The theory and practice of archery
CHAPTER XIV.
_CLUB SHOOTING AND PRIVATE PRACTICE_
In the following scores an attempt is made to give authentic specimens of the best shooting of as many as possible of the best archers of the past and present time. Mr. Ford himself mentioned how sadly disheartened and crestfallen he felt on his return from his first Grand National Meeting at Derby, where he had scored 341 with 101 hits in the double York Round, which was far below the score he had anticipated, and warned his readers that shooting at a public meeting was very different from private practice or small match shooting. There are but very few archers who have not met with the same disappointment, as will be easily seen when the public and private records here given are compared. Young archers should be strongly recommended to make their public _débuts_ as early as possible--as well to work off the novelty and excitement of the scene as to compare the methods and results of other archers--before they have established great local reputations, which may run the greater risk of being fatally exploded from the very over-anxiety which is employed to keep or increase those reputations in public.
The erroneous practice of shooting trial arrows before the commencement of the regular round has been mostly given up of late years, being altogether discountenanced by the rules of the private practice club, and disallowed at all the public meetings.
In fact, it was a most dangerous practice at the public meetings, where, in former years, before the match shooting commenced, or when it was finished, those who had to cross the ground ran no little risk of being shot by some of the industrious archers, who, not satisfied with the round allotted to the day, were threshing out themselves and their bows, not with shooting at the targets, but mostly at a piece of white paper placed about so far from themselves as an arrow would fall when supposed to have passed through the gold at the particular distance at which these zealots were ever engaged in the apparently hopeless search of the 'range' or a 'point of aim.'
The earliest grand score on the testified York Round in the books of the Royal Toxophilite Society belonged to _Mr. H. C. Mules_, and was shot on August 24, 1856.
Hits Score Hits Score Hits Score Hits Score 50 240 42 232 23 131 = 115 603
He also has scores of 116 hts. 500 sc. and 106 hts. 508 sc. in the books made in 1858. This was surpassed by _Mr. H. A. Ford_ on November 3, 1858, in the Toxophilite grounds:
Hits Score Hits Score Hits Score Hits Score 47 227 46 258 24 138 = 117 623
and the score of _Mr. G. E. S. Fryer_, made in the same grounds on August 2, 1872, of
Hits Score Hits Score Hits Score Hits Score 59 289 44 218 24 132 = 127 639
went further, and still remains unsurpassed.
This last-mentioned score took, and still holds, the _Wilkinson practice medal_, which was given to the Royal Toxophilite Society in 1866, and was first taken by _Mr. T. Boulton_ with
Hits Score Hits Score Hits Score Hits Score 43 175 40 186 24 148 = 107 509
who afterwards improved his holding of it by making
Hits Score Hits Score Hits Score Hits Score 48 206 46 208 23 133 = 117 547
On July 6, 1867, _Mr. W. Spottiswoode_ scored
Hits Score Hits Score Hits Score Hits Score 50 244 41 201 23 129 = 114 574
and took and held it until it was transferred to Mr. Fryer in 1872.
The full details of _Mr. H. A. Ford's_ best private-practice score of 809 with 137 hits have been already given.
He also records a score in which the only arrow missed was the 59th, shot at 100 yards, the particular of the score being
Hits Score Hits Score Hits Score Hits Score 71 335 48 272 24 158 = 143 765
When shooting with the Royal Toxophilite Society on June 23, 1854, the round being 96 arrows at 100 yards, 72 arrows at 80 yards, and 48 arrows at 60 yards, he made the following score:
Hits Score Hits Score Hits Score Hits Score 79 373 71 325 47 313 = 197 1011
His best double York Round, made privately, seems to be as follows:
Hits Score Hits Score Hits Score Hits Score 61 295 48 306 24 186 = 133 787 63 299 46 278 24 168 = 133 745 ---- ----- Total 266 1532
His best scoring at 100 yards is represented by 371 with 69 hits--
G. R. B. BK. W. 12 17 19 14 7
from his second best York Round score of
Hits Score Hits Score Hits Score Hits Score 69 371 48 274 24 154 = 141 799
his best score at 80 yards being 306 with all the 48 hits,
G. R. B. BK. W. 10 19 15 2 2
and his best at 60 yards 186,
G. R. B. 10 13 1
Mr. H. A. Ford himself reports one of his own most extraordinary feats as follows: 'Not but what I have been the originator of a respectable fluke or two myself in my time. For instance, on the second day of the first Grand National Meeting at Shrewsbury in 1854, an old archer, Mr. Hughes, offered a silver bracer as a prize for most golds at any one end, 100 yards to take precedence of 80, and 80 yards of 60. In a very few minutes two gentlemen, Messrs. Garnett and Hilton, if I remember rightly, got two; but this was not enough, the third arrow being destined to go there as well. Accordingly, but a few rounds after, my friend Chance came to my aid, and so the whole three went into the desired spot. Now the combination here was curious. But once during my archery experience has a special prize been offered for a feat of this particular nature, and upon that occasion, and that occasion only in a match, have three golds been got at one end, by one shooter, at 100 yards' ('Archer's Register,' 1864).
Mr. Bramhall gives a good idea of Mr. Ford's indomitable perseverance. 'If,' he says, 'I reported a good score, he persevered until he had beaten it--e.g. in 1853, March 7, I completed 409 following hits at 60 yards. He soon sent me a report of a little over 600' ('Archer's Register,' 1881).
_Mr. John Bramhall's_ best single York Round was made November 25, 1851:
Hits Score Hits Score Hits Score Hits Score 61 317 41 223 23 135 = 125 675
In 1849 the average of the 54 York Rounds he shot was 453 score from 103 hits; in 1850 it was 502 from 110 hits in 70 rounds; in 1851 it was 561 from 117 hits in 64 rounds; in 1852 it was 575 from 117 hits in 52 rounds; and in 1853 it was 567 from 114 hits in 38 rounds. In shooting at 100 yards he has made 4 golds in consecutive hits, and often 3 at one end. At 80 yards his best in 48 arrows was 47 hits 273 score; and he has made 55 consecutive hits at 80, and 5 following golds. At 60 yards his best record is 24 hits 172 score--409 consecutive hits and 5 following golds. His best double York Round was:
Hits Score Hits Score Hits Score Hits Score 107 535 91 497 48 290 = 256 1322
shot on June 26 and July 1, 1852.
_Mr. E. A. Holmes_ (champion 1865 and 1870) made his best score on the single York Round in private practice at Harrow, soon after the Grand National Meeting at Brighton in 1867, which is as follows:
Hits Score Hits Score Hits Score Hits Score 66 284 46 206 22 132 = 134 622
_Mr. C. E. Nesham_ (Royal Toxophilite Society), champion 1884-5-6, has 13 York Rounds scores on the Royal Toxophilite Society's books of over 500, of which the highest is:
Hits Score Hits Score Hits Score Hits Score 55 281 41 187 22 126 = 118 594
made on May 5, 1887.
In private practice at Bournemouth he scored, on May 14, 1883,
Hits Score Hits Score Hits Score Hits Score 63 281 43 243 22 108 = 128 632
and
Hits Score Hits Score Hits Score Hits Score 53 269 41 203 22 122 = 116 594
made in the Regent's Park, March 6, 1884.
On twenty-three other occasions, in private and in club matches, he has scored 500 and upwards. Of these, in the Royal Toxophilite Society's books, are:
Hits Score Hits Score Hits Score Hits Score 46 228 47 253 20 110 = 113 591
shot on October 16, 1884, and
Hits Score Hits Score Hits Score Hits Score 50 224 44 220 24 148 = 118 592
shot on October 29, 1885.
Major _C. H. Fisher's_ (Champion 1871-2-3-4, and made highest score at Windsor in 1884 when Mr. Nesham became champion) best York Round score in the books of the Royal Toxophilite Society, made on July 2, 1885, is as follows:
Hits Score Hits Score Hits Score Hits Score 53 239 42 192 24 136 = 119 557
and his next best, made on October 20, 1871, is
Hits Score Hits Score Hits Score Hits Score 47 227 42 194 23 113 = 112 534
His best private practice score on the York Round is the following:
Hits Score Hits Score Hits Score Hits Score 49 227 45 243 24 158 = 862 118
made on May 25, 1872; and he reports that this Round was shot too quickly, and might have been improved if he had taken more pains.
He has made the following good double rounds in practice, namely:
Hits Score May 27 and 28, 1873 235 1079 July 23 and 24, 1874 235 1123
and in 1876:
Hits Score Hits Score Hits Score Hits Score June 12, 50 196 43 213 23 103 = 116 512 " 13, 46 194 45 233 23 113 = 114 540 --- ---- Totals 230 1052
and in 1877 a single York Round:
Hits Score Hits Score Hits Score Hits Score Sept. 7, 55 241 44 202 23 125 = 122 568
_Mr. T. T. S. Metcalfe's_ (Royal Toxophilite Society) best single York Round is:
Hits Score Hits Score Hits Score Hits Score 54 258 37 173 19 93 = 100 524
made on May 22, 1886, in private practice.
_Mr. C. H. Everett's_ best single York Rounds appear to be:
Hits Score Hits Score Hits Score Hits Score Aug. 9, 1880 45 179 41 229 22 114 = 108 522 April 2, 1883 48 180 42 222 24 134 = 114 536 " 16, " 54 214 37 177 24 158 = 115 549
made in private practice.
At a meeting of the Royal Toxophilite Society on October 4, 1874, he scored:
Hits Score Hits Score Hits Score Hits Score 45 187 40 190 23 123 = 108 500
and again in the Regent's Park on September 30, 1880:
Hits Score Hits Score Hits Score Hits Score 52 192 41 209 23 109 = 116 510
and on October 14, 1880:
Hits Score Hits Score Hits Score Hits Score 50 224 38 166 22 116 = 110 506
_Mr. W. J. Richardson_ (Royal Toxophilite Society) has a good score on the York Round in the books of the Royal Toxophilite Society, made on June 7, 1860:
Hits Score Hits Score Hits Score Hits Score 44 190 39 193 21 133 = 104 516
as also has _Mr. W. Rimington_ (Royal Toxophilite Society) champion 1868-69 and 1877:
Hits Score Hits Score Hits Score Hits Score 48 206 42 178 24 120 = 114 504
made on July 2, 1869.
_Col. H. F. C. Lewin's_ (Royal Toxophilite Society) best scores have been made in private practice at Eltham, in the late Mr. Mill's grounds, and are:
Hits Score Hits Score Hits Score Hits Score 41 199 38 194 21 115 = 100 508
made on November 3, 1870, and
Hits Score Hits Score Hits Score Hits Score 50 226 36 146 24 136 = 110 508
made in 1869.
_Mr. G. E. S. Fryer_ (Champion in 1875, Royal Toxophilite Society), besides his excellent score of 639 with 127 hits, has another very good York Round score in the books of the Royal Toxophilite Society, made on June 3, 1873:
Hits Score Hits Score Hits Score Hits Score 55 235 47 249 24 138 = 126 622
He made another fine York Round on August 15, 1873, in private practice:
Hits Score Hits Score Hits Score Hits Score 54 238 46 218 24 150 = 124 606
and in the books of the Royal Toxophilite Society in 1874, on May 27:
Hits Score Hits Score Hits Score Hits Score 50 200 42 242 23 129 = 115 571
on June 17:
Hits Score Hits Score Hits Score Hits Score 58 242 44 200 23 155 = 125 597
and on July 1:
Hits Score Hits Score Hits Score Hits Score 48 184 45 243 24 132 = 117 559
_Mr. H. H. Palairet's_ (Champion in 1876, Royal Toxophilite Society) best scores on the York Round appear to be the following:
Hits Score Hits Score Hits Score Hits Score 53 241 45 239 24 108 = 122 588
made at a West Berks Meeting at Great Marlow (Colonel Wethered's) on June 20, 1882, and this score is the York Round 'record' of the West Berks Archers.
In private practice on July 15, 1875, he scored:
Hits Score Hits Score Hits Score Hits Score 54 252 43 205 23 121 = 120 578
showing a very good score at 100 yards; and on July 30 he scored 46 hits 264 score in the 48 arrows at 80 yards.
His best shooting at 60 yards appears to have been made on July 24, 1874, when, shooting 96 arrows, he scored 579 with 95 hits.
_Mr. C. J. Longman's_ (Champion in 1883, Royal Toxophilite Society) best York Round score in the books of the Royal Toxophilite Society is dated November 1, 1883, and is as follows:
Hits Score Hits Score Hits Score Hits Score 49 199 41 189 23 149 = 113 537
and his best private practice scores made in the same grounds are:
Hits Score Hits Score Hits Score Hits Score 55 249 41 213 23 129 = 119 591 46 204 46 220 24 148 = 116 572 --- --- Totals 235 1163
made on June 17 and 18, 1884, respectively.
_Mr. H. H. Longman's_ (Royal Toxophilite Society) best York Round score made in private practice in the Royal Toxophilite Society's grounds on March 30, 1887, is as follows:
Hits Score Hits Score Hits Score Hits Score 51 223 41 191 21 91 = 113 505
_Mr. Piers F. Legh_ (Royal Toxophilite Society) has made some good single York Rounds in private practice, viz.:
Hits Score Hits Score Hits Score Hits Score July 14, 1879 45 181 40 194 24 154 = 109 529 " 19, 1880 41 177 44 208 24 124 = 109 509 Sept. 20, " 51 223 38 180 24 124 = 113 527
_Mr. R. Walters_ (Champion in 1879, Royal Toxophilite Society) has made some good scores in private practice, of which the best appear to be as follows:
Hits Score Hits Score Hits Score Hits Score Oct. 25, 1884 48 184 43 211 23 133 = 114 528 Aug. 15, 1885 45 187 44 214 24 126 = 113 527
_Mr. J. H. Bridges'_ (Royal Toxophilite Society) best single York Rounds in private practice are:
Hits Score Hits Score Hits Score Hits Score Oct. 7, 1881 39 181 42 222 24 120 = 105 523 June 8, 1884 = 118 546
At 100 yards, in 72 arrows, he has made:
Hits Score April 2, 1884 55 261
At 80 yards, in 48 arrows, he has made:
Hits Score January 27, 1887 45 263 April 12, 1887 48 216
At 60 yards, in 24 arrows:
Hits Score April 23, 1884 24 166
and in 100 arrows at 60 yards:
Hits Score September 18, 1879 100 586 April 23, 1884 99 627
It will be observed that nearly all Mr. Bridges' practice occurs early or late in the season, as cricket absorbs much of his attention in the summer.
_Mr. L. R. Erskine_ (Royal Toxophilite Society) has made some good single York Rounds in private practice, viz.:
Hits Score Hits Score Hits Score Hits Score Nov. 8, 1886 49 195 41 215 22 122 = 112 532 Mar. 1, 1887 50 210 46 222 23 117 = 119 549 " 5, " 53 231 46 198 24 126 = 123 555 " 11, " 52 220 45 227 23 133 = 120 580
The full particulars of _Mr. O. K. Prescot's_ (Royal Toxophilite Society) best private practice double York Round score of 1197 cannot be given, as they have been lost or destroyed. It was shot in two days of September 1867. The first total score was 621, and the score at 100 yards was 256--200 having been made in the first 4 dozen. The second round was 567, and, in this round, the score at 80 yards was 249. The most annoying thing about the round was that the last arrow at 60 yards missed the target, when a black even would have brought the total up to 1200.
_Mr. H. J. B. Kendall's_ (Royal Toxophilite Society) best score in the York Round was made in private practice on August 14, 1884:
Hits Score Hits Score Hits Score Hits Score 46 222 46 228 22 118 = 114 568
On this occasion the 2 arrows not counted at 80 yards went through weak places in the target.
He also made 52 hits 224 score at 100 yards on Aug 28, 1884.
On July 5, 1877, he made 3 golds in one end at 100 yards in the course of the Summer Handicap match of the Royal Toxophilite Society, repeating the feat performed by Mr. H. A. Ford at Shrewsbury in 1854.
_Mr. O. Leigh Clare_ (Royal Toxophilite Society) has made some good private practice, viz.:
Hits Score Hits Score Hits Score Hits Score July 23, 1879, 52 266 43 193 23 109 = 118 568
in the single York Round; and in 72 arrows at 100 yards:
Hits Score October 12, 1878 56 250
also in 48 arrows at 80 yards:
Hits Score July 13, 1878 42 212
_Mr. C. J. Perry-Keene_ made the following fine score in private practice on July 24, 1886, in the single York Round:--
Hits Score Hits Score Hits Score Hits Score 57 225 45 229 24 150 = 126 604
and two other good scores made by him are:
Hits Score Hits Score Hits Score Hits Score May 6, 1886, 43 217 40 188 23 119 = 106 524 " 7, " 51 215 45 199 24 152 = 120 566 April 18, 1887, 48 202 44 230 24 124 = 116 556
In private practice _Mr. F. A. Govett_ (Royal Toxophilite Society) made:
Hits Score Hits Score Hits Score Hits Score October 12, 1883, 50 204 38 184 21 113 = 109 501
and on May 29, at one of the meetings of the same society, he made:
Hits Score Hits Score Hits Score Hits Score 52 198 41 209 24 114 = 117 521
Again, in private practice, he made on April 11, 1884:
Hits Score Hits Score Hits Score Hits Score 38 174 43 215 23 123 = 104 512
On September 23, 1886, _Mr. F. L. Govett_ (Royal Toxophilite Society) scored in private practice:
Hits Score Hits Score Hits Score Hits Score 47 227 40 176 24 130 = 111 533
_Mr. F. Townsend's_ (Woodman of Arden) best York Round score appears to be as follows:
Hits Score Hits Score Hits Score Hits Score 49 237 33 177 22 102 = 104 516
made on December 27, 1862.
He seldom practised the York Round, and never allowed his archery practice to interfere with his other numerous avocations.
_Mr. W. Spottiswoode_, P.R.S. (Royal Toxophilite Society), has another good score on the Society's books:
Hits Score Hits Score Hits Score Hits Score 50 194 38 194 22 124 = 110 512
made on May 30, 1867.
_Captain A. P. Moore_, who made the highest score in 1849, at Derby, when Mr. H. A. Ford was first champion, reports that his best score in a single York Round was in private practice:
Hits Score Hits Score Hits Score Hits Score 65 309 44 230 24 152 = 133 691
and that he has made 316 score with 56 hits and 304 score with 64 hits in the 72 arrows at 100 yards.
His best performance at 80 yards was 254 score with 44 hits in the 48 shots, and at 60 yards his best score was 164 with the 24 hits. His best double York Round was 1288 with 252 hits, mentioned by Mr. H. A. Ford. In the month of March 1852 he shot 14 rounds, and their average was 557 score with 115 hits.
Two very good records of _Mr. Charles Garnett's_ (Royal Toxophilite Society) shooting at 100 yards are:
Hits Score Hits Score 58 288 and 61 269
72 arrows being shot on each occasion.
He says: 'I shot a distance of 304 yards on a calm day with an 85-lb. bow and four-and-ninepenny 28-inch arrow. I could not get a flight-arrow to stand the bow, or I should probably have shot further, as the four-and-ninepenny arrow was one of the old pattern and heavily feathered.'
_Captain C. H. Garnett's_ (John o' Gaunt Bowmen) best score in the York Round amounted to 522, but he has been unable to find a record of the details. The following is another good score made by him on November 17, 1873:
Hits Score Hits Score Hits Score Hits Score 48 202 34 182 23 127 = 105 511
In October of the same year, in 72 arrows at 100 yards he made 48 hits 220 score, and made 3 golds in one end.
He reports that his father, Mr. H. Garnett, shooting with the John o' Gaunt Bowmen on one occasion, scored 500 in the York Round.
Another John o' Gaunt Bowman, _Mr. B. P. Gregson_, has scored as much as 497 in the York Round.
A good St. George's Round (of 36 arrows at each distance) made by _Mr. Marr_ is:
100 Yards 80 Yards 60 Yards TOTALS Hits Score Hits Score Hits Score Hits Score 24 114 32 118 35 181 = 101 413
another by _Mr. Heath_:
100 Yards 80 Yards 60 Yards TOTALS Hits Score Hits Score Hits Score Hits Score 25 89 31 139 35 203 = 91 431
A good St. George's Round made by _Mr. E. Maitland_ (Champion in 1848, Royal Toxophilite Society) is:
100 Yards 80 Yards 60 Yards TOTALS Hits Score Hits Score Hits Score Hits Score 25 97 34 190 36 196 = 95 483
and he says: 'I tried hard to catch up Mr. H. A. Ford on my return to England from Australia in 1858, but had scarcely got within 25 per cent. of his scores when I broke down from overwork--bows too strong, and practice too unremitting. He said if I did not beat him, there was no one else in the field to do it. I don't think I ever should, because I had not his indomitable steadiness and threw away many a shot on a chance: for I was a rapid shooter. I never dwelt on the aim as he did.'
_Mr. T. L. Coulson_ (Royal Toxophilite Society) recorded his first score of 500 on the single York Round on May 1, 1861, on November 18, 1862:
Hits Score Hits Score Hits Score Hits Score -- 228 -- 207 -- 130 = 105 565
and on October 21, 1865:
Hits Score Hits Score Hits Score Hits Score 56 224 44 198 24 136 = 124 558
On January 13, 1869, he made 3 golds in one end at 100 yards.
_Mr. J. A. Froude_ (Royal Toxophilite Society) says: 'I did once make [a score of] over 500 [in the single York Round] in a private match; but only once, and the record of it has long vanished. Richardson and Spedding were both shooting on that occasion, and I, for a miracle, in that single instance beat Richardson.' This probably happened about 1860.
It is generally believed that the private practice of _Mr. G. Edwards_ (Champion in 1860-1-2-4-6) was far beyond his public shooting. He has been heard to say that, though Mr. Ford had been able to land only 71 of the 72 arrows shot at 100 yards in the target (missing his 59th arrow), he (Mr. G. E.) had put all his 72 arrows into the target at the same distance. There is no reason to disbelieve his positive statement that on one occasion, shooting 24 arrows at 60 yards, he put every one of them in the red circle.
'Some of the scores made by _Mr. Edward Mason_ in private practice were very large, and it is to be regretted that no actual details can be given. It is well known, however, that on several occasions he made a score of over 1000 on the double York Round, and were the figures available they could not fail to be of wide interest' ('Archers' Register,' 1882-3).
_Mr. Peter Muir_ (Champion 1845-7 and 1863) was a most successful shot at all distances, short as well as long, but probably seldom, if ever, practised the York Round. Mr. H. A. Ford gives as his best score the following, made at the distance of from 20 to 30 yards, 2 shots, 2 hits--a hawk and a crow (fact).
_Mr. E. Meyrick_ says: 'It is true that I have seen _Escott_ hurl his eight-shilling arrows from a bow of 80 lbs. and ten-shilling arrows from a 100-lb. bow, but then he could not do much hitting. I should think something authentic must exist of my old friend _Marsh's_ long shot of 360 yards up and down. He would hit half his arrows at 100 yards very often,' as may be seen from the extracts given from his actual scores.
A point of interest in _Mr. W. Butt's_ (Royal Toxophilite Society) shooting is, that he shot with both hands, though only on one occasion did he shoot two rounds on the same day, one with each hand. This was at a West Berks meeting at Coombe Wood, Surrey (Sir W. Baynes), as follows:
Hits Score Hits Score Hits Score Hits Score 34 134 28 122 21 105 = 83 361 Right-handed 16 68 23 77 21 95 = 60 240 Left-handed
His best right-handed shooting was as follows:
80 Yards 60 Yards Hits Score Hits Score 43 215 24 158
shot on October 3, 1863; and on October 9, 1863, in 110 arrows at 60 yards:
Hits Score G. R. B. Bk. W. 110 640 19 32 39 15 5
On February 8, 1864, in a York Round:
Hits Score Hits Score Hits Score Hits Score 48 216 42 172 23 113 = 113 501
and on March 12, 1864, at 80 yards 41 hits 207 score in the 48 arrows.
Shooting left-handed, his best scores in the books of the Royal Toxophilite Society are 47 hits 201 score, in 72 arrows at 100 yards, on the first half of the shooting on the Crunden Day on April 18, 1867; and on May 30 in the same year in the York Round:
Hits Score Hits Score Hits Score Hits Score 44 206 36 154 24 138 = 104 498
and on October 5, 1876, at 60 yards, 24 hits with 160 score--'record' for 60 yards shooting in the York Round at the meetings of the Royal Toxophilite Society.
_Mr. Macnamara_ made good scores at the public meetings, but it is believed that his shooting in private practice was of infinitely higher quality. He took to shooting left-handed afterwards, but without much success in public.
_Mr. G. L. Aston_ also has been at different periods a successful shot, both right-handed and left-handed, at the public meetings.
About thirty years ago _Mr. Aubrey Patton_ shot so well that Mr. H. A. Ford took the trouble to explain in the pages of the _Field_ that he had not yet been beaten by him; but Mr. Patton's regimental duties took him out of reach of more archery practice.
_Mr. E. Sharpe_ (John o' Gaunt Bowmen) made
Hits Score Hits Score Hits Score Hits Score 48 240 36 164 22 112 = 106 516
in private practice October 2, 1886.
No attempt has yet been made to collect the records of the many excellent scores that have been made by numerous ladies in club matches, or in private practice; but it is believed that, owing to the ladies' shooting at the public meetings being more like their club and private practice, in that it occupies an afternoon only, and is not spun out all over the day, as is the case with the gentlemen, the ladies' public shooting more fairly represents the best they can do; yet many ladies have scored over 400 in the half of the National Round who have not yet approached the 800 which both Mrs. and Miss Legh have shown to be attainable at a public meeting in the National Round. A few samples of their accuracy of aim can however be here given as specimens of what might be contributed to another edition of this book.
Mrs. Butt, shooting in private practice in the Jephson Gardens, at Leamington, on June 10, 1870, made
60 Yards 50 Yards TOTALS Hits Score Hits Score Hits Score 48 280 24 168 = 72 448
and, in the course of this score at 50 yards, made 6 consecutive golds in one double end.
Miss Ripley (now Mrs. Bradford), shooting at a Prize Meeting of the Torbay Archers, on August 5, 1871, is reported to have scored
60 Yards 50 Yards TOTALS Hits Score Hits Score Hits Score 46 292 24 170 = 70 462
Mrs. Piers F. Legh, shooting at home on September 9, 1881, scored
60 Yards 50 Yards TOTALS Hits Score Hits Score Hits Score 48 316 24 162 = 72 478
Doubtless many other archers have already made noteworthy scores in the course of their private practice. These scores and the many others hereafter to be made, as much as possible better than any herein given, the editor (with Mr. H. A. Ford's adieu of 'Farewell and shoot well') will gladly record in the fourth edition.
PRINTED BY SPOTTISWOODE AND CO., NEW-STREET SQUARE LONDON
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Transcriber's Notes:
Punctuation and spelling standardized when a predominant preference was found in this book; otherwise unchanged. Simple typographical errors remedied; most retained.
Captions of some adjacent illustrations have been combined to preserve the continuity of the original book.
Illustrations have been moved to be adjacent to paragraphs that reference them.
Footnotes for scoring tables appear immediately below those tables.
Page 111: in the phrase "vision he will be able to do", 'he' was printed as 'be'.