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{{Short description|Annual Match Rifle competition}}
The '''Elcho Shield''' is an annual match rifle competition between national teams of eight from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales. The teams compete at Bisley ranges, Surrey, England, each man firing fifteen shots at 1000, 1100 and 1200 yards. The trophy is a large and distinctive shield made from a sheet of iron to a design by the artist [[George Frederic Watts|G. F. Watts]].<ref>Watts, M.S. (1912) ''George Frederic Watts''. London: Macmillan, vol.1 pp.197-8</ref> It was presented to the National Rifle Association of the UK by its founder and president, Lord Elcho (Francis Richard Charteris, 10th Earl of Wemyss and 6th Earl of March, b. 1818, d. 1914). The first competition was held in 1862, between England and Scotland.
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2019}}


{{Infobox sports award
⚫
== References ==
| name = Elcho Shield
<references/>
| image =
⚫
[http://www.nra.org.uk/ National Rifle Association of the UK]
| sport = Long range [[Fullbore target rifle]]
| competition = The Elcho
| discipline = Match Rifle
| awardedfor = Winner of Elcho Match
| english =
| localnames =
| nickname =
| sponsor =
| location = [[National Shooting Centre]]
| country = [[United Kingdom]]
| presenter = [[National Rifle Association (United Kingdom)|National Rifle Association]]
| first = 1862
| number = 150 (as of 2021 Match)
| last =
| firstwinner = {{flagcountry|ENG}}
| mostwins =
| mostrecent = {{flagcountry|ENG}}
| url = {{URL|https://gbmatchrifle.org.uk/competitions/elcho/}}
}}

The '''Elcho Shield''' is an annual [[long range shooting]] competition between national teams of eight from [[England]], [[Scotland]], [[Ireland]] and [[Wales]]. The trophy holder was originally able to choose the venue of the competition, however, since the [[National Rifle Association (United Kingdom)|NRA]]'s move to Surrey from Wimbledon in 1890, the competition has been held at [[National Shooting Centre]], Bisley in [[Surrey]], England. It is usually contested during the [[NRA Imperial Meeting]].

The 2021 holder of the trophy is England.{{cn|date=September 2022}}

==Course of Fire==
Each shooter fires fifteen shots at {{convert|1000|yd|abbr=on}}, {{convert|1100|yd|abbr=on}}, and {{convert|1200|yd|abbr=on}}. Unusually, no "sighting" or practice shots are permitted. The shooters may be coached which allows other team members to judge and make necessary adjustments to the shooter's sights. The rules allow each team two hours at each distance to fire all their shots. The match is most regularly held following the national championships in July each year.

==History==
The first match, on Wednesday July 9, 1862, was held over {{convert|800|yd|abbr=on}}, {{convert|900|yd|abbr=on}} and {{convert|1000|yd|abbr=on}} solely between Scotland and England. In the event England won by 166 points.<ref>{{cite web |author1=Andy Mitchell |title=150 years since Britain's first true sporting international |url=https://www.scottishsporthistory.com/sports-history-news-and-blog/150-years-since-britains-first-true-sporting-international |website=Scottish Sport History |access-date=25 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160731175749/https://www.scottishsporthistory.com/sports-history-news-and-blog/150-years-since-britains-first-true-sporting-international |archive-date=31 July 2016 |language=en-GB |date=9 July 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref> Scotland won the trophy for the first time in 1864. As the match was restricted to Volunteers, Ireland was unable to participate - having no Volunteer regiments. After several applications, the NRA permitted the Ulster Rifle Association to send a team and Ireland joined the fray in 1865.<ref>{{cite web |author1=Rosemary Meldrum |title=History of The Elcho Shield |url=https://gbmatchrifle.org.uk/competitions/elcho-history/ |website=Match Rifle Shooting of Great Britain and Ireland |publisher=Great Britain Match Rifle Team |access-date=31 August 2022}}</ref><ref name="irishamerican">{{cite web |author1=David Minshall |title=Creedmoor and the International Rifle Matches |url=http://www.researchpress.co.uk/index.php/marksmanship/creedmoor/creedmoor-and-the-international-rifle-matches |website=Research Press |access-date=May 25, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171025025428/http://www.researchpress.co.uk/index.php/marksmanship/creedmoor/creedmoor-and-the-international-rifle-matches |archive-date=October 25, 2017 |language=en |url-status=live}}</ref> Ireland scored their first win in 1873.<ref name="irishamerican"/> By this time, the match had become a major sporting event in Victorian England, as important as [[The Boat Race]] or the [[Eton v Harrow]] cricket match at Lords.<ref>{{cite web |author1=Rosemary Meldrum |title=A History of the Elcho Shield |url=https://www.nrcofs.org/images/Elcho.html |website=National Rifle Club of Scotland |access-date=31 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220329052123/https://www.nrcofs.org/images/Elcho.html |archive-date=29 March 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref> Wales did not compete until 1991.

The Elcho Shield is large and distinctive, made from a sheet of [[iron]] decorated with repousse scenes to a design by the artist [[George Frederic Watts|G. F. Watts]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Watts|first=M.S.|year=1912|title=George Frederic Watts|location=London|publisher=[[Macmillan Publishers|Macmillan]]|volume=1|pages=197–8|isbn=9781290100700 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LneiSQAACAAJ}}</ref> It was presented to the [[National Rifle Association (United Kingdom)|National Rifle Association]] by its founder and president, [[Francis Richard Charteris, 10th Earl of Wemyss|Lord Elcho]].

== See also ==
* [[International Confederation of Fullbore Rifle Associations]] (ICFRA), the international sanctioning body for fullbore target rifle

⚫
==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://www.nrcofs.org/images/Elcho.html National Rifle Club of Scotland] - History of the Elcho
* [https://gbmatchrifle.org.uk/competitions/elcho/ GB Match Rifle Team] - History of the Elcho

[[Category:Sports trophies and awards]]
[[Category:Rifle shooting sports]]
[[Category:Sport in Surrey]]
[[Category:Recurring events established in 1862]]
[[Category:1862 establishments in the United Kingdom]]
⚫
[[Category:National Rifle Association (United Kingdom)]]
[[Category:British sports trophies and awards]]
[[Category:Target shooting trophies and awards]]
[[Category:Shooting competitions in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Awards established in 1862]]

{{England-sport-stub}}

Latest revision as of 06:45, 7 June 2024

Elcho Shield
SportLong range Fullbore target rifle
CompetitionThe Elcho
DisciplineMatch Rifle
Awarded forWinner of Elcho Match
LocationNational Shooting Centre
CountryUnited Kingdom
Presented byNational Rifle Association
History
First award1862
Editions150 (as of 2021 Match)
First winner England
Most recent England
Websitegbmatchrifle.org.uk/competitions/elcho/

The Elcho Shield is an annual long range shooting competition between national teams of eight from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales. The trophy holder was originally able to choose the venue of the competition, however, since the NRA's move to Surrey from Wimbledon in 1890, the competition has been held at National Shooting Centre, Bisley in Surrey, England. It is usually contested during the NRA Imperial Meeting.

The 2021 holder of the trophy is England.[citation needed]

Course of Fire

[edit]

Each shooter fires fifteen shots at 1,000 yd (910 m), 1,100 yd (1,000 m), and 1,200 yd (1,100 m). Unusually, no "sighting" or practice shots are permitted. The shooters may be coached which allows other team members to judge and make necessary adjustments to the shooter's sights. The rules allow each team two hours at each distance to fire all their shots. The match is most regularly held following the national championships in July each year.

History

[edit]

The first match, on Wednesday July 9, 1862, was held over 800 yd (730 m), 900 yd (820 m) and 1,000 yd (910 m) solely between Scotland and England. In the event England won by 166 points.[1] Scotland won the trophy for the first time in 1864. As the match was restricted to Volunteers, Ireland was unable to participate - having no Volunteer regiments. After several applications, the NRA permitted the Ulster Rifle Association to send a team and Ireland joined the fray in 1865.[2][3] Ireland scored their first win in 1873.[3] By this time, the match had become a major sporting event in Victorian England, as important as The Boat Race or the Eton v Harrow cricket match at Lords.[4] Wales did not compete until 1991.

The Elcho Shield is large and distinctive, made from a sheet of iron decorated with repousse scenes to a design by the artist G. F. Watts.[5] It was presented to the National Rifle Association by its founder and president, Lord Elcho.

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Andy Mitchell (9 July 2012). "150 years since Britain's first true sporting international". Scottish Sport History. Archived from the original on 31 July 2016. Retrieved 25 May 2023.
  2. ^ Rosemary Meldrum. "History of The Elcho Shield". Match Rifle Shooting of Great Britain and Ireland. Great Britain Match Rifle Team. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
  3. ^ a b David Minshall. "Creedmoor and the International Rifle Matches". Research Press. Archived from the original on 25 October 2017. Retrieved 25 May 2023.
  4. ^ Rosemary Meldrum. "A History of the Elcho Shield". National Rifle Club of Scotland. Archived from the original on 29 March 2022. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
  5. ^ Watts, M.S. (1912). George Frederic Watts. Vol. 1. London: Macmillan. pp. 197–8. ISBN 9781290100700.
[edit]
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