Written by: David Minshall
In 1874 Irish and American Rifle teams famously meet at Creedmoor range to determine the Rifle Championship of the World. Despite widely publicising the event and seeking interest from riflemen nationwide, the America team selection was left to the Amateur Rifle Club of New York.
The Irish had experienced their own difficulties with team selection, primarily due to the time involved in attending a visit to America. Finding riflemen of sufficient eminence and in sufficient numbers, who were able to conclude business affairs adequately to be absent for the trip, was becoming quite a task for the team captain, Major Leech. Some of those whom he had been counting on were obliged to withdraw from the team or declare themselves unavailable.
The Irish team finally selected was Dr. Hamilton, E. Johnson, J.K.Millner, J.Rigby, Capt. Walker and J.Wilson. Besides the named team members there were a number of experienced helpers who accompanied them as men in waiting and to assist in the markers’ butts, in scoring, and other duties.
The Irish team journey began on Sunday 6 September 1874. The party, numbering twenty-seven and including several ladies, travelled to Queenstown to board the Cunard Royal Mail Steamship Company’s ‘Scotia’. A public subscription organised by the Irish Times had enabled return tickets to be presented to the team members, while other officials of the party were able to avail themselves of special terms granted by Cunard for return tickets.
The party arrived in New York harbour about noon on 16 September and were greeted by a deputation consisting of members of the National Rifle Association and Amateur Rifle Club.
Illustrated above is the Irish Team of 1873 that won the Elcho Shield for the first team – it was this win that prompted the Irish challenge to the riflemen of America. The challenge first appeared in the columns of the New York Herald on 22 November and was made by Major Arthur Leech, representing the Irish Rifle Association. Leech is pictured seated with the team.
Marking the 150th Anniversary of events
the full story of Creedmoor,
the 1874 match and the later
Palma Trophy match is published in
Research Press Digest 2024.