The Sun.
London, England, 1866-07-03 00:00:00

Pigeon Shooting by Members of the House of

Commons.

Yesterday the annual pigeon match between members of
the Liberal and Conservative sides of the House of Com-
mons took place at Ashburnham, and though perhaps the
most decidedly aristocratic, was the very worst match of
the season. Why, it would bo indeed difficult to tell. Tho
weather, with the exception of one heavy shower, was
favourable, the wind was in favour of the shooters, and the
birds were by no means the very best, yet the score was
woful. It had been originally settled for six a side, but
another was added, and precisely at 3 30, Viscount Holmes-
dale, who led the Opposition, began with a miss, 2 zo 1 being
freely laid on him. Col. Annesley followed his leader, and
the Hon. Mr. Do Grey was equally true to the viscount.
This commencement was rather improved by the rest on
the side bringing down their birds. If the Conservative
side was bad the Liberals were worse, for of their seven
only two killed in the first round. In the second round
Sir Charles Mordaunt took part with the triumvirate that
had made so indifferent an exhibition; but their opponents
were but little better. The Conservatives also lost way in
the third round, and though they pulled up a unit on the
next it was quite evident that their crack performers were
not quite "equal to the occasion." Viscount Holmesdale
and Colonel Annesley each missed eight out of nine. The
rounds continued, all being equal at the end of the fourth.
Then the majority went on 2,5, 6,9, 11, and there being
only seven shots each to fire, the match was at an end, the
Liberals having won by the magic number, retrieving their
defeat of last year, when the Conservatives were victorious
by five. Throughout the contest, however, as regarded
the sides, another interesting struggle was proceeding, the
best scorer having to receive a "pipkin" from the entrance
money. For the first four rounds Mr. Hussey Vivian, Mr.
Frederick Milbank, and Captain the Hon. H. Wyndham
were in it, but the Conservatives soon fell astern in the
race, and when the hon. member for the North Riding had
the odd bird at the seventh round his chance lc.K;l:eil
eel!, I,iit lids,ey Vivian caught him in the next
round, passed him in the one following, and, dropping his
teeth bird beautifully, less one, became entitled to the jug.
Last year Mr. Dillwyn won it. Mr. Frank Heathcote, as
usual, made all arrangements. In conclusion, it need merely
be said that the Liberal side killed 37 out of 64, and the
Conservatives 25 out of 63. The extra unit was the last
shot by Mr. Hussey Vivian to entitle him to the prize. The
further result of the match will be a dinner at Greenwich
at the expense of the losers.
The following is the full score :

THE LIBERALS.
Birds shot at. Killed.
Mr. Hussey Vivian 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 1 1 1-9
Mr. Frederick Milbank llllll 1 0 0 —7
Hon. Col. Anson, V.C., C.B 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 —6
Hon. G. H Ileathcote
Mr. W. B. Beaumont 0 0 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 —4
Mr. C. J. Monk 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 —3
Mr. Knatchbull-Ilugessen 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 —3

Total 37
Tim CONSERVATIVES.
Sir John Walsh
Hon. Captain IL Wyndhath 1 1 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 —5
Sir Charles Mordaunt, Bart. 1 0 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 —4
Sir Thomas Hesketh, Bart— 1 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 —4
Hon. Mr. De Grey 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 1 —4
Viscount Hohnesdalo 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 —1
Hon. Col. C. H. Annesley 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 —1

Total 25

AQUATICS.

WINGFIELD CHALLENGE SCULLS.
The race for the Wingfield Challenge Sculls, the holder
of which for the time being has the title of Champion of
the Thames, came off yesterday in the presence of thou-
sands of spectators. The fact of the contendants being
university men caused considerable interest to be centred
in the event ; and the steam-boat which accompanied the
race had a large party of past and present university men
on board, among whom were Messrs. H. C. Smith, Rhodes
Cobb, C. B. Lawes, L. P. Thickwood, H. T. Steward, and
others. The arrangement of placing the starting boats
devolved upon honest John Phelps, the waterman of Ful-
ham, and he carried out his duties satisfactorily. Mr. Ed-
ward Searle, of the firm of Searle and Son, was starter ;
and Mr. C. B. Lawes, the winner last year (retired), was
umpire. The result was as under :

E. B. Michell, Magdalene College, Oxford
W. B. Woodgate, Kingston Rowing Club
J. G. Chambers, Leander Boat Club 0

Mr. Searle got them off to an excellent start, Mr. Cham-
bers taking a slight lead. In half a dozen strokes, how-
ever, Woodgate, who rowed very fast, had passed him,
and Michell, who had the worst station, was loft last. He
soon, however, disposed of Chambers, who had length of
roach alone in his favour, lacking the great requisite
strength. At the Star and Garter Woodgate had a good
lead, and at Simmonds's was a quarter of a clear
length ahead of Michell. These two rowed a
ding-dong race with the name positions to the London
Boat-house, where Chambers was out of the race. A little
further on Michell drew on Woodgate, but the latter gave
him so much bP.ek wash that at the Dung-wharf he was
nearly a clear length astern, Michell having caught half a
crab meanwhile. Mr. W3odgate now tried the crossing system
and gave his opponent all the wash he could, but towards
Hammersmith-bridge Michell displayed the most pluck,
and was, we consider, overlapping his antagonist at the
bridge. At the Red Lion they were level, and then
Michell led slightly. Woodgate spurted and cut him
down, and a game and resolute race to the middle of
Chiswick Eyot found them level. Woodgate was unfit for.
further exertion,
s
andpte Michelld arhgotdandaway
did all h
ashepleasom
pleased,
and,
ll won
thoughiche Woodgateeasily.

THE INTERNATIONAL SCULLING RACE. —The
Newcastle Chronicle of Saturday says :—" Yester-
day evening an adjourned meeting was hold at Mr. J.
Brown's, the Blenheim House Hotel, for the purpose of
settling the only moot point left open, namely, that of the
precise time of the days of the 4th and sth of July that the
race should be rowed. There was a good attendance of the
friends being accompanied by Mr.
G. Drew of
tt th
Kelley
Messrs. J. H. Baird and J. Adams,
i, o ef two
London, men,
of Newcastle, and several others; tho American 'being
again represented by Mr. Jas. Wilkinson, with whom were
Mr.
Harry Clasper, Mr. W.
Mrajs. Brown,theM Mr. Wm.
IMVmur.tiOnla,kMeyr,. W. Oldham, Mr. John
Hamill, Mr. J. Laughlin, &c. There is a dispute as to the
rowing—as to the days and the tides. Hamill considers
that be is clearly entitled to have the morning tides ; whilst
on the other hand Kelley maintains that as tha articles
stated "on two days following each other in the week
ending July 7," he claimed to have them rowed either
morning or evening. The point was warmly discussed on
both sides, the result being that Kelley positively refused
to row except upon the terms ho had stated ; whereupon
Mr. Wilkinson announced that Hamill would be at the
starting place on the morning of the 4th of July, and in
the event of Kelley not putting in an appearance the Ame-
rican would most certainly row over and claim the stakes.
Kelley, on the other hand, as stoutly affirmed that ho
would not be sthere in the morning, but would be at his
post in the evening, and would do likewise, namely, row