The Sun.
London, England, 1867-07-17 00:00:00

The National Rifle Association.

WIMBLEDON COMMON, Tuesday Evening.
We have had a hurricane of wind and torrents of
rain to-day, with mud and slush most copiously dif-
- fused over the ground. Long planks have been put
down to the approaches to the different tents. Dur-
ing the luncheon hour the rain fell so heavily that in
a short time a considerable portion of the surface of
the common was flooded with water, and although,
as is customary on this day, there were several car-
riages filled with -company on the ground, the in-
mates, who had come for the purpose of witnessing
the competition by the public schools for the Ash-
burton Shield, were compelled in many instances to
remain within them, and leave their curiosity un-
gratified. The second stage of the Queen's Prize :
—This stage, as has already been stated, consists of
three ranges of 800, 900, and 1,000 yards, and is
limited to the 6J who stood
_highest in score in the
first stage, or the aggregate scores of 20 ), 500,
and 600 yards. The one who is fortunate to make
the highest aggregate score of 8)0, 900, and
1,000 yards becomes the possessor of the QaCeil'6
Prize of £250 and the gold medal and gold badge
of the association. The termination of this
contest is always looked to with great in-
tere.st, and draws together a large party ;
but to-day during the shooting at the two first
ranges there was scarcely any one present at the
firing point except those immediately concerned.
A disagreement appears to have arisen with re-
spect to those who have been selected as the eight to
represent Ireland in shooting for the Elcho Challenge
Shield. This afternoon the following protest was
served upon the council in reference to it :
Wimbledon Camp, July 16.—We, the undersigned, duly
qualified representatives of Ireland in the International
Rifle contest, hereby protest against the selection of the
members of the Irish team for the Elcho Challenge Shield
competition 1867. We protest also against the team, as at
present constituted, being considered the representative
team of Ireland, as the selection is at once informal, pre-
judicial, and partial. The Marquis of Donegal is captain
of the Irish International Eight, and consequently has the
right of selecting the team, which right we respectfully
call upon hislordship to exercise.—John M‘lionna, private
3d Ayr R.V.; William. Smyth, private, Ist L.R.V., and
Clydesdale; William M'Coyd, private, 3d Ayr, and Ulster;
Thomas R. Wakington, Ulster; John Rogers, private, 3d
Ayr R.V.; John Hardy, captain; 12th Ayr R.V.
This subject will, no doubt, be fully investigated,
as it is exceedingly desirable that Ireland should be
represented by the best men in the contest.
A new breech-loading rifle was this day used at
the 200 yards range for the Duke of Cambridge's
prize. It is called the " Ross rifle," and it is one of
the most simple and strongly secured breech-loaders
seen on the ground, and lays claim to many ad-
vantages. The shoe or open part of the breech is
flat, which prevents all wet and dirt from interfer-
ing with the working of it. The breech block is
securely fastened, and this contains the lock, which
is also of very simple construction. There are only
three movements in loading, the old cartridge case
being thrown out by the action of opening the
breech. It ought to be mentioned that there is a
bolt or indicator which when placed in position will
not allow the rifle to be fired, and can be seen by an
officer at some distance.
The sixty competitors who were to shoot for the
Queen's Prize were divided into six squads, ten in
each squad, and six targets were appropriated to
them. The business of the day began soon after 9
o'clock, at 800 yards, and amidst a complete hurri-
cane of wind and rain. Amongst the first reported
to have made a high score was Captain Wright, of
the 30th Cheshire, who made 18 points at 800 and
21 at 900 yards. A very good score was also made
by Private Bidder, of the Inns of Court, who made
21 at 800 and 21 at 900 yards. The great trial of
skill rested, however, on the shooting that was to
be made at the long range of 1,000 yards. Mr. E.
Ross,:of the London Scottish, was at one time almost
looked upon as very likely to become the possessor
of the Queen's Prize for the second time, having
done very well at 800 and 900 yards, but at the
1,000, in consequence of the strong wind that was
blowing across the range, he failed to maintain what
he had done before, and for some time the contest
seemed to rest entirely between Captain 'Wright
and Sergeant Lane. At the 1,000 yards range the
contest was watched with the greatest anxiety, and
although the way to the different firing points was
often through pools of water that did not prevent
numerous visitors from making their way to them.
At 900 yards Edward Ross, of the London Scottish,
had a slight lead, but at the 1,000 a new and unex-
pected opponent appeared in Sergeant Lane, of the
Ist Gloucester (Bristol), who at 800 yards bad made
21 points, and 24 at 900, making together 45. This
was a good foundation, on which he commenced his
shooting at the 1,000 yards. I-lis first shot was a
centre, which was followed up by another, then an
outer. The light now became glaring, and he so
miscalculated his distance that he twice missed the
target, but his next two shots were outers, which
gave him a total at this range of 12, and a gross total
of 57. Captain Wright, who had made a total of
39 at the two ranges of 800 and 900 yards, was the
only competitor at the 1,000 yards that during
the latter part of it was to be feared. As it was
he made 15 points at the 1,000 yards, the highest
number made by any one, but his score in the
lower ranges being inferior to those of Sergeant
Lane he lost the prize. Sergeant Lane's total
score was 57, and Captain Wright's 54 ; and there-
fore the former was declared to be the winner of
the Queen's Prize. As soon as this became known
some of Sergeant Lane's friends mounted him upon
their shoulders and carried him round the camp in
triumph, the band of the Victorias playing, " See
the conquering hero comes." The prize was won
last year by Private Cameron, 6th Inverness, by
69 marks, and there were then 16 others who made
scores above 57, but there was then a great diffe-
rence in the state of the weather, and it is generally
considered that as the greater part of the shooting
to-day took place in a storm, the scores now made
will bear comparison with any former period. Ser-
geant Bingham, also a member of the Ist Gloucester
(Bristol), in 1861 tied Sergeant Jopling for the
Queen's Prize, they having made 18 points each in
the second stage, but then, according to the old sys-
tem of scoring, the ties were decided by the shooting
in the first stage. In this Mr. Jopling had made
20, and Mr. Bingham 19, so that gave Mr. Jopling
the prize.

The next important competition was for the Ash-
burton Challenge Shield, given by the late Lord
Ashburton for annual competition by the public
schools having enrolled or unenrolled volunteer
corps ; eleven competitors from each school. The
shield is awarded to the eleven making the highest
aggregate score, and held by the school until the
next annual prize meeting of the National Rifle As-
sociation. Two shots each at 200 and 50 yards.
The following schools were represented :—Eton,
Harrow, Rugby, Winchester, Cheltenham, Marl-
borough, and Rossall. After a very spirited con-
test the shield was won by Harrow by 244 marks,
beating the next highest (Rugby) by four marks
only. They made 240. It was last year won by
Harrow by 256 marks. Eton was then the next
highest, and made 233 marks. This is the third
year in succession this prize has been won by
Harrow.

Arising out of this competition always follows a
second one for a cup given annually by Earl Spen-
cer, K.G., to be competed for by the best shot in
each of the elevens in the first stage, and to become
the absolute property of the winner of it. Seven
shots each at 500 yards. This prize was won by
the Cheltenham boy (Collier) by 22 marks. Jones,
of Harrow, won it last year.
Another new prize commenced to be shot for to-
day was called " The Rifle Oaks," a sweepstakes,
with a certain amount deducted for the benefit of
the association. The amount is divided into three
prizes. Five shots each at 500 yards. This contest
will be continued all to-morrow.

Mr. R. Bird, of the South Middlesex, who the
other day, in shooting with a Joslin rifle at 500
yards, and firing for the Duke of Cambridge's prize
with military breech-loaders, made 93, this day at
200 yards scored 80 in 31 shots with the same
weapon. His numbers were 7 bull's-eyes, 14 cen-
tres, and 5 outers.

It was omitted to be stated in the proper place
that Corpora). Innes, of the Ist Banff, made 54
points for the Queen's Prize at the second stage, the
same score as was made by Capt; Wright.