Nottinghamshire Rifle Association

Nottingham Evening Post, Tuesday, 16 April 1907

ITEMS OF LOCAL INTEREST

Members of the Sneinton Rifle Club hope to commence shooting during the next fortnight. Their miniature range of fifty yards is practically ready, and a number of rifles - miniature Government pattern - have been acquired, including gifts from Councillor R.H. Swain and Mr. P.E. Bates.

There is a balance in hand of about £18, including a donation of £5 from the president, Earl Manvers, but during the next nine months £30 will be required to meet expenses. Councillor Swaiin has been appointed first captain of the club, Mr. A. Searby vice-captain, and Mr. G.A. Collier secretary.

The local veterans have decided to give a penny each per annum for a prize to be shot for by the members.

Nottingham Evening Post, Saturday, 4 May 1907

LOUGHBOROUGH FALCON WORKS AND
RIFLE SHOOTING.

For the purpose of considering the advisability of forming a rifle club in connection with the Brush Electrical Engineering Company's works a meeting was held at the Temperance Hall last night. Mr. J.J. Steinitz (general manager) presided over a good attendance. There were at least 100 present, including Colonel Hilton, who explained the scheme. Amongst those who expressed themselves in favour of the scheme were Messrs. Brotherton, Leach, Stuart, David, Mason, and Duplany.

It was decided to establish a club to use the "War Office miniature" rifle, and a subscription of half-a-crown was suggested. The range will, subject to the approval of the G.C. Railway Company, be at the back of the Falcon works. A sub-committee, consisting of Colonel Hilton, Sergeant-Instructor Rudge, Sergeant Hartley, and Mr. Mason, was appointed to deal with the preliminary arrangements.

Nottingham Evening Post, Monday, 6 May 1907

Editorial article

RIFLE SHOOTING.

A further illustration of the advance of the movement for the encouragement of rifle shooting among our young men was provided by the opening of the range at Coalville on Saturday afternoon. The way here has been led by Lady Beaumont, whose name the club will bear, but much interest has been aroused throughout the district, and there is every reason to anticipate great popularity for the range. The desirability of the attainment of a moderate degree of skill in rifle shooting is by this time almost universally admitted. It was emphasised afresh by Sir Edmond Elles on Saturday, and in the letter which the general read from Earl Roberts. At a time when the whole question of national defence is in the balance the latter, moreover, does well to point out that excellent though they are rifle clubs are not in themselves to be regarded as military units. Something more in drill and discipline is needed, but as an aid to securing the wider ideal the increase in their number and efficiency is always to be welcomed.

Nottingham Evening Post, Thursday, 9 May 1907

MINIATURE RIFLE SHOOTING.
OFFICIAL OPENING OF CARRINGTON RANGE.

In pleasant weather the range of the Carrington and District Miniature Club was officially opened this afternoon by the High Sheriff of Nottinghamshire, Lieut. T. P. Barber. The Carrington and District Club was first mooted about twelve months ago, and it now has membership of 100, Councillor A. J. Butler being president. For some time there was a difficulty in obtaining a site, but eventually the dub were very kindly met by the Corporation, with the result that a capital range has been established on a piece of land at the rear of Carrington Police station, between Mansfield-road and the Great Central Railway.

At present there is provision for a 25 yards range, but in the future, by the removal of a sand bank behind the firing point, 50 yards and even 100 yards may be obtained. There is plenty of width and as many as a dozen targets could be placed on the butts. The club use service rifles fitted with Morris tubes. It is proposed to fire on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday evenings till dusk, and on Thursday and Saturday afternoons.

There was a fairly large gathering at the opening ceremony. Councilor E. N. Elborne presided, and amongst those present were:- The High Sheriff, Colonel Merritt, Councillors H.B. Halford, J.T. Spalding, and F. N. Hobson, Dr. Gass, Messrs. F. Berryman, C. L. Rothera, T. A. Curtis, C. H. Curtis, T. B. Gerrard, T. J. Page, L. B. Wilkinson, F. W. Fox, T. P. Marsden, R. Chapman, J. W. Hodgson, H. Mee, A. Emmerson (hon. sec.), C. Potts (hon. treas.), and G. Smith (captain). Apologies for absence were read from the Mayor, (Ald. J. A. H. Green), the Sheriff (Coun. F. Ball), the Town Clerk, Councillor Butler, Ald. Bexon, Coun. Harlow, Colonel Pratt, Captain Parkinson, Captain Payne, Captain Jardine and others.

In declaring the range open, the High Sheriff said the range was fulfilling the object Lord Roberts had in view, and for which he was toiling in his old age. After his vast experience of the defending of our country Lord Roberts had found the one thing needed to support our voluntary system was to make every man in the country a good rifleman. Shooting ability was easy of acquisition, took very little trouble, and gave great pleasure, while they had the satisfaction of fitting themselves for the defence of the country and empire of which they were all so proud.

Lieutenant Barber then fired a shot at a specially decorated target, and scored a bull at seven o'clock.

Nottingham Evening Post, Monday, 13 May 1907

MINIATURE RIFLE SHOOTING AT ILKESTON.

The monthly spoon competition of the Ilkeston Volunteer and Civilian Miniature Rifle Club was fired on Saturday. The following are the highest scores. Conditions:– Seven shots, no sighter, at "Roberts" decimal target:–

	Handicap.	Total.
Mr. H. Mackenzie	-	65
Mr. W.B. Shorthose	-	63
Mr. T. Mackenzie	-	63
Mr. A. Mackenzie	-	62
Mr. W. Riley	4	61
Mr. W.H. Hoey	-	58
Mr. G. Rose	4	57
Mr. D. Cox	1	55
Mr. D. Mackenzie	-	54
Mr. A. Shorthose	1	54
Mr. B.W. Maltby	4	54
Mr. A. Cawthorne	-	53
Mr. G. Etherington	1	52

Mr. H. Mackenzie has been selected to represent the club for the "Queen's" Cup.

Nottingham Evening Post, Monday, 27 May 1907

RIFLE SHOOTING.
MATCH AT LOWDHAM.

A post match took place on Saturday, between Lowdham and District R.C. and Ashford Church House R.C., Kent. Scores:–

ASHFORD R.C.
	25 yds.	50yds.	Tl.
C. Stokes	34	35	69
G. Lorden	33	32	65
W. Dean	32	32	64
A.G. Rickarby	29	34	63
T. Hills	30	31	61
H.A. Shorter	32	29	61
J.C. Hollis	30	30	60
C.H. Bowles	31	29	60
			503
LOWDHAM R.C.
J.C. Belton	32	32	64
A. Parr	34	30	64
J.D. Pearson	31	31	62
F.E. Tyler	31	31	62
S.R. Cammack	29	32	61
G.H. Ulyett	32	29	61
R. Whiston	33	27	60
J. Simpson	34	23	57
			491

Nottingham Evening Post, Friday, 31 May 1907

RIFLE SHOOTING.
MAPPERLEY INSTITUTE v. CARRINGTON.

A league match was shot on the Mapperley Range, between teams representing Mapperley Institute and Carrington and District, the former winning by 19 points. Conditions:- Seven shots and a sighter at approximately 200 yards, N.R.A. rules.

Mapperley		Carrington
T Caunt (capt.)	31	G. Smith (capt.)	27
F. Caunt	32	R. Bavin	30
H.G. Laker	28	E. Goddard	20
A. Thompson	31	F. Houseley	26
P. Dominick	32	G. Gunn	29
P.T. Winfield	28	H. Whitehead	28
A. Hill	25	W. Broughton	25
A.E. Mee	26	F Skerritt	29
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