Nottingham Evening Post, Saturday, 2 October, 1909

ITEMS OF LOCAL INTEREST.

After opening the new indoor range of the Nottingham Great Central Railway Miniature Rifle Club last evening, the Mayor (Major J. Ashworth) delighted the members by firing ten shots and presenting the club with a target showing 99 points out of a possible 100 as a memento.

The club already has a membership of 42, which it is hoped to increase to 60 by the end of the month. The company have given the club the use of the room, which is in the goods yard in Queen's-walk, and have undertaken to supply light and fire, and Mr T Knight, of Leicester, district engineer, has provided the sleepers from which the range is constructed.

The range is 18 yards in length, and allows for four marksmen shooting at once. It is well fitted out and is lighted by electricity. Mr G. Parsons, the president, presided over the opening ceremony, and the Mayor, in declaring the range open, expressed the hope that some of them would eventually find their way to Bisley.

Nottingham Evening Post, Wednesday, 6 October, 1909

MINIATURE RIFLE SHOOTING.

BOOTS ATHLETIC v. CANTERBURY, NEW ZEALAND.

This interesting postal match was fired on August 19th at 17 yards on 25 yard targets. The Canterbury (New Zealand) Club used orthoptic sights and Boots Athletic open or N.R.A. aperture, as in the Nottingham League. The result was a victory for Canterbury by nine points. Independent umpires were appointed by both clubs to watch the match for the opponents. Mr. Chambers, assistant postmaster of Christchurch, acting on behalf of Boots; and Mr. Sturdy, Harewood, Leeds, acting on behalf of Canterbury. The scores were as follows:–

Boots Athletic		Canterbury
H. Holthouse	99	R. Wells	99
A. Rowe	99	I. Shaw	99
T.F. Revell	98	F.W. Hickenbotham	99
H. Pearce	98	McConnel	99
A. Thompson	98	J. Pirrie	98
J. Hunt	97	G. Jones	98
J.C. Hibbert	97	C. Sherwood	97
J. Boyce	96	W. Waters, sen.	97
F. Freer	95	G. Burford	97
A.W. Harrison	94	R.Bowring	97
Total	971	Total	980

Nottingham Evening Post, Friday, 22 October, 1909

MINIATURE RIFLE SGHOOTING.

CONSTITUTIONAL CLUB v. PEARSE & CO.

This friendly match was fired on the Constitutional range, resulting in a win for the former by 35 points. The Constitutional Club tied its own record of 782 points. H.W. Davis and P.J. Smith each made a "possible". Scores:–

Constitutional		A.C. Pearse and Co.
H.W. Davis	100	C.J. Cooper	97
P.J. Smith	100	G. Stole	96
F.W. Perry	98	T. Ashby	95
E.G. Underwood	98	C.E. Spratt	94
H. Wood	98	S. Lister	93
H.C. Wright	97	H.M. Peters	93
J. Farr	96	A.E. Boardman	91
H.C. Sheldon	95	C. Archer	88
E.H. Page	93	E.P. Mey	87
		C.J. Schoffield	83
	875		917
Counted out	93	Counted out	170
Total	782	Total	747

CARRINGTON v. ST. AUGUSTINE'S

This Institute Scroll match was fired on Carrington range, resulting in a win for St Augustine's by two points. The conditions were ten shots at 25 yards distance on 6-bull targets; teams of four, all to count. Scores:–

Carrington		St. Augustine's
F. Housley	95	W. Ashby	92
F.S. Skerritt	92	S.H. Page	91
E. Caunt	90	R. Gothorp	86
C. Potts	72	A. Spray	82
Total	349	Total	351

Nottingham Evening Post, Thursday, 4 November, 1909

MINIATURE RIFLE SHOOTING.

ST. THOMAS'S LADIES MATCH.

A post match between st. Thomas's Ladies (Nottingham) and Staplegrove Ladies (Taunton) has resulted in a win for the latter. Scores:–

St. Thomas's		Staplegrove
Miss Grundy	92	Miss Goodridge	94
Miss Severn	90	Miss Lloyd	93
Miss Prowse	90	Miss K. Lloyd	93
Mrs. Smith	88	Miss Lloyd	91
Miss Abbott	88	Mrs. French	91
Miss B[illegible]	85	Miss Harris	81
Miss Round	83	Miss Pyke	79
Miss M. William	63	Miss White	73
Total	679	Total	695

Nottingham Evening Post, Saturday, 6 November, 1909

INSTITUTE AMENITIES.

NOTTINGHAM CONSTITUTIONAL v. LEICESTER.

The Nottingham Constitutional Club paid their annual visit to the Leicester Constitutional Club last evening and took part in the customary billiard and miniature rifle shooting contests. At billiards Notts. sustained a heavy defeat, Leicester winning nine games to three. The best breaks, however, were made by the visitors, 53 by G. Cheetham and 53, and 51 by T. Curtis. Scores:–

Nottingham		Leicester
H.D. Hazzledene	228	W.H. Swingler	250
P. Wood	127	Dr. Phelps	150
H.C. Sheldon	130	F.W. Fanshaw	92
W.T. Hancock	243	A. Thornton	250
W.T. Bell	150	C. Wells	126
E.J. Sansom	89	C. Japing	150
G.E. Cheetham	174	F.M. Ware	250
H.A. Jackson	139	H. Chamberlin	150
T. Curtis	150	S.A. Walker	51
W. Heath	193	T.P. Harrison	250
W. Pattison	100	W.E. Chadwick	150
P.J. Smith	62	S.C. Bestwick	150
	1,805		2,019

Nottingham won the miniature rifle match, which was shot under the usual conditions – decimal targets, 25 yards, teams of 10, 8 to count, by 18 points. No fewer than four "possibles" were made. Scores:–

Nottingham		Leicester
P.J. Smith	100	R.W. Kendall	100
F.B. Johnson	99	J.G. McAlpin	91
H.W. Davis	97	F. Smart	96
S.H. Page	100	J.D. Gott	97
J.H. Trease	96	A.C. Stagg	92
H. Wood	97	H. Noel	95
W.E. Clifton	100	R.A. Loseby	95
J.A. Cooper	98	H. Smart	92
E.G. Underwood	93	M.A. Cook	99
H.C. Sheldon	95	H. Stable	95
	975		952
Counted out	188	Counted out	183
	787		769

Nottingham Evening Post, Tuesday, 9 November, 1909

ITEMS OF LOCAL INTEREST.

Flags were flown from many public and private buildings in Nottingham to-day in honour of the King's Birthday.

There is a growing feeling in local miniature rifle circles that too little attention has been given to encouraging boys to take an interest in rifle shooting.

Lieutenant D.J. Jardine, in particular, has taken up the matter, and his presentation of a trophy to be fired for by boys alone is bound to bring recognition of their claims. The details of the competition have not yet been arranged. but it will probably be a team shoot, somewhat on the lines of the Duke of Portland's Cup.

It is to be hoped that this competition will be the foundation of a strong movement locally, and it is intended officially to do all that is possible to bring clubs to realise the importance of the matter.

One of the latest to enter the ranks is the Dakeyne-street Boys' Club. Only boys over 17 are at present allowed to join the miniature rifle section, but they number upwards of 40. Good provision has been made for them, and the price of ammunition is within their reach. The keenest interest is being displayed.

Nottingham Evening Post, Monday, 15 November, 1909

INSTITUTE RIVALRY.

FORMANS' AND BEMROSES' MEET.

The first of the season's home and home meetings between the representatives of Formans' Institute, Nottingham, and Bemroses' Institute, Derby, took place at Derby on Saturday night. Fifty members went over from Nottingham, and they were most hospitably received and entertained by their Derby friends. Games were played at billiards, whist, and crib, and there was also a match at the miniature rifle range. As on previous occasions Formans' won very easily at billiards, but they were vanquished with the rifle, and as one institute won at whist by three points (seven matches each), and the other at crib by one point (four matches each) honours were fairly well divided. Scores:–

BILLIARDS.

Formans'		Bemroses'
J.A. Burrow	150	J.A. Wragg	65
E.S. Edgar	150	W. Scaife	99
H. Kidd	100	A.C. Eachus	43
E.W. Elliott	100	A.E. Selvey	80
H. Brown	67	T. Livingstone	100
F.A. Robinson	135	G. Lyon	150
	702		537

WHIST.

Formans'		Bemroses'
J. Katterns, J. Hunter	6	J. Hunton, H. Selvey	15
H. Blythe, H. Best	9	H. Castledene, J. Lomas	15
J.L. Lord, G.W. White	3	E. Jones, F. Kirton	15
H. Barrow, J. Ball	15	A. Bradshaw, J. Towers	8
G. Gabitans, H. Carpenter	15	T. Bosworth, B. Metcalfe	13
A.W. West, T.M. Smith	12	W. Watson, W. Oxtoby	15
H Goodman, T. Crippwell	15	J. Wakefield, E. Tilston	5
A.G. Smith, F.P. Pointon	7	T. Miller, H. Wells	15
C. Brown, H. Crippwell	15	I. Harrison, W. Shaw	13
W. Jinchley, F. Shipman	11	A. Brunton, W. Wheldon	15
H. Waters, W. Waters	15	F. Guest, W. Jervis	5
E.S. Edgar, F.A. Robinson	15	H. Oldknow, W. Baston	5
F. Shelton, J.White	15	J. Smythe, F. Weston	13
J. Hawthorne, L. Heason	11	F.G. Clarke, W. Towle	15
	164		167

CRIBBAGE.

Formans'		Bemroses'
S.A. Thompson	1	A. Winfield	4
L. Heason	2	F. Clarke	3
J. Hawthorne	3	H. Towle	2
C. Coker	4	F.W. Fryett	1
G. White	2	F. Kirton	3
W. Gilbert	3	W. Wilkinson	2
R. Whitehorn	1	T. Bosworth	2
C. Brown	2	W. Watson	0
	18		17

AIR GUN SHOOTING.

Formans'		Bemroses'
H. Kidd	16	W. Platt	18
C.F. Shaw	13	W. Watson	18
G. White	16	J. Wakefield	21
A. Slack	19	A. Sutton	20
R.J. Whitehorn	20	A. Brunton	17
R. Whitehorn	11	A. Atkin	20
H. Goodman	17	W. Wheldon	23
J. Ball	15	C.C. Bowman	18
	127		155

Nottingham Evening Post, Friday, 26 November, 1909

MINIATURE RIFLE SHOOTING.

THE "STEVENS" CHALLENGE VASE.

MIDLAND RAILWAY CLUB'S SUCCESS.

A team representing the Midland Railway Rifle Club have succeeded in winning the "Stevens" Challenge Vase, a trophy presented for annual competition by teams from clubs affiliated to the National Rifle Association and S.M.R.C. The conditions were teams of five, six shoots within a stipulated period, the aggregate of the best five collective shoots at fifty yards to count. The scores were assessed by the council of the Two-Twenty Club. The following were the Midland Railway men's individual scores, the h.p.s. being 500 points:–

J. Dobson, Carriage and Waggon	484
J. Meed (capt.), General Managers	483
F. Davey, Carriage and Waggon	478
W. Bellamy, Superintendents	472
H.L. Littlewood, Engineers Dept.	469
Total	2,386

Twelve teams entered, the five next best being:–

Alexandra Palace R.C,	2,379
Chance and Hunt R.C.	2,370
Mansfield (Highgate) R.C.	2,369
Hendon H.R.C.	2,351
Beckton R.C.	2,321

Nottingham Evening Post, Tuesday, 30 November, 1909

ITEMS OF LOCAL INTEREST.

Practically the whole of the rules of the Nottingham Miniature Rifle League are in the melting pot, for since the regulations were last dealt with, the movement throughout the country has progressed at a pace, and if the local organisation is to be up–to–date and in harmony with the miniature rifle work of other parts, a variety of changes are necessary.

Whether innovations suggested will command themselves to the bulk of local club officials is another matter, because the question of expense has to be considered more here – where the movement is comparatively widespread – than in some of the richer organisations to be found in other places.

The sub-committee to whom has been relegated the consideration of the various alterations proposed will meet during the next few days.

Nottingham Evening Post, Tuesday, 14 December, 1909

ITEMS OF LOCAL INTEREST.

Another miniature rifle club is shortly to be formed in Nottingham by the employees of Messrs. Vickers and Hine. They are in negotiation with the Sneinton Club for arrangements whereby their men can obtain some preparatory practice at George-street.

It is proposed to form a junior club in connection with the Constitutional Rifle Club in order to fall in line with Lieut. D.J. Jardine's effort to encourage the practice of shooting by boys. It is also intended to establish a ladies section.

MINIATURE RIFLE SHOOTING.

LORD HENRY BENTINCK ON RIFLE CLUBS.

A very successful smoking concert was held at the Constitutional Hall, Nottingham, last evening, in aid of the funds of the Constitutional Rifle Club. Lord Henry Bentinck presided and among those present were Captain J.A. Morrison. A capital programme was contributed to by Messrs. C.A.P. Coggan, J.L. Hebblethwaite, W.A. Howie, W. Downing, J. Maynard Grover, and George Elsey.

Lord Henry Bentinck, acknowledging the toast of his health, which was proposed by Capt. Morrison, remarked that some people took rather a stupid view of rifle clubs, saying that they tended to be a hindrance to the territorial movement. He (Lord Henry) did not believe that for a moment. On the contrary, he thought they tended to increase the numbers of the territorial army, and were an inducement to men to join. Further, it was an amusing and healthful occupation, and on the whole made for temperance. He was not one of those who believed in the invasion of the country. Perhaps he was singular in holding that view, but he did not think the Germans had any bellicose intention with regard to this country. In case of invasion, however, the members of the rifle clubs, although they had no military discipline or training, would be a very valuable asset.