The Wimbledon Meeting by this time had becomeinternationally well known and the Gazette for 21September 1878 contained a letter from an American thathad originally been published in a New York periodical.A short quote from the letter helps to paint the scene.. . . As if by magic a small city springs into existence. Asubstantial fence is thrown around the grounds, a railway putin operation, post office and telegraph-office stare one in theface . . .An American at Wimbledonfrom a letter to the New York ‘Spirit of the Times’.(Part Two of this article, The Bisley Range Tramway, willappear in the next Journal.)ReferencesThe Tramways of the <strong>National</strong> <strong>Rifle</strong> <strong>Association</strong> by MikeHutson - HMRS Journal January - March 1991Volunteer Service GazetteNRA Annual Meeting Handbooks, Reports, CouncilMeeting Minutes, and other Documents and Records.AcknowledgementsI would like to record my thanks to all those who assistedin compiling this article, especially Ted Molyneux,Curator of the NRA Museum, for his assistance andallowing me full access to the NRA records.All photographs, unless otherwise acknowledged, arereproduced from NRA Museum sources.THE BISLEY CLUBS EASTER MEETING <strong>2006</strong>by John GardenerThe kind weather and good (on the whole) markingwent towards making the weekend as good as it was.The revised format, Georges I and II on Saturdayafternoon, Queens I and II on Sunday and Queens IIIon Monday was not so popular with those who hadn’thad any long range practice this year. It did howeverreduce marker costs and put extra money into theprize pot. Although there had been the opportunityfor a long range practice on the preceding Thursday,it unfortunately left Friday with nothing to do as theranges were closed.One hundred and eleven competitors fought forhonours in eight competitions and three aggregates.Sixteen F Class competitors, including some fromGermany and Holland, joined in the fun, and fun itwas especially during the second detail at 1000 yardswhen some very tricky wind gusts caught a fewnapping. A team of young shooters from NorthernIreland so enjoyed themselves that they vowed tocome back next year and win!We had thought that with the number of competitors,it would be a tight finish for the Queens II. RangeOfficer John Matthews’s tight control on the firingpoint, and the Butt Supervisor’s sterling efforts ingetting the targets re-faced, meant that we actuallyfinished early.Pam, Sara and Mandy catered for fifty-two at thedinner on Saturday night where many ate too much,drank well and thoroughly enjoyed themselves. Forthe healthy there were plenty of vegetables, and forthe rest, the puddings were to die for.I would like to make known my grateful thanks tothe following for their help. The Range Office, JohnMatthews who was Range Officer for the weekend,Sid Carter for squadding and stats, Pam, Sara andMandy for an excellent dinner, the markers andespecially the Butt Supervisor, Jess who worked hisown butt off re-facing targets, filling markers gaps andgenerally helping out. A special thanks to Viv (Shewho Must be Obeyed) who helped, encouraged andgenerally bailed me out when I got it wrong. Andthank you to all the competitors who supported theCity <strong>Rifle</strong> Club and made it such an enjoyableweekend.A good showing from the F Class contingent.(Photos: John Gardener)7mm may not be much good at 300 yards but these sausage rollsare great at 6!34
ResultsGeorges I1 T Raincock 75.132 D Armstrong 75.123. I Robertson 75. 11X class T Raincock 75.13A class I Robertson 75.11O class P Schumann 74.10T class S Doble 71.07F class D Parr & H Mitera 75.15Georges II1 I Robertson 75.142 C Mallett 75.123 B Horwood 75.11X class C Mallett 75.12A class A Wilde 75.11O class H Larter-Whitcher 75.09T class PA Wilson 74.06F class P Eggemann & H Mitera 75.15Queens I1 T Raincock 105.142 R Koostermann 105.143 B Roth 105.12X class T Raincock 105.14A class A Wilde 104.14O class C White 104.13T class S Doble 102.08F class D Parr & W Scholtz 105.19Queens II1 P Stock 150.222 D Armstrong 150.193 A Burton 149.27X class P Stock 150.22A class D Richardson 149.23O class D Argent 149.18T class S Doble 149.20F class D Parr 150.29Comp 5 900 Yards1 B Roth 75.132 T Green 75.133 D Richardson 75.09X class B Roth 75.13A class D Richardson 75.09O class S Larter-Whitcher 74.07T class N Healey 73.10F class D Stewart 75.12Comp 6 1000 Yards1 J Sweet 72.072. A Langley 72.063. S Doble 72.05X class J Sweet 72.07A class CC Mallett Jnr 70.08O class C White 71.06T class S Doble 72.05F class P Hobson 75.11Colin Shorthouse trying to master the new F Class wind calculator.Could this be considered an illegal aid to shooting?Grand Agg1 C Mallett 544.712 R McQuillan 544.683 T Green 544.68X class C Mallett 544.71A class A Wilde 543.65O class C White 541.60T class S Doble 541.57F class P Hobson 555.90ETSysElectronicTarget SystemsUK Distributors forKME Electronic Target Systems and TrainersSystems from 10m to 1200 yardsWireless laser trainerFor further information contact us at:6, South Farm Court, South Farm RdBudleigh Salterton, Devon EX9 7AYTel: 01395 442777E-mail: info@etsys.co.ukWebsite: www.etsys.co.uk35