowland, 55th Regiment, and Mr. A.
Salvin, as a reserve candidate. On the Scottish side
the choice has fallen on Captain H. Ross (ex officio),
Captain Ed. Ross, Mr. Farquharson, Mr. C. Ross,
the Master of Lovat, Mr. Colin Ross, Mr. Hercules
Ross, Mr. Maxwell, and Mr. Henry as a reserve.
The recent shooting of some of these gentlemen is
said to be the finest on record. Some idea of the
splendid shooting which is likely to take place may
be gathered from the following qualifying scores,
each competitor shooting twice over the ranges:—
Captain Edward Ross
Mr. Farquharson
Mr. Cohn Ross
Master of Lovat 278
Mr. Henry
Mr. Maxwell

For the competition for the Middlesex bronze
medal 36 competitors mustered in front of the coun-
cil tent at one p.m. yesterday, and were told off into
squads. Captain Flood Page, previously to their
marching off, announcing that the Middlesex Shoot-
ing Association, which had been formed under the
auspices of Earl Grosvenor, was prepared to give
four prizes of £5 to those making the highest scores.
Though competition commenced at 1.45, it bad not
concluded early enough to allow of the scores being
verified for publication. It is believed that Capt.
Field, Hon. Artillery Company, a member of the
36th, and Private Richards, of the Ist City of Lon-
don, made the highest scores. To-day the details
will be known.

The county competition, any rifle, any position,
10 shots at 600, and 10 at 800, resulted as follows:

GLOUCESTERSHIRE.

Total points at
600 800

yds. yds. Total.
Earl of Ducie
Ist Lieut. Penny, Ist Gloucestershire Ar-
tillery
Gunner Hyde, Ist Gloucestershire Artillery 31 20 51
Ist Lieut. Hanson, Ist Gloucestershire
Artillery, G l9 13 32
Gunner Hansom, Ist Gloucestershire Ar-

tillery
Sergt. Gibbs, Ist Gloucestershire Rifles 33

28
25
29
31

J. Baker, Ist Gloucestershire Rifles 33
G. Miller, Ist Gloucestershire Rifles.... 35
Colour-Sergeant Clutterbuck, 6th Glou-

•
cestershire Rifles
Sergeant Holloway, sth Gloucestershire

Rifles

T0ta1....

Average

MIDDLESEX.

Sergeant M. Smith, V.R. 36
Lord Bury, Civil Service .. 32
Captain M'Gregor, London Scottish..., 28
Private Porter, Queen's
Private Mills, V.R.
Sergeant Thornbury ..
Lieut. Hawker, South Middlesex
Corporal Pell, Inns of Court
Sergeant Brooks, 12th Middlesex
Captain Oxley, 19th Middlesex .. 30