Miniature Rifle Shooting 1906
This is the year that miniature rifle shooting started to spread throughout the country. It would evolve into the present small-bore format over time; but at the start was a scaled down version of the fullbore format with scoring and numbers of sighters and shots to count similar to the then standard Bisley format. There were miniature rifles available as well as the military rifle fitted with Morris tubes.
This page includes reports of club shooting at Ilkeston, Lowdham, Kimberley, and at Jardine's miniature range at New Basford.
We start with an Ilkeston club competition won by Mr. D. Cox with 49 out of 50, dropping his last shot to miss a possible. How many other shooters will tell tales of that sort in future years!
Nottingham Evening Post, Monday, 5th February 1906
On Saturday the "Henson" Competition was fired by the Ilkeston Volunteer and Civilian Miniature Rifle Club. Mr. D Cox was the winner, and his score of 49 out of a possible 50 is worthy of special notice. His score reads:- 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 4 = 49. Mr. F Mackenzie was second with 48, for which credit is due. The conditions were ten shots with one sighter at 25 yards, service rifles, and Morris tubes. Scores:–
| H'cap Pts. | Total. | |
| Mr D Cox | - | 49 |
| Mr F Mackenzie | - | 48 |
| Mr WB Shorthose | - | 46 |
| Mr J Henson | 2 | 44 |
| Mr FW Morris | 7 | 44 |
| Mr AT Annibal | 3 | 43 |
| Mr D Mackenzie | - | 42 |
| Mr A Shorthose | - | 42 |
| Mr J Jones | 3 | 42 |
| Mr GM Wilkinson | 3 | 42 |
| Mr A Cawthorne | - | 41 |
| Mr G Lings | 4 | 41 |
| Mr AJ Worroll | 7 | 41 |
| Mr TH Knightall | 2 | 40 |
| Mr H Mackenzie | - | 36 |
| Mr CH Hoey | - | 36 |
| Mr Henry Hallam | 6 | 26 |
| Mr W Walker | 5 | 19 |
The Ilkeston Rifle Club was very active and clearly made sure its competitions were reported in the local paper.
Nottingham Evening Post, Monday, 19th Feb 1906
The monthly competition in connection with the Ilkeston Volunteer and Civilian Rifle Club was fired on Saturday; conditions, seven shots at 25 yards. Scores:- R Marshall (handicap 3), 34; WB Shorthose, 33; A Shorthose, 32; F. Mackenzie, 31; W H Hoaz, 31; A Cawthorne, 31; A J Worrall (handicap 5), 31; D Cox, 30; D Mackenzie, 29; T Tate (handicap 3), 28; H Mackenzie, 27; F W Morris (handicap 5), 26.
Lowdham Rifle Club was also active with it appears both fullbore and miniature ranges in use.
Nottingham Evening Post, Friday, 30th March 1906
A meeting, held in the Schoolroom, yesterday, was presided over by Mr. R. N Whiston. It was arranged to open the season on Saturday, April 7th. The age of admission was lowered, and six new members were elected. A sub-committee was appointed to report on a smaller rifle for the use of the juniors. Mr. J. D. Pearson was reappointed captain. Mr. J. C. Belton vice-captain, and Mr. F. E. Tyler secretary.
Nottingham Evening Post, Friday, 25 May 1906
The annual competition for the bronze badge of the National Rifle Association was held a Lowdham yesterday. The shooting resulted in a tie between J. Simpson and S. Cammack, who each made 63 points. The five tie shots again resulted in equal points, each competitor making 22. The competition will probably be decided on Saturday.
Matches between clubs included this one, a return fixture between Ilkeston and Codnor Park. The winning team, Ilkeston, used Morris tubes whereas their opponents, Codnor, used Greener miniature rifles. However the respective merits of the rifles used cannot be judged from this result on its own.
Nottingham Evening Post, Thursday, 31 May 1906
The Ilkeston Volunteer and Civilian Miniature Rifle Club and the Codnor Park and District Rifle Club met in the return match at Ilkeston, last evening. The conditions were 10 shots with one sighter at 25 yards. Ilkeston used service rifles with Morris tubes, and the Codnor team Greener miniature rifles. Scores:– Ilkeston R.C.: G. Etherington 49, S. Henson 47, H. Mackenzie 47, D. Mackenzie 47, A. Shorthose 45, A. Mackenzie 43, W. B. Shorthose 42, D. Cox 42, total 362: Codnor Park RC.: S. Greensmith 46, R. Leighton 45. S. Millward 45. T. Searson 45, A. Gardiner 44, Rev. Downer 44, J. Stuart 41, A. Rook 41, total 351.
The Ilkeston club started a league probably for internal competition only; but it does mean that their active membership was over 30 people.
Nottingham Evening Post, Monday, 11 June 1906
A league has been started in connection with the Ilkeston Volunteer and Civilian Miniature Rifle Club. Six teams have entered, and consist of five men in each team, all members of the club. The first match was fired on Saturday, when No.1 team met No. 2 team. The conditions were seven shots with one sighter at 25 yards. After a keen match, No. 1 won by four points. W.B. Shorthose was the highest scorer, with 34 out of a possible 35. Scores:–
| W.B. Shorthose | 34 | F. Mackenzie | 32 |
| J. Sinclair | 32 | F.W. Morris | 31 |
| S. Henson | 32 | W. Calladine | 29 |
| Hy. Shorthose | 25 | W. Tomlinson | 27 |
| Total | 123 | Total | 119 |
More from the Lowdham club.
Nottingham Evening Post, Friday, 15 June 1906
The third monthly shoot for the Lowdham Rifle Club's Challenge Cup took place yesterday. Total possible points 105. Scores:– JD Pearson, 102; GH Ulyett, 98; A Parr, 93; SR Cammack, 90. Leading positions to date:– GH Ulyett, 283; JC Belton, 274; R Whiston, 248.
This report of a ten yard range set up at a fete at Kimberley is interesting for the mention of works clubs based at Jardine's and Raleigh. Our reports from 1905 mention other work's clubs including the Midland Railway Club at Derby. The last report on this page indicates that there were nine miniature rifle clubs in Nottingham by the end of 1906.
Nottingham Evening Post, Monday, 30 June 1906
In connection with the Kimberley fete and flower show a shooting competition was held, the conditions being seven shots at 10 yards, resulting in a win for the Kimberley G.N.H. Club (141), the Kimberley Cricketers' Rest being second (136). The other scores were:- Raleigh Athletic No. 1, 132; Beeston No. 1, 128; Beeston No. 2, 117; Kimberley Nelson, 115; Jardines No. 2. 111; Raleigh No. 2, 109.
Another work's club is mentioned in this short report connected with the Royal Mail Telegraph Service using Jardine's range.
Nottingham Evening Post, Saturday, 28 July 1906
The boys of the Nottingham Telegraph Messengers Rifle Club held their first shoot yesterday on Jardine's Miniature Rifle Range at New Basford.
Considering that this was the first time the boys had fired, some remarkably good shooting was made.
Sixteen boys fired seven rounds each at 100 yards, and the following are the six best scores, 35 being the highest possible:– W. Maltby, 23; L Craven, 23; G. W. Morris, 23; F. C. Hayward, 22; F. G. Dommett, 21; and W. Eddings, 20.
Jardine's again at their annual dinner. Details of the President's stirring patriotic address are not given; but probably a good flavour of it can be found on our page of Miscellaneous News with the opening of the Mapperley Institute and Rifle Range by Major-General Baden-Powell.
Nottingham Evening Post, Monday, 10 Dec 1906
There was a large gathering at the Arboretum Rooms, Nottingham, on Saturday evening, the occasion being the annual dinner of Jardines Miniature Rifle Club. Mr. E. Jardine, the president, in replying to the toast of the club, gave a stirring patriotic address. After dinner an enjoyable musical programme was carried out.
The club, which was the first of its kind in Nottingham, has assisted in the formation of seven of the nine which now exist. They joined the Newark and District League last year, and carried off the cup.
Transcripts from Nottingham Evening Post 1906
British Library Newspaper Archive