THE INTERNATIONAL RIFLE MATCH.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3402, 17 November 1879, Page 2

THE INTERNATIONAL RIFLE MATCH.

•For lome weeks past the above event has been one of most absorbing interest in Volunteer circles generally. The teams were carefully selected after several competitions, and then private practice was gone in for ad Kb. It is, therefore, not to be wondered at that on Saturday, the day appointed for the match, there was a large attendance. on the range of the general public. The arrangements for the match were excellent, P.O. Potts, T.N.8., marker and caretaker, having greatly improved the range since we last had occasion to visit it. Mr Potts and his assistant officiated at the mantlets, and the competitors, one and all, agreed that nothing could hare been more satisfactory, not/one single shot being disputed. The Captains of the teams were —Lieut. Brown Sow, English ;. Lieut. Jobnstone, Scotch; Lieut. Gavin, Colonial; and Mr G. 8. Clark, Irish. Messrs J. Bull and W. Itea acted as score takers, end C.apt. Schofield as team score-taker. The conditions of the match were :—Each team to be of 10 men; ranges, 200, 400 and 500 yards; seven shots at each distance; rifles to be of any Government pattern, and the minimum pull 61 bs. At one o'clock the teams assembled at the 200jds range, and were told off in equal numbers to the left and right targets. At this time betting was slightly in favor of the Scottish and Colonial teams, though the English were faucied by not a few. It was supposed that the Irish were laboring under a disadvantage through two of their men not turning up, the vacancies having to be filled up at the lust minute by men who, though good shols, had not the advantage of the preliminary practice. The shooting at the 200 yds was, for the most part> excellent, Cameron of the Scottish team and A. Thomas of the English, making no less 27 eachone point under the possible—while Lawless, also of the English, made five bull's eyes and two centres. At the conclusion of the firing at this distance, Captain Schofield announced the result so far to be—English leading ? with 239 points, Scotch second with 222, Irish next with 220, and Colonials )mt with 214. At the 400 yards range there was a light variable wind from the left, which militated against some of the " dead in " shots, a considerable amount of windage having to be allowed-. The highest score of this range was made by Heron (Scotch) 25 — 4 points over centres On reference to the score books it was fouud that ihe English had increased their lead to 18 points over the Scotch, with the Colonials only 9 points behind, and the Irish last.. The position of the various teams at this range was:—English 454, Scotch 436, Colonial 427, and Irish 422.. Many regarded the victory as a certainty for the English. Some of tha knowing ones, however, thought the long range would materially alter the appearance of the match, and when the "field" was offered them against the English at even, they quietly booked it. Some of the Scottish team also looked quite hopeful, and ono of the members, actuated with a desire to nail his colors to the mast, cut a thistle, and with it adorned his hat, to the great amusement of many on-lookers. When the firing commenced at the 500 yards the greatest interest was displayed, each shot being carefully watched and noted. After the first two rounds all round had been fired, the welcome intelligence went round the Scottish camp that they were only two or three points behind the English. The Scottish continued to draw steadily nheitd, while almost every shot sent the English further down tho ladder, and when the last shot was fired, it was found that the Scotch were victors by 39 points. Stone, for the English, was very unfortunate, making seven misses

in succession ; while Fugg, Kendall, G. Clark, and Price also rbade ?cry small scores. The average shooting of the English team at this range was only one point over outers. The Scottish fired well at this range— Day and Weir making 25 each, and Murray 21-. There was but little wind, materially /assisting the stoady "dead in " shots of the team. Thu Irish shot ahead of the Colonials, and pushed the English hard for second honours, while the Colonials brought up the rear, though some of th»ir men shot very well. The highest individual score of the match was made by A. Thomas, Murray second with G9. Thomas' shooting was magnificent, being only 12 points below the possible. After the range scorer had announced the result, Lieut. Gavin called for three cheers for the Scotch team, which were heartily given. Cheers were also given for the losing teams. The detailed scores are as follows:—

This evening the losing teams wilt < entertain the Scotch team at a banquet at the Governor Bowen HoteL -- -

_JU •SIKIK) OUU yds yds -yds Tl. Murray 23 22- 24—69 Downie ... ... 21 24 23—68 Cameron ... ... 27 24 16—67 Dcy ... 20 20 25-65 Mitchell ... ... 23 2-1 18-65 Horon 22 25 18—65 McLean ... ... 23 18 23—64 Weir ... ... ... 21 15 26-61 RicLood ;.. ... 23 21 37—61 Jamiesoa ... ... 19 21 19—59 " Total „ 64r~~

Scottish.

Ihomtis A. ... liiomaa J. ... Lawless Reynolds ... Hirsfc Pagß Kendall Price ... Clarke, GK ... Stone ... 27 24 21—72 ... 22 24 21—67 ... 26 23 18—67 ... 23 21 21-65 ... 24 21 20-65 ... 24 24 12—69 ... 22 23 13-58 ... 24 22 11—67 ... 23 12 14—49 ... 24 21 0—45 Total ... ... -... ... 605

Ehsmsh.

.rmetrong ... Hark, 0. S. „. luchrane ... 7illia Gordon Vitcox ... TOeon, J. -... Vootls, J. ... dt'Kee, J. ... irownlee ... • . ... 23 22 22-T-67 ... 24 24 19—67 ... 22 21 23—G6 ... 23 23 20-66 ... 23 19 22—64 ... 21 17 23—61 ... 17 22 21^H60 ... 23 23 IS—SB ... 22 16 11—49 . ... 22 16 7—45 Total ... 603

Ikish.

)are 21 SO 25—66 Wow 22 24 20—66 taTin 24 -23 18—65 ,awlor 21 24 19—64 h>rdon, JA 21 21 19-61 - fewdick, A. 22 20 12-54 Valker.J ... ... 24 21 B^-JB torden, J ... ... 20 21 11—58 [v*y 18 18 9-45 Wilson, J 21 21 3-45 Total ;. »71

, GoiiOKIAI.3.

Scotch English Iriih Colonials .;. 644 605 603 ... 571

TOTAIS.