The Sun.
London, England, 1866-06-18 00:00:00

The Gun Club Pigeon Shoot-Pg.

Notwithstanding the quantity of shooting there has been
this season, including the great champion sweepstakes,
which Mr. Frank Heathcote so zealously and admirably
carried out, the Ascot open Handicap of the Gun Club shot
on Saturday at the ground on Wormholt Scrubs opened
with the capital entry of 37, of which number 19 came to
the post. The handicap was the 6th of the season by this
club, and speaks much for the energy and activity of Mr.
Arthur Battcock, the secretary, to whose obliging courtesy
every one is much indebted.
During the bye shooting the following betting was cur-
rent :-100 to 12 on Mr: C. Hambro ; 8 to 1 on Mr. Berke-
ley Lucy; 9 to 1 on Mr. J. Jee, V.C., C.B. ; 10 to 1 on
Mr. R. C. Musgrave, Viscount Stormont, and Mr. William
Watts ; 12 to 1 on Captain Dymoke, Colonel Murray, and
Captain A. L. Ricardo ; 20 to 1 Mr. Corballis. The books
against Mr. C. Hambro were " full" directly, ani Vis-
count Stormont's " price," opening at 15 to 1, came
down very rapidly to the closing figure above quoted.
The conditions were :—A sweepstakes of 5 sovs each, £1
forfeit ; post entries after the publication of the card, 6 soya
and no forfeit—at six birds each. For peers, members of
Parliament, officers in the army and navy on full pay, and
members of the following clubs :—The Army and Navy,
Arlington, Arthur's, Boodle's, Brooks's, Carlton, East India
Military, Egerton Pratts', Guards', Junior Army and Navy,
Junior Carlton, Pratts', St. James's, Travellers', Union,
White's, and Windham; also the Gun Club, the now club
at Edinburgh, certain Paris clubs, and all the jockey clubs
of Europe. Guns of 11 bore or less. Charge of lioz. of
shot, and gentlemen shooting with less to go in at the rate
of half a yard for every loz. of shot less than lioz. All to
load from the same bowls. No wire cartridges allowed, and
cartridges to be shown to the handicapper, Mr. G. Arthur
Battcock. The Gun Club rules to be strictly observed.
The handicap was begun by Mr. R. C. Musgrave, who
brought down his bird with the second barrol. Mr. H.
Rudd, who followed, missed. Tho non-success latterly of
this usually fine shot may be attributed to his shooting too
much. Mr. Montague hit hard with the second barrel, but
the "flyer" fell to the lot of the scouts, and the Swiss
count let his bird get too far off before firing. Captain
Hervey Talbot was the fourth in succession to
Igvhomo
was
put down, and though Captain A. L. Ricardo scored his
pigeon smartly that example was not followed by Mr.
Lysie,y, Viscount Stormont shot his bird the instant it
rose, and Sir John Blois also dropped his with the first
barrel, only using loz. of shot. Mr. W. Watts and Mr.
C. Hambro both killed; but Mr. George Stone, who by
virtue of using only ioz. of shot stood a yard and a half
nearer than handicapped, did not; Mr. S. Bateson also
missed ; and, though Mr. G. Lee, V.C., C. 8., hit his bird
customer,"
tMurray,very hard, the fielders had it. The pigeon pulled for Mr.
fence
most
os
t ,untouched,likoly ; m
d o Coolr.
never
. et
wCohrobawllasis flaw over the
daesa
touched his bird. Mr. W. W. Beecher only had occasion
to let off the first barrel ;
.but Mr. Berkeley Lucy and the
Jon. C. A. W. Man, both missed, thus closing the Arst,

round with seven of the last eight birds being missed and
12 in the round.

Mr. R. C. Musgrave again commenced with a splendid
second barrel shot, and Mr. 11. Rudd missing was disquali-
fied, the same unpleasant position being assigned to Mr.
William Montague, Le Comte de Gendre, the latter
gentleman dwelling on his aim as if ho had a rifle in his
hand. Captain H. Talbot, Captain A. L. Ricardo, Mr. W.
Lysley, Viscount Stormont, and Sir John Blois, Bart.,
potted their birds in succession, but so did not Mr. William
Watts, the " noisy division" singing in chorus "Oh ! Willie
we have missed you," amid great laughter Mr. C. Ham-
bro sustained the hopes of his friends by a fine shot, but
to Mr. George Stone, Mr. Samuel Bateson, Mr. J. Jee,
Colonel Murray, and Mr. W. W. Beecher the scorer made
the unwelcome announcement "I shall not have to trouble
you again." Mr. Berkeley Lucy, Mr. W. Corbellis, and
the Hon. C. A. W. Winn, each killed, and so ended the
second circle. At the end of the round .£3 even was betted
that the winner killed all his birds. Mr. R. C. Musgrave
began his third round by killing, the two captains, Henry
Talbot and Ricardo, following suit. Mr. W. Lysley's
miss put him " out of court," but Viscount Stormont
again showed in form as the winner. The hon. baronet,
who ultimately played second fiddle, followed in the
shooting, but not in the hitting ; Mr. Watts and Mr. C.
Hambro reversing the result. Mr. W. Corballis and Mr.
B. Lucy lost their Nailer chance at very good birds, Mr.
W. W. Beecher and the Hon. C. A. W. Winn savingtheir
opportunity for that turn at least, bringing Mr. R. C.
Musgrave again to the scratch, and for the fourth time he
killed. Captain H. Talbot was " out" on his performance.
Capt. A. L. Ricardo, Viscount Stormont, Sir John Blois,
Bart., Mr. C. Hambro, and Mr. William Watts killing. In
the fifth round Mr. R. C. Musgrave missed for the first
time, the bird getting right away, Captain A. L. Ricardo
hitting his bird, but unavailingly. Viscount Stormont
sustained his previous efforts, which Sir :John Blois ably
emulated, Mr. William Watts needed only his first barrel,
but Mr. C. Hambro missed a very vexing bird. The sixth
round was commenced by Mr. C. Musgrave, who " sbut
up" his own chance, and Captain Ricardo was no better.
Viscount Stormont made his "sixth" with fine effect, and
as it was the winning shot the performance raised great
cheering. Sir John Blois, Bart., shot his last bolt, Mr.
William Watts missed, and Mr. C. Hambro killed. That
left, as already indicated, Viscount Stormont the winner,
will Sir John Blois, Bart., and Mr. C. Hambro ties at five
birds each. Mr. C. Hambro had declined to shoot, as the
effect of his 'winning the second prize would be his being
placed two yards further back in future, but ultimately
consented to shoot off for the bets ; ,but Sir John Blois did
not shoot, and, the other gentl'e'man declining, the prizes
so went. Of the 71 birds shot at in the handicap only 37
were killed--:a sure indication of the excellence of the
birds ; indeed, it is only fair to state that it was a matter of
general observation that Offer's birds were really "too
good." Subjoined is the full score :

Viscount Stormont
Sir John Blois, Bart. ...
Mr. C. Liman)

Birds Total
Shot at. Killed.
... 111 1 1 1-6
... 110 1 1 1-5
... 111 1 0 1-5

_ - ••• ..• ••• _
Mr. R. C. Musgrave 111 1 0 0- 4
Captain A. L. Ricardo ... 111 1 0 o—4
Mr. William Watts ... 101 1 1 0- 4
Mr. W. W. Beecher (post entry) ... 10 1 0 Retired
Captain Henry Talbot 0 1 1 0 Retired
Hon. C. A. W. Wynn (post entry) 01 1 0 Retired
Mr. Berkeley Lucy (post entry) 0 1 0 Retired
Mr. W. Corballis (post entry) 0 1 0 Retired
Mr. W. Lisley 0 1 0 Retired
Mr. Henry Rudd ... 0 0 Retired
Colonel Murray (post entry) ... 0 0 Retired
Mr. William Montague 0 0 Retired
Lo Comte Pierre de Gendre ... 0 0 Retired
Mr. Samuel Bateson 0 0 Retired
Mr. J. Joe, V.C., C.B. ... 0 0 Retired
Mr. George Stone... ... 0 0 Retired
Of the above shooters some stood at shorter distances
than the original handicap, according to the stipulations as
to the weight of bhot used, viz., Le Comte Pierre de Gen-
dre, Mr. W. Lysley, and Mr. Samuel Bateson shot with 1i
oz.; Sir John Blois, Bart., with 1 oz. ; and Mr. George
Stone, with I oz. The issue as above referred to was:—
Viscount Stormont, Ist prize .E75
Sir John Blois, Bart 2d l5

Mr. C. Hambri), 3d
After the great event there were several important sweep-
stakes shot for. In the first (of 27 entries) Capt. Hervey
Talbot, Mr. J. Jee, Viscount Stormont, Capt. A. L. Ricardo,
Mr. William Montague, and Mr. H. R. Alexander killed
three birds each ; and in shooting off the ties, Capt. Her-
vey Talbot and Mr. J. Jeo killed two each, and divided.
Another sweepstakes of 26 members was won by Mr. R. C.
Musgrave, who killed five birds in succession, beating Vis-
count Stormont and Mr. Samuel Bateson, who shot four
each, Mr. William Watts and Mr. William Montague only
bringing down three. The last important act of the day
was another sweepstakes of 22 competitors. Mr. J. Jee,
Mr. Samuel Bateson, Mr. W. Lysley, and Mr. Percival
Hambro each killed three. Mr. Lysley missed his fourth,
Mr. P. Hambro failed at his sixth, the other two gentle-
men hitting bird for bird five times A proposal for the
usual division was declined by Mr. S. Bateson, who missed
his next bird, and his!, gallant competitor following suit,
"Divide, divide" was loudly called and agreed to.
The other competitors in the different sweepstakes were
—Le Comte Pierre de Gendre, Mr. Henry Rudd, Mr.
Henry Brougham, Capt. Dymoke, Mr. C. Hambro, Colonel
Murray, Mr. W. W. Beecher, Major Hope Johnstone, Mr.
Berkeley Lucy, Dr. Sharpe, Mr. Lamont, M.P., Mr. Monk,
M.P., and Mr. Blackbourn.
Another handicap has been already commenced by Mr.
G. A. Battcock, to be shot for on the 30th inst., and the
following entries received : Col. Murray, Mr. inenry
Rudd, Mr. W. Gregory, Le Comte Pierre de Gendre, Capt.
Henry Talbot, Mr. W. Lysley, Viscount Stormont, Mr.
Henry Brougham, Mr. W. Watts, Hr. H. R. Alexander,
Mr. C. Hambro, Major Hope Johnstone, Mr. W. W. Beecher,
the Hon. C. A. W. Wynn, and Captain A. L. Ricardo.