The Sun.
London, England, 1865-07-21 00:00:00

The Wimbledon Meeting.

WIMBLEDON-COMMON, Thursday Evening.
The absorbing topic of this day's proceedings was
the great contest between eight each of the picked
men of England, Scotland, and. Ireland, the latter
competing for the first time, for the honorary pos-
session of the Elcho Shield. The change which had
taken place to admit eight members who were na-
tives of Ireland into the competition naturally in-
vested the contest with more than ordinary interest,
and after the almost impromptu team which had
been got up, and the manner in which they acquitted
themselves for the possession of the International
Enfield Trophy, there was a general hope that they
might become the possessors of the prize, although
the realisation of that hope was almost something
more than doubtful. The Irish volunteers, since
they have been encamped this year on the common,
by their kindly nature, their sparkling wit, and their
truly genial and cordial welcome, have gained the
good opinions of all who have had the happiness to
meet with them ; and it is generally admitted that
Major Leech and Captain O'Connor have done a
great deal to raise the London Irish Volunteers to
a position which it never before occupied since it
was raised. Next year that feeling will receive a
further extension, when the splendid prize given by
Irishmen resident in London, and at the head of
the subscription list is the Marquis of Donegall,
will be thrown open at this meeting to all English
competitors, as an earnest of the good-will of Irish-
men to the volunteer movement of this country ;
and the only hope that remains is, which will doubt-
less be realised, that there will be entries of such a
number as shall reflect honour upon the donors and
those who may be fortunate enough for the first time
to have their names inscribed on the Challenge
Plate of Ireland. The Scotch and English have
already been honoured with the possession of the
Elcho Shield, twice by England and once by Scot-
land, but it is one of the pleasing characteristics of
the volunteer movement that in the various contests
which take place, whether the side be winning or
losing, there is no angry or jealous feeling, but
solely one that the best team may win. The con-
test was divided into three ranges of 800, 900, and
1,000 yards, 15 shots each at these different ranges.
As a natural consequence the three countries fired
from separate points, and the business of the day
egan at half-past nine o'clock, at 800 yards.
The following is the score at 800 yards :
Captain }Ieak%ENGLAND.
Colonel Raiford
Mr. Martin Smith ...
Mr. Fletcher
Mr. Bland
Lieutenant Purchas
Cunliffo
Mating

•.• ... ... - 51

SCOTLAND.

E. Ross
Colin Ross 41
Captain Horatio Ross 41
Mitchell 52
Wilkins
„, 51
Hon. J. Gordon 41
Forbes ....„ 49
Earl of Aberdeen. ... ••• 57

IRELAND.
Greenhill
•••
••• 42
J. Rigby
... 49
J. Miienna— . 49
••
T• R. Walkinglon •.• •
..•• ••
900 37
J. Clare
••• •.. 36
A. Barlow •••
•••
••• ... 39
. Rigby ..•
••• 48
Major A. 88. Leech... N

338
In this range the Earl of Aberdeen made the ex-
traordinary score of 12 bull's-eyes and three centres
for Scotland, making
Wilkins, also belongings 7 •t •
altogether porn , Mr.
to
the Scottish, making 51;
but this number was equalled by Mr. Banting, one
of the English eight, belonging to the St. George's
Rifles, whosmade 51 points.
It would be scarcely necessary to go through the
different scores at this point in detail, as they will
be found below, but at 900 yards the Scotch party
made a small increase to their majority of 6, the '
respective numbers being at this range—Scotlandi
339 ; England, 333 ; and Ireland, 298—giving
Scotland a majority of 6. The next range of 1,000
yards then became the object of the greatest inte-
rest, in which every shot was watched from the re-
spective firing points with the utmost anxiety. The
shooting of Captain Heaton was scarcely equal to
what it has been on former occasions, and the same
remark will apply to Colonel Halford, who was evi-
dently suffering from ill-health, and his physical
condition showed that the steady aim for which he
has been so long celebrated has been seriously
impaired. In the 1,000 yards range he missed
the target three times, and the other points he made
were but a faint representation of his prowess of
former times. It is to be hoped that time and care
will soon restore him to his former condition. Mr.
Fletcher, a most careful shot, contributed 48; and
Lieut. Purchas, 49 ; the total number of marks for
the 15 shots each being 343. The Scotch were
most ably represented by Captain Ross and his
sons, Edward and Colin, and nothing could exceed
the splendid shooting of the Earl of Aberdeen, who
made bull's-eyes in such succession that with him it
ceased to be a novelty, and when that honourable
score was not made, it proved rather the exception
than the rule. After one of the most spirited con-
tests ever witnessed at these
meetings, the palm of
:
victory was awarddd to England, the total score of
the three ranges being as follows

800 Yds. 900 Yds, 1000 Yds.
England
ISrceohttlnadn 333377887
233933893 3319.31
As soon as the numbers were pronounced, giving
England the majority of two, the respective num-
bers being for England 1,053, Scotland 1,051,
and Ireland 935, there was most enthusiastic
cheeridg on behalf of England, but almost simulta-
neously with this there arose an equally loud
cheering from the Scottish eight, who deemed that
they had won the prize, on account of some dispute
which had arisen as to whether a shot which had