The Sun.
London, England, 1866-07-20 00:00:00

THE WIMBLEDON MEETING..

At the usual hour of commencing business yes-
terday morning at Wimbledon the common pre-
sented a very quiet appearance, and scarcely any one
was to be seen but those who were required to be
present to take part in the competitions that were
going on. The principal matter yet left to be dis-
posed of is what is somewhat inappropriately called
an international contest for the Elcho Challenge
Shield, the honorary possession of which has three
times been held by England out of the four times
that it has been shot for. Until last year this com-
petition lay between eight of the best men of Eng-
land and eight of Scotland, when a claim was put in
on the part of Irishmen on the ground of their na-
tionality, and they desired to take their chance for
the honour. Some demur was made at the time on
the part of Scotland to the proposed admission of
those who had hitherto been strangers amongst
them, but this was overruled by Lord Elcho, and
eight representatives of Ireland were allowed to be-
come competitors with the rest. As this determina-
tion was come to at a very late period, it was with
great difficulty that eight good marksmen, natives of
• the sister isle, could be got together, but Major
Leech, of the London Irish, was most unremitting
in his exertions, and a tolerable team was got toge-
ther, and, considering the hurried way in which the
matter was arranged, the only surprise was that the
Irishmen had done so well. The contest between
England and Scotland was a very close one, Eng-
land winning at the close by only two marks. In
the first range of 800 yards, England made 377
marks; Scotland, 378—a difference of only one point,
while Ireland made. 338. In the second range of
900 yards England made 333 marks ; Scotland, 339 ;

and Ire'dud, 298. In the third range of 1,000 yards
England made 343 ; Scotland, 334 ; and Ireland, 299•
The totals being—England, 1,053 ; Scotland, 1,051:;
and Ireland, 935. The competitors were as follows
_England : Baker, H. Evans, Fletcher, Wells, Mil-
ler, 'Pell, Bland, Norsworthy. Scotland : Edward
Ross, Malcolm, the Master of Lovat, the Hon. 11
Gordon, Mitchell, Maxwell, Dunlop, Wilkin. Ire-
land : J. Rigby, Barlow, Cash, W. Rigby, Major
Leech, M'Coyd, Rogers, Martin. Each one of the
eight had to fire 15 shots at the respective ranges of
800, 900, and 1,000 yards.
The next item of any consequence in the pro-
gramme was a continuation of the Rifle Oaks, for
which representatives from nearly every county in
England, Scotland, and Ireland were entered. The
prizes consist of a sweepstakes of 10s. each, divided
into three prizes. Five shots each, at 200, 500, and
600 yards. The Windmill Prizes were again con-
tested at the second stage of 600 yards, and the
Any Rifle Association Cup was also continued et
600 yards. Some new prizes were tanned for breech-
loadciz, and the interest felt in them was fairly
divided between them and the contest going on at
the same time for the Elcho shield. Some extraordi-
nary shooting was made by Sergeant Brookes, of the
12th Middlesex, in rapid firing, for in three minutes,
with a Spencer repeating rifle, he made 10 bull's-
eyes, 15 centres, and 10 outers, or 105 marks in 36
shots. There was no miss, and one bullet went on
the mark of one already on the target, or probably
three marks would have been added to this large
number. At the range of 500 yards, in three minutes
also, Sergeant Brookes made 32 shots and 24 hits, .
scoring 68, consisting of 8 bull's-eyes, 4 centres, and
12 outers. Mr. Peterkin, of the London Scottish,
made 82 marks at 200 yards, and 51 at 500. The
Rite Oaks was exceedingly well contested at every
stage, but the star of Scotchmen was in the ascend-
ant, for the principal prize fell to Sergeant W. Fer"
guson, of the Ist Inverness, who gained it by 50
marks ; Capt. J. Macrosbie, of the 12th Surrey,
won the second, by 49 marks ; and Private the
Rev. J. 11. Doe, of the Victorias, the third, by 46•
The second stage of the Windmill Prizes dreg
together a large number of competitors, but the
chief prize was won by Ensign Grieve, 4th
Roxburgh. The Elcho Shield competition lasted
all day, but the Scotch, as before, in the,
case of the Queen's Prize, were victorious, and the
result was greeted with loud cheering. The winning
score of Scotland was 1,170 ; last year the winning
score by England was 1,053 ; showing thatathere
were 117 marks over and above the former year.
Even the losing score of England was 68 aboYe.
their winning score of last year, showing the great
improvement in shooting since that period.
The following is the score for the Elcho Challenge
Shield :

ELCIIO CHALLENGE SHIELD.-15 shots at each

distance.
SCOTLAND.
800 yds. 900 yds. 1000 yds. Total PLO.
E. Ross 53 ... 49 44 146
J. W. Malcolm 47 43 45 135
Master of Lovat 50 44 42 136
11. J. Gordon 55 46 49 150
Mitchell
Dunlop 45 53 48 146
Maxwell
Wilkin 53 ~. 56 47 156

404 395 371
Grand total ll7 0
ENGLAND.
Baker
Miller
Evans
Pell

.• •.. _ ••• -
Fletcher
Bland
•,. 47 ... 143
W 40
ells
Norsworthy

Grand total ll2l
IRELAND.
J. Rigby
Barlow 44 ... 36 m 32 ... 112
Cash 4B ... 38 ... 38 ... 124
AV. Rigby 5l ... 46 ... 44 ... 141
Leech
M'Coyd
Rogers 49 ... 37 ... 25 ... 111
Martin 4B ... 48 ... 54 ... 150

388 332 319 --
Grand total 1,039

NEW MUSIC.

-

" Meet me at the Stile" is the title of a very tel

ling new ballad, just published by Messrs. Fletcher!
of Winsley-street, Oxford-street. The composition'
which is by Mr. R. Fletcher, the composer of "
Fireside at Home," is in F, and the accompaniment
is singularly effective. The words, too, are far
above the average of ballad composition, and
altogether it is one of the best ballads published
during the season.

,
The " Helena March," by F. Godfrey, in G, the
" Helena Valse," by S. Glover, also in G-, and
" Grieve not for me," a song in G, by Mr. G. W
%Vrighton, are the latest additions to the music for
the pianoforte, published by Mr. Cocks, of NO
Burlington-street. The instrumental pieces are
highly effective, the waltz partaking largely of Afr•
Godfrey's peculiar happy style. The song by Mr'
Wrighton is a plaintive, flowing melody, and, being
suited to a voice of moderate compass, it will doubt'
less become a great favourite.