The Sun.
London, England, 1865-12-15 00:00:00

VOLUNTEER INTELLIGENCE,

4.- -
METROPOLITAN VOLUNTEER RIFLE MATCH
FOR THE MIDDLESEX CHALLENGE CUP.

During the past few days (since Monday last) the
most important rifle match in connexion with the
metropolitan volunteers which has been held since
the annual prize meeting of the National Rifle As-
sociation has been shot off, by permission of Lieut.-
Col. Lord Elcho, M.P., and Lieut.-Col. Viscount
Bury, M.P., at the butts of the London Scottish
and Civil Service Rifles, at Wimbledon.
The match, which was among no less than 12 of
the best shooting regiments in and around the me-
tropolis, was for the honour of holding the beautiful
challenge prize, value £5O, presented for competition
among the volunteers of the county of Middlesex
by the County Shooting Committee ; and it is satis-
factory to state that the efforts thus made to extend
by important contests the practice of the rifle have
been crowned with success, as is evidenced by the
fact that nearly 120 volunteers went down to Wim-
bledon and entered for the prize.
The conditions of the contest were that 10 effi-
cient volunteers from each battalion having its head-
quarters in the county of Middlesex, including the
City of London and Tower Hamlets, should com-
pete at 200, 500, and 600 yards, with seven shots,
for the prize; from the shoulder at 200 yards, and
from the knee at 500 and 600 ; no sighting shots.
The remaining conditions were as follow :

" Rifles, targets, and scoring, &c., the same as for the
Queen's Prize at the previous Wimbledon meeting.
" Entrance fee, £2 from each battalion for, each compe-
tition.

" The competitions to be divided into two stages, and
'only So many' battaliOns td shoot on each day in the first
stage as there are complete sets of_targets. Each winning
battalion on each day in first stage to receive 10 per cent.
of entrance fens, and each winning battalion in. first stage
to shoot in second stage under same conditions.

" Thy winning battalion in second stage to' held the cup,
- . .
no ashliiional money prize being_given, until one week before
tAir3..nexi cptitestcw hen it ..shallbehanded.over to the silVer-
g*th. The commanding officer of the battalion holding the
cup to be responsible for its safety.
" The names of the winning squad to be engraved on

the cup.
"No two competitors allowed to use the same rifle. 7.
,Monday was the first day appointedfor the match,
and shortly after 9 o'clock the ;marksmen from the
following regiments, who were all under the com-
mand of Captain Henderson, of the 46th Middlesex
(London and Westminster) Rifles, arrived on the
ground :-Ist Middlesex (Victorias), 2d Battalion
22d Middlesex (Queen's Westminster), 2d or South
Middlesex Rifles, 9th or West Middlesex Rifles, and
21st Middlesex (Civil SerVice) Rifles.
The shooting, which throughout was of the most
spirited character, was then commenced' at the 200
yards range, and afterwards at 500 and GOO yards,
and at the close of this, the first day's competition,
the score stood tbus,:—
Score.
.2d Battalion 22d Middlesex, Queen's (Westmiu-
- ster) Rifles ~ 502
Average 50.2 •
2d South Middlesex
21st Middlesex (Civil Service)
Ist Middlesei (Vicf,OriaS)
The West Middlesex and the St.. George's retired
from the contest at 600 yards range; 'assigning as
their reason for doing so that they.could. not see the
mark, thus leaving the Queen's at the head of the
list.
The shooting was resumed onWednesday morning
at A comparatively early..hotir,-ifnd the following
regiments entered the list. ' •
Hon. Artillery Company, i9tliMifldlesex (Work-

PlllOl3 4d.
STAMPED 5d..

ing Men's College) Rifles, 15th Middlesex(London
Scottish) Rifles, 4Gth Middlesex (London and
Westnanster) Battalion of the
.Citv of
London Rifle Brigade, and the 13th Middlesex
(Harrow) Rifles..
The squads were under the charge of Capt. Tyler,
the adjutant of the Queen's (Westminster), and at
the conclusion of the match the score stood thus :
Score.
• London and Westminster
2d Battalion London Rifle Brigade
18th Middle Sex (Harrow)
19th Middlesex (Working Men's College)
15th Middlesex (London Scottish)
Jim Artillery Company - 401

The competition thus rested between the Queen's
and the London Scottish, and yesterday was the
day appointed for its decision, but in consequence of
the, protest of the St. George's and West Middlesex,
the.shooting between these two regiments has been
postponed pending the decision of the Council of
the National Rifle Association.