In 1862 and originating from a challenge between English and Scottish Rifle Volunteers, the first Elcho Shield match was held at Wimbledon. This comprised teams of eight shooting at 800, 900 and 1,000 yards. Rule changes in 1865 allowed an Irish team to enter, and in July 1873 Ireland won the match for the first time.

Buoyed by their success in beating England and Scotland, Ireland wanted further laurels. A challenge to the ‘Riflemen of America’ was published in the New York Herald on 22 November 1873. The challenge was taken up, on behalf of American riflemen, by the Amateur Rifle Club of New York.

150 years ago today, on 26 September 1874, the great match took place at Creedmoor before an estimated audience of five thousand people. The riflemen were each to fire 15 shots at 800, 900 and 1000 yards. No sighting shots or artificial rests were permitted. The targets were as per those used at Wimbledon in 1873; the three feet square ‘bull’s eye’ was in the middle of the ‘centre’, measuring six feet square, with a three feet wide by six feet high ‘outer’ at each end of the target, the whole measuring six feet high by twelve feet wide. Scoring was ‘bull’s eye’ 4, ‘centre’ 3 and ‘outer’ 2.

The Irish team, using muzzle loading rifles manufactured by John Rigby and Co., Dublin, Ireland, were: Major Leech (Captain) - Dr. Hamilton, E. Johnson, J.K. Millner, J. Rigby, Capt. Walker and J. Wilson.

The American team fired breech loading rifles and comprised: G.W. Wingate (Captain) - Col. Bodine, H. Fulton, L. Hepburn (Remington rifles) - Gen. Dakin, Col. Gildersleeve, G.W. Yale (Sharps rifles).

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Great article David
Here are a couple of items in my "accumulation" of stuff.

A couple of photos of Bodine and a Creedmoor medal which is a little later.

Hello David
I am sure I have posted the photos before.
Note sure about the medal but probably so.