THE WIMBLEDON CONTEST, 1869.

Marlborough Express, Volume IV, Issue 194, 18 September 1869, Page 6

THE WIMBLEDON CONTEST, 1869.

Interest chiefly centred in the shooting for the Albert Prize, value £IOO, at 1,000 yards, and in what may be described as a further stage of the previous day’s International Competition for the Elcho Shield, the Council of the Northern India Rifle Association having presented a prize, value £'2s, to be competed for by the two best shots in each of the Elcho Shield Eights. Opinion is divided as to the policy of this prize, which certainly introduces the element of pecuniary gain and personal rivalry into a match of which the chief glory has hitherto been that it was shot exclusively for love of country, and that each man helped and coached the fellows of his own team, without a thought of individual advantage. However, the prize, being offered, had of course to he shot for; and the competitors entitled by their shooting for the Elcho Shield to compete in this match were, on behalf of Scotland, Captain Malcolm and Mr. Farquharson; for Ireland, Mr. Smyth and Mr. Lloyd; and for England, Captain Fenton and Mr, Turner. The match was very hotly contested, and resulted in a tie between the highest Scotch and Irish scores, while England was but a single point behind. Then came a still more trying moment. Mr, Farquharson for Scotland, and Mr. Smyth for Ireland, hud to shoot off the tie. Both obtained centres, and both accordingly were compelled to fire again. Next time. Mr. Farquharson obtained a bull’s-eye, and so immediately afterwards did Mr. Smyth—a bull’s-eye at 1,000 yards being, as the initiated know, so small an object as to be barely distinguishable. ' A second bull’seye was made for Scotland, and once more Ireland followed suit Mr. Farquharson then scored his third bull’s-eye running, and it seemed difficult to believe that he could again be tied. However, a third bull’s-eye was made for Ireland, and the spectators felt themselves wound up to a pitch of admiration and excitement. The next shot was a centre, and therefore a falling off; but the next fell of further still, for it was only an outer, and accordingly all the honors and substantial advantages of the two days’ match remarried with Scotland. As an item of information always acceptable in connection with this great national struggle may be mentioned the weapons with which the Eights respectively competed. The English were armed in equal proportions with the Rigby and the Metfurd rifles; Scotland had a rather miscellaneous assortment of two Henry's, one Metford, three Ingrams, and two Rigby’s. The Irish team naturally favored what is regarded as the Irish rifle, their armament consisting of seven Rigby’s and one Ingram.—London Times. 1