THE QUEEN'S PEIZE AT WIMBLEDON.

Evening Post, Volume XXVIII, Issue 65, 13 September 1884, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE QUEEN'S PEIZE AT WIMBLEDON.

EXCITING FINISH. The most important event of the meeting, tho contest for the Queen's Prize, was decided on July 22. The morning was fine, though the wind waa uncertain, but during the day a succession of showers passed over the Camp, and interfered considerably with the comfort of the competitors. Shooting at the final stage did not commence till after lunch ; so that the result was not decided till late in the afternoon. In the list there were some men who had shot before in the Sixty — such as Corporal Mardell, London Kifle Brigade ; llae, Gold Medallist; and Ingram, Silver Medallist, from tho north of the Tweed; Wade, Ist Lancashire; Corporal Parry, 2nd Cheshire; ]£emp, Ist Berks ; Lieutenant Mitford, Civil Service; Kelman, Ist Eoss ; Perkins and Bales, Ist "Warwick ; Paton, 2nd Ayr; Grier, 2nd Renfrew, and perhaps one or two others who had been in from one to half a dozen times. There was no parade of the competitors at the Councillor offices ; they were simply ordered to report at 2.30 in rear of the firing point at the 300 yards range of the long range butt. Before even they reached the firing point it was surrounded by a gathering of spectators larger than has been known before in Wimbledon experience. A rain squall burst soon after the men had opened fire. The average shooting was decidedly bad, misses being frequent, due to the changing light ; but, as usual, a few men kept to the target and gradually piled up a respectable score. At the end of the 800 yards shooting Corporal Parry went back with 60, Private Eae with 63, Harries with 60, Major Pearse with 59, Privates Chicken and Gallant with 58. On the highest scores interest naturally centered as the 900 yards commenced. This, like tho other, was interrupted by frequent showers, but not of sufficient duration to stop the shooting. When this had-gone on for seven rounds it was found that the contest really lay between Gallant, Parry, Taylor (Ist Lanark), and Eae (Ist Stirling). At the twelfth round Gallant, Parry, Taylor, and Eae tied with 99 each, and the excitement became intense. Parry, who shot very steadily, with 4 3 3, finishing with a total of 109. Taylor put on two "bulls" in succession, and his victory was considered so certain amongst his Scotch friends that one of them — a competitor — was injudicious enough to raise a blatant cheer, for which he was promptly reproved by those near him. It was thought so certain that Scotland would claim the winner that much less attention was paid to Gallant, who was shooting near the end of the line, except by those who were comparing the 6cores shot by shot. He put on an "inner", and then a " bull ;" this left him -108 and a shot to fire. Taylor, about the samemomentreached 109 by means of his two "bulls," and both had a shot to go. Taylor fired, and his bullet ricocheted in front of the target, flying over it. Gallant got off his last shot just afterwards, and succeeded in touching the target, only however scoring an "outer;" but it was enough to make him safe, his total being 110, against 109 by his Scottish antagonist. To the last it was thought the latter must win, and the London Scottish got their pipers and some stout kilted laddies ready to shoulder him the moment the triumph was announced. It was a rude shock to them when the ricochet was seen. When Gallant fired his last shot a shout was raised, and it at once became known that the Queen's Prize was to etay in England. A rush was made for the victor, and some of his comrades of the Bth Middlesex and friends of other corps hoisted him on their shoulders, and bore him off amid the cheers of the spectators, headed by a couple of mounted constables, to the Council Offices. Introduced into the enclosure, Private Gallant was received by Sir Henry and Lady Wilmot, and congratulated on his victor)'. His rifle was speedily forthcoming, and the trigger being tested, and found to be of due weight of pull, he was officially recognised as the winner. The victor, who belongs to what is known aa the South- West Middlesex Eifle Volunteers, a corps embracing tho county from Hounslow to Staines, is a hairdresser, living in Staines Eoad, Twickenham. He has skbt three times out of four years into the first 300, but this is his first appearance in the " Sixty." He is 33 years of age, and has shot for about eight years.