Civilian Shooting in 1903
There were not many reports to be found in the newspapers for either Nottinghamshire or Derbyshire in this year about civilian shooting and they are all shown here.
The first report is about the two meetings to settle the award of the English Twenty Club County Jewel, which went to Captain Payne of the Robin Hood Rifles. The report also lists the other ten competitors and their scores.
Derby Daily Telegraph, Saturday, 20th June 1903
NOTTS. AND DERBYSHIRE DISTRICT
The second shoot for the county jewel offered for the highest aggregate made in two rifle competitions in connection with the Notts. and Derbyshire District of the English Twenty Club took place on Friday at the Trent Range. Notwithstanding a very strong wind from the left, and an indifferent light, the scoring was rather tall. Captain Payne, of the Robin Hood Rifles, registered a fine total of 99, which, with his score of 92 at the first shoot on May 29th, made him a grand total of 191. He, therefore, became the winner of the jewel. Lieut. Miller, of the 1st Derby V.B., who headed the list at the previous shoot with 95, made 91 on Friday, giving him an aggregate of 186.
The following are the scores for the two shoots: Captain Payne (R.H.R.), 191; Armourer-Sergeant Milner (2nd Derby), 186; Major Ashworth (R.H.R.), 186; Lieut. Miller (1st Derby), 186; Quartermaster-Sergeant Comery (R.H.R.), 181; Captain Lewis (1st Derby), 180; Sergeant J.H. Briggs (1st Derby), 172; Colour-Sergeant Tomkins (R.H.R.), 170; Colour-Sergeant Fletcher (2nd Derby), 169; Sergeant Glossop (1st Derby), 169; Colour-Sergeant Marshall (1st Derby), 146.
The Nottinghamshire Civilian Rifle Club shot several competitions at Trent Range on a handicap basis. Mr. W. Ashby, whose name has appeared before accompanied by some leading scores, has retired from the volunteers and continued shooting with the club. However, his previous performance has gained him a stiff handicap of minus eight.
The National Rifle Association is now supporting civilian shooting as indicated by their bronze badge award and the issue of "skilled shots" certificates.
Nottingham Evening Post, Thursday, 25th June 1903
The third competition of this club was shot at Trent Range, with the following results:–
| Name | 200 | 500 | 600 | H'cp | Total |
| Mr A.E. Heatrell | 30 | 21 | 18 | 31 | 100 |
| Mr J.T. Radford | 26 | 19 | 26 | 24 | 95 |
| Mr J.W. Travell | 32 | 39 | 29 | 8 | 98 |
| Mr T.T. Littlefair | 31 | 31 | 26 | 1 | 89 |
| Mr J.G. Spendlove | 24 | 26 | 25 | 14 | 89 |
| Mr H.F. Lancashire | 25 | 27 | 19 | 14 | 85 |
| Mr W. Ashby | 33 | 32 | 26 | owes 8 | 83 |
| Mr F. Woodward | 21 | 19 | 16 | 24 | 80 |
The N.R.A. bronze badge offered for competition by the club was secured by Mr W. Ashby, with a net score of 91 points. Two members also qualified for N.R.A. "skilled shots" certificates, viz. Mr W. Ashby, with 133 points, and Dr. J.W. Travell, with 121 points out of a possible 150 points, under Bisley conditions, ten rounds at each of the 200, 500, and 600 yards ranges.
This is an interesting, but vague, report of a match between two civilian clubs: Lowdham and District R.C. and Newark Stanley Works R.C.. It took place at Newark and the distances indicated are 25 and 50 yards. So was this an early small bore match or did the reporter get the ranges very wrong?
Nottingham Evening Post, Tuesday, 30th June 1903
Lowdham and District Rifle Club v. Newark
Stanley Works Rifle Club - At Newark.
Lowdham won by 117 points. Scores:–
| Lowdham | 25 | 50 | Total. |
| J.D. Pearson | 30 | 29 | 59 |
| C.C. Reed | 29 | 30 | 59 |
| G. Clark | 33 | 27 | 60 |
| S. Clark | 28 | 26 | 54 |
| S. Cammick | 25 | 32 | 57 |
| J. Simpson | 31 | 26 | 57 |
| F.E. Tyler | 27 | 25 | 52 |
| T. Clark | 32 | 28 | 60 |
| C. Clark | 25 | 22 | 47 |
| J.C. Belton | 20 | 25 | 45 |
| Total | 550 | ||
| Newark | 25 | 50 | Total. |
| Jones | 24 | 31 | 55 |
| Forward | 24 | 25 | 49 |
| Sarney | 18 | 22 | 40 |
| North | 20 | 22 | 42 |
| Wilkins | 20 | 23 | 43 |
| Livsey | 23 | 4 | 27 |
| Monkhouse | 20 | 29 | 49 |
| Sherington | 19 | 23 | 42 |
| Graveney | 17 | 26 | 43 |
| Eames | 16 | 27 | 43 |
| Total | 433 |
Another English Twenty Club match in Derbyshire is in this report with mention of the range at Belper.
The details of the Duke of York's Cup are at present not known. The combination of Derby, Nottingham and Manchester as an English Twenty Division is a little unusual. Maybe more information will come to light to explain the anomaly.
Derby Daily Telegraph, Monday, 6th July 1903
English Twenty Club, - The local members of this club had a long distance shoot on the Belper Range on Friday last. The wind was very tricky, consequently scoring was low. Lieut. C.D. Miller, of Derby, came out with the best score of the afternoon.
The division of the English Twenty Club comprising the members of Derby, Nottingham, and Manchester has entered a team for the Duke of York's Cup at Bisley, and Lieut. Miller has been selected as captain of the team. One of the conditions is that no member is eligible to shoot who has shot more than twice in the international match, but this does not debar a member from being captain. Lieut. Miller succeeds Major Ashworth in command. The distances are 200, 500, and 600 yards.
The Notts. Civilian R.C. held a match at Trent Range against the Lowdham R.C. in July and this was clearly a full bore match over two ranges with seven to count at each. The Lowdham team included three shooters who had participated in the match at Newark.
Nottingham Evening Post, Friday, 31st July 1903
The members of this club shot a friendly match on their range at Trent against members of the Lowdham Rifle Club. The light was fairly good, but the wind at the longer range was found troublesome. The home team were victorious by 17 points. Scores:–
| 200 | 500 | Total. | |
| W. Ashby | 29 | 32 | 61 |
| A.E. Hearell | 26 | 20 | 46 |
| T.T. Littlefair | 26 | 27 | 53 |
| Dr. J.W. Travell | 25 | 27 | 52 |
| W. Woodward | 18 | 20 | 38 |
| J.T. Radford | 34 | 25 | 59 |
| Total | 309 | ||
| J.D. Pearson | 26 | 28 | 54 |
| T. Ashton | 20 | 20 | 40 |
| J.H. Starkey | 24 | 26 | 50 |
| W.E. Clifton | 31 | 18 | 49 |
| S. Cammick | 19 | 25 | 44 |
| C. Reed | 29 | 26 | 55 |
| Total | 292 | ||
Transcripts from Derby Daily Telegraph 20/06/1903 and 06/07/1903
and Nottingham Evening Post 25/06/1903, 30/06/1903 and 31/07/1903
British Library Newspaper Archive