THE PIGEON SHOOTING CHAMPIONSHIP OF THE WORLD.

Globe, Volume IV, Issue 426, 23 October 1875, Page 3

THE PIGEON SHOOTING CHAMPIONSHIP OF THE WORLD.

[From the Illustrated Sporting and Bra viatic Fens. ]

A very large company assembled at Mr Warner’s on August 7, to witness the match in which Captain A. 11. Bogardus, the cham pion of America, aud Mr G. Rimell, of London, contested for the above title, at 100 pigeons each, on the following conditions, viz, twenty single birds at twenty-one yards rise from a spring trap, fifteen double rises, eighteen yards rise from two spring traps, and fifty single rises from five traps five yards apart, thirty yards rise, the scores at each distance to be added together. The shooting took place in the inclosure adjoining the house, and, owing to a heavy thunderstorm, it was three o’clock before proceedings commenced. It was agreed by each party to shoot at twenty-five pigeons each, at thirty yards rise to commence with, owing to the light being suitable for the lonaer range, Mr Rimell opening the ball with a kill, an example which the American followed ; and at the end of the tenth round Captain Bogardus was four ahead, having scored nine to his opponent’s five. Mr Rimell then killed his next five and let four escape out of his following five, making six killed out of the next ten ; whilst the American brought down seven out of a

similar number, thus getting another bird to the good. Mr Rimell brought down four out of his last five, and his opponent only three, making the score at the conclusion of the twenty-fifth round—Captain Bogardus, nineteen ; Mr Uimel), fifteen. The twenty birds at twenty-one yards rise, from one springtrap, came next, and of course a great score resulted, the American knocking over nine-

teen, bis fifth bird just escaping out of hounds ; Mr Rimell only brought down sixteen, missing his sixth, seventeenth, nineteenth, and twentieth, the score at this time being—(Japtain Bogardus, thirty-eight ; Mr Bimell, thirty-one. The fifteen double rises at eighteen yards followed, Captain Bogardus killing twenty-six pigeons out of his thirty, whilst Mr Rimell only brought down eighteen, the American thus gaining eight more birds. Score—Captain Bogardus, sixty-four ; Mr Rimell, forty-nine. The remaining twenty-five birds, at thirty yards’ rise, was now commenced, and, after each had scored eight out of eleven, Mr Rimell retired, having no chance of winning, the score being—Captain Bogardus, seventy-two out of eighty-six ; Mr Rimell, fifty-seven out of a similar number. The winner was afterwards presented with the medal, an appropriate speech being made by Mr Warner. The American replied, and said how ]j.appy he should be to meet any of our best shots on his own ground. Captain Bogardus thus describes the kind of gun he shouts with:—“ The breechloader I am now using was a SOOdols gun, and considering the prices they were selling at when I bought it, was worth the money. It has done a great deal of work—much hard work —and done it well. I have shot with it twelve limes iu matches against time, undertaking to kill fifty birds iu eight minutes, and have won the money every time. I have also killed with it fifty-three out of [ fifty-four birds iu four minutes and forty-five seconds. This was at Jerseyville, Illinois, twenty yards from the trap and two birds in the trap. H. B. blayton was present, At New Orleans 1 killed 111 out of 118 in seventeen minutes and thirty seconds, and picked up my own birds, I have shot many other matches with this gun, besides using it in a vast amount of field-shooting every spring fall, and wihter. All this work it has stood well, It has never been to a gunsmithshop to be repaired, and is as tight at the breech and as perftet in the opening and clasping action as ever it was. These facts prove conclusively that there is nothing wrong in the principle of a breechloader, and that, if such a gun is properly constructed, it will stand as much wear and tear as a muzzleloader ”

A member of the Hurlingham and of the International Clubs has challenged Captain Bogardus to shoot fifiy pigeons, thirty yards’ rise, for £2OO a-side.