Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1877-09-14
The International Rife na,cn

The contest for the Centennial ride trophy
for this year, which commenced yesterday
and ends to-day, is the result of the match
that was shot in 1874 between the Irish and
American teams in this country, and re-
Pested at Dollymount in Ireland in 1873.
The Americans won in both these contests.
In 1876 the American National Ride Asso-
ciatisn made a challenge to the long range
rifiemen of the world; the principal condi-
lions being that each team should consist of
eight men, native-bOTn citizens and residents
OF the countries they respectively represent,
except IN the case Of teams repres sntiDg a
provincial territory of a governments; the
rifles not 10 excesd ten pounds weight; dis
tsnces 500. go and 200 yards: number of
shots thirty at each range by each competI-
tor, 10 sighting shots, match TO last two
days; competitors TO fire fifteen shots at each
distance upon each day, commencing at so
yards, any position without artificial rest;
prize, an American Centennial trophy, such
trophy TO be shot for IN each subsequent
year, upon the same terms, in the country
OF the team holding II, at such time and
place as said team, or a majority thereof,
shall prescribe.
Last year, teams from Ireland, Scotland,
Canada and Australia entered for the match,
England declining 10 send a team if Ireland
and Scotland were 10 be regarded as repre-
citation Of Great Britain, and, after much
correspondence on this subject between the
two associations, the match was shot with
the CONF etitOrs above named and the Amer
lean Team. The result OF the first days con-
test left Scotland ahead, the scores standing:
Scotland, $50; Ireland, ,5S2; America, .517:
Australia, ,jI5; Canada, 100. Onthe second
day Scotland fell Off from first to tn ird place,
and America won the match. The following
Were the scores of the second day and the
totals for both days: America, $40; total,
3,126. Ireland, ,522; total, 3.1Oi. Scotland,
lay; total, 1908 Australia, 1,5l7 total,
3,O62. Canada, ,433; total, 2,g23.
This year the organization of a British
team was effected, composed of the best shots
OF England, Ireland, and Scotland as fol-
lows: Englishmen-SirH Henry Halford cap
tain, a. p. Humphry, Lieutenant Colonel
James Fenton, III. s. w. Evans; Irishmen-
Lieutenant George Fenton, j. h. Milner,
W. Rigby; Scotchman-W. Ferguson. OF
these Miner in the match at CreedmoOr last
year made the remarkable score of fifteen
successful bulls eyes at 600 yards. Lieut.
George Fenton, 9th Irish representatives.
Ii will be remembered, carried of the Amer
lean challenge cup last year at Creedmoor,
and AT the contest at the Benning's bridge
course won the badge presented by the
Irish residents OF Washington. Humphrey
and Evans are members of the English bar.
The American team this year is composed
as follows: Major III. s. Jewell, Isaac l..
Allen, W. II. Jackson, Weber, F. Hyde,
Gen. T. :. Dakin (captain) l.. &. Bruce,
and c. E. Blydenburgh; Messrs. Lamb and
Hepburn being on the reserve. 1t Will be
seen that this list, made up after test COM
petition for places, does not embrace the
names of some OF the heretofore leading rep
reg q i've or of f,,-
stance, Mr.. Fulton and Col. Boiine gs'Old Re-
liable.") This seems TO show that this coun-
try has an exceptionally large repre- senta-
ton OF crack rifiemen from which TO select a
team.
The shooting al Creedmoor yesterday OF
the part OF both the cOnteSting teams was
quite remarkable. Each coltestan: had If
teen shots at each OF the three ranges, anu
the highest possible score he could make at
any one range was -, or IN the three ranges
combined 225. Therefore, If no misses were
made in the three ranges. the highest score
possible OF a team would have been 1,S0O
points. The best Individual shooting was
done by Blydenburg OF the American team,
In the SO yards range, who made ~, or no
less than 1i"buI's eyes" The next best
shooting was done by Rigby, of the British,
and Dakin, Weber and Bruce, of the Ameri-
can team, who made IS each.
AS was 10 be expected, the shooting in the
500 yard range was considerably better than
In the 500 and 600 yard ranges. The Ameri-
cans for instance scored SIS, 5i7, and $40
at the 500, 200 and 900 ranges respectively,
while the British scored SIS, So, and 53i. 1t
was unfortunate that Sir Henry Halford, of
the British team, should have forgotten TO
put ball in his rifle on his seventh shot in
the I ,OoO yards range. But even had he made
bulls eye on this shot II would still have
left the Americans victorious by p points.
Excepting this, the lowest shot made by any
one Pers on yesterday was by VIM. Ferguson,
OF tie British team, who scored but on his
second shot in the eco yards range.
1t will be seen by our kilograms that the
Americans are to-day increasing their lead
upon the British team.