Chapter XIII: The Public Archery Meetings and the Double York and Other Rounds (1)

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In 1791, ten years after the revival of archery by the establishment of the Royal Toxophilite Society, a public meeting of all the Archery Societies, which had already become very numerous in the United Kingdom, was held on Blackheath, and this meeting was followed by other similar meetings in 1792 and 1793. Here ended this series of National Archery Meetings, and in the early part of the present century the use of the bow appears to have languished.

The records of the Scorton Arrow Meetings go back, in an almost uninterrupted succession of annual meetings, to the year 1673. These meetings, though originally confined to a limited locality--'six miles from Eriholme-upon-Tees,' near Richmond, in Yorkshire--were open to all comers. In 1842 and 1843 these meetings were held at Thirsk, in Yorkshire, and to those present thereat the establishment of an annual Grand National Archery Meeting is certainly owing.

The first Grand National Archery Meeting was held at York on August 1 and 2, 1844, the Scorton Arrow Meeting having been again held at Thirsk on July 30 in the same year. It was originally intended that the meeting should occupy one day only, but the weather proved so unfavourable on the first day that the Round had to be finished on the second day. To the enterprising archers of Yorkshire is also due the invention of the York Round, which has since become the almost universally acknowledged test of the comparative excellence of all archers. This Round--which is now always shot on each of the two days of a public archery meeting--consisting of six dozen arrows at 100 yards, four dozen arrows at 80 yards, and two dozen arrows at 60 yards, was so arranged in the belief that about the same scores would then be made at each distance; and this has been proved tolerably correct as regards the average of archers, though not so as regards Mr. H. A. Ford, Major C. H. Fisher, Mr. H. H. Palairet, Mr. C. E. Nesham, and some others, when shooting in their best form, as it would be clearly impossible for them to score, in four dozen arrows at 60 yards, the 495 which Mr. H. A. Ford made in twelve dozen arrows at 100 yards at Cheltenham in 1857, or the 466 which he made on the same occasion in eight dozen arrows at 80 yards. Efforts have occasionally been made to reduce the quantity of shooting at 100 yards, for the benefit of those who look upon 80 yards as a long distance; and it has also been suggested that a few arrows might be taken from 80 yards and added to 60 yards; but it is generally acknowledged that the York Round cannot well be mended.

The Ladies' National Round of four dozen arrows at 60 yards, and two dozen arrows at 50 yards, shot on each of two days, did not become the established Round until 1851, and then the only reason of its adoption was that it corresponded in quantities with the shooting of the gentlemen at 80 yards and 60 yards.

In the year after the Third Leamington Grand National Archery Meeting--i.e. in 1854--the Leamington Meeting was started, and has ever since been an annual institution, except in those years when the Grand National Meeting has been again held at Leamington.

The first Crystal Palace Archery Meeting was held in 1859, and has since been repeated annually.

The Grand Western Archery Meeting was started at Taunton in 1861, and has been repeated annually at different places, except in 1865, when the Grand National Meeting was held at Clifton, and in 1867, when no Grand Western Archery Meeting was held. In 1886 this meeting was combined with the Grand National Archery Meeting when held at Bath.

Occasionally an extra public meeting has occurred--as at Aston Park, Birmingham, in 1858 and in 1868; at the Alexandra Park, Muswell Hill, in 1863, and again in 1873 and 1882; also at Hastings, in 1867.

The first of a series of Grand Northern Meetings was established in 1879. This meeting has since been repeated annually.

In 1881 the Royal Toxophilite Society, in celebration of their centenary, gave a Double York Round meeting, which, though not strictly speaking a public meeting, was so well attended that it cannot be omitted from the records of the York Round. This meeting has also been repeated annually ever since 1881.

Almost the largest attendance of gentlemen at a public Archery Meeting consisted of one hundred and ten at York in 1845, when there were only eleven ladies shooting. At Cheltenham, in 1856, there were seventy-two ladies and one hundred and twelve gentlemen shooting. The best attended meeting was in 1860, at Bath, when there were one hundred and nine gentlemen and ninety-nine ladies. This was just before the beginning of the Grand Western Meetings, and there was a full meeting of ninety gentlemen and ninety-three ladies in 1865, in which year no Grand Western Meeting was held.

With the exception of the Seventh Grand National Archery Meeting, which was held in Edinburgh in 1850, all the Grand National Archery Meetings have occurred in England.

Two Double York Round Scottish National Meetings were held in Scotland in the years 1865 and 1866; but they were not largely attended.

In Ireland, in the course of the years 1862 to 1866, Irish National and other public meetings were held, mostly in the grounds of the Dublin Exhibition; but though the Double York Round was shot, and some good shooting was done by the Irish and also by English visitors, the meetings were mostly small, and there seems but little probability of their revival.

A few words should be said about the scoring at public meetings. The original plan was for the Captain at each target to mark, with a pricker made on purpose, the hits made by each shooter in a space representing each of the colours of the target--gold, red, blue, black, and white. In 1872 an improved plan was adopted of keeping a proper space for the hits made at each end, in which is entered each hit in the figure representing its value, as 9, 7, 5, 3, or 1. When no hit is made at any end, this fact should also be recorded; and thus the progress of the shooting is always kept accurately noted, and the possibility of mistakes in the scores is very much diminished.

Mr. H. A. Ford often mentions the St. George and St. Leonard's Rounds--the former being three dozen arrows at each of the distances of 100, 80, and 60 yards, and the latter (originally 75 arrows at 60 yards only) being three dozen arrows at 80 yards, and three dozen and three at 60 yards. The practice of these Rounds has now entirely disappeared from amongst archers.

During the whole of the period from 1844 to 1886 inclusive the appointed Round has been completed (except at the Leamington Meeting in 1862, when the weather rendered it quite impossible); and this says a great deal for the steadfastness of archers, as they have frequently had to submit to the ill-treatment of pitiless downpourings of rain and arrow-breaking storms of wind in order to get the Round finished.

No approach has been made to Mr. H. A. Ford's best public score of 1,251, made at Cheltenham in 1857, or to his second best record of 1,162 at Leamington in 1856; but his other scores of over 1,000 are easily counted--namely, 1,076 at Exeter in 1858, 1,014 at Leamington in 1861, 1,037 at Brighton in 1867, 1,087 at Leamington in 1868, and 1,032 at Leamington in 1869. Major C. H. Fisher made 1,060 at Sherborne in 1872. Mr. Palairet made 1,025 at the Crystal Palace in 1882, and 1,062 in the Regent's Park in 1881. Mr. C. E. Nesham made 1,010 in the Regent's Park in 1883, and 1022 at Bath in 1886. No other archers have reached 1,000 at a public match.

Miss Legh's score at Bath in 1881 of 840, when she made all the 144 hits, stood foremost amongst ladies' achievements until it was beaten by Mrs. Legh's score of 864 with 142 hits at Leamington in 1885. Miss Legh in 1882, at the Crystal Palace, scored 792, and in 1885 809 with 143 hits. Mrs. Butt's score of 785 at Leamington in 1870 ranks next. Then come Mrs. Horniblow's scores of 768 at Leamington in 1871, and of 764--also at Leamington--in 1872. Mrs. Piers F. Legh scored 763 at Sutton Coldfield in 1881. Mrs. V. Forbes scored 752 at the Crystal Palace in 1870. Mrs. Marshall scored 744 at the Crystal Palace in 1884. Miss Betham's best score was 743 at Leamington in 1867. Mrs. P. Pinckney scored 729 at the Crystal Palace in 1873; and Mrs. Pond scored 700 in 1874, also at the Crystal Palace. No other ladies appear to have made as much as 700.

Other scores of 700 and upwards have been--

MRS. HORNIBLOW | MISS BETHAM | MRS. BUTT | MRS. P. F. LEGH
| | |
1871 746 | 1864 735 | 1876 752 | 1882 750
1873 733 | 1867 733 | 1879 744 | 1879 743
1873 719 | 1866 701 | 1876 730 | 1881 723
1872 712 | -- | 1870 722 | 1883 712
1863 706 | -- | 1877 718 | 1884 701
1870 700 | -- | 1871 713 | --
-- | -- | 1877 707 | --

The summary of Public Meetings is--

43 Grand National Archery Meetings.
31 Leamington Archery Meetings.
28 Crystal Palace Archery Meetings.
24 Grand Western Archery Meetings.
7 Grand Northern Archery Meetings.
2 Alexandra Park Archery Meetings.
1 Hastings Archery Meeting.
2 Aston Park Archery Meetings.
6 Royal Toxophilite Society's Archery Meetings.
----
144 Meetings.

When attention is turned towards the meetings at which most gentlemen have made more than 600, and most ladies have made over 500, it is found that in 1860, at Bath, seventeen gentlemen reached or passed the score of 600, but at the same time only two ladies passed 500. This still remains the largest meeting which has yet been held, two hundred and eight shooters having been present. At the Alexandra Park Meeting in 1864, sixteen gentlemen and six ladies attained the same amount of excellence. At Brighton, in 1867, seventeen gentlemen and seven ladies passed the same levels. But, in 1882, at the Crystal Palace, the corresponding numbers were ten gentlemen and nineteen ladies, and at Leamington in the same year, fourteen gentlemen and sixteen ladies; whilst in 1883, at Cheltenham, nineteen gentlemen passed 600 and fourteen ladies passed 500, though the shooters competing at this meeting were only one hundred and thirty-one. At Windsor in 1884, thirteen ladies scored more than 500, and twelve gentlemen more than 600. This shows clearly that, although the number of attendances has diminished since the extraordinary start given to archery by Mr. H. A. Ford's book (and this is possibly due to the multiplication of public matches), yet the average of excellence, particularly amongst the ladies, has made considerable progress. This is a most encouraging symptom for the future of archery.

The First Grand National Archery Meeting was held on August 1 and 2, 1844, at Knavesmire, near York.

Sixty-five gentlemen shot, and no ladies appeared at the targets.

The single _York Round_ (72 arrows at 100 yards, 48 arrows at 80 yards, and 24 arrows at 60 yards) was shot first on this occasion.

* * * * *

The Second Grand National Archery Meeting was held on June 25 and 26, 1845, at the same place.

+-----------------------+----------+
| | 60 Yards |
| LADIES +----+-----+
| |Hits|Score|
+-----------------------+----+-----+
| Miss Thelwall | 48 | 186 |
| Miss Townshend | 45 | 163 |
| Miss Emma Wylde | 33 | 161 |
| Miss Jane Forster | 40 | 152 |
+-----------------------+----+-----+

Eleven ladies shot 96 arrows, all at 60 yards.

One hundred and ten gentlemen shot at this meeting, and the York Round, as before described, was shot on each day and at all the following meetings.

* * * * *

The Third Grand National Archery Meeting was held on July 29 and 30, 1846, at the same place.

+-------------------------+----------+----------+----------+-----------+
| | 100 Yards| 80 Yards | 60 Yards | TOTALS |
| GENTLEMEN +----+-----+----+-----+----+-----+-----+-----+
| |Hits|Score|Hits|Score|Hits|Score| Hits|Score|
+-------------------------+----+-----+----+-----+----+-----+-----+-----+
| Mr. R. G. Hubbock | 41 | 175 | 47 | 209 | 29 | 135 | 117 | 519 |
| Rev. E. Meyrick | 40 | 174 | 47 | 211 | 30 | 132 | 117 | 517 |
| Rev. T. Meyler | 35 | 135 | 51 | 179 | 30 | 154 | 116 | 476 |
| Mr. Glasgow | 27 | 97 | 56 | 228 | 33 | 127 | 116 | 452 |
| Mr. C. Garnett | 35 | 125 | 40 | 166 | 36 | 150 | 111 | 441 |
| Mr. J. P. Marsh | 44 | 178 | 40 | 144 | 27 | 119 | 111 | 441 |
| Rev. J. Higginson | 24 | 90 | 51 | 201 | 29 | 149 | 110 | 422 |
| Mr. A. Radcliff | 36 | 124 | 44 | 162 | 34 | 136 | 114 | 422 |
+-------------------------+----+-----+----+-----+----+-----+-----+-----+

Eighty-three gentlemen shot at this meeting, but no ladies appeared.

* * * * *

The Fourth Grand National Archery Meeting was held on July 28 and 29, 1847, at Derby.

+-----------------------+----------+
| | 60 Yards |
| ---- +----------+
| |Hits|Score|
+-----------------------+----+-----+
| Miss Wylde | 65 | 245 |
+-----------------------+----+-----+

The ladies, who numbered only six, again shot--at 60 yards only--the same number of arrows as in 1845, namely, 96.

+-------------------------+----------+----------+----------+-----------+
| | 100 Yards| 80 Yards | 60 Yards | TOTALS |
| GENTLEMEN +----+-----+----+-----+----+-----+-----+-----+
| |Hits|Score|Hits|Score|Hits|Score| Hits|Score|
+-------------------------+----+-----+----+-----+----+-----+-----+-----+
| Mr. Peter Muir | 63 | 217 | 53 | 229 | 37 | 185 | 153 | 631 |
| Mr. Hutchons | 33 | 125 | 55 | 267 | 41 | 211 | 129 | 603 |
| Mr. E. Maitland | 38 | 144 | 51 | 197 | 42 | 208 | 131 | 549 |
| Mr. E. Marr | 44 | 182 | 40 | 146 | 39 | 177 | 123 | 505 |
| Rev. J. Bramhall | 34 | 132 | 52 | 198 | 39 | 165 | 125 | 495 |
| Mr. C. Garnett | 44 | 146 | 40 | 158 | 38 | 164 | 122 | 488 |
| Rev. T. Meyler | 44 | 164 | 45 | 169 | 32 | 146 | 121 | 479 |
| Mr. G. Attwood | 44 | 142 | 39 | 141 | 37 | 129 | 120 | 412 |
| Rev. E. Meyrick | 30 | 114 | 47 | 145 | 33 | 141 | 110 | 410 |
+-------------------------+----+-----+----+-----+----+-----+-----+-----+

Fifty-eight gentlemen shot at this meeting, and on the following day--July 30--half a York Round was shot for a bow (Buchanan's) and two other prizes.

+-------------------------+----------+----------+----------+-----------+
| | 100 Yards| 80 Yards | 60 Yards | TOTALS |
| ---- +----+-----+----+-----+----+-----+-----+-----+
| |Hits|Score|Hits|Score|Hits|Score| Hits|Score|
+-------------------------+----+-----+----+-----+----+-----+-----+-----+
| Rev. J. Bramhall | | | | | | | | |
| won the bow | 18 | 58 | 16 | 74 | 9 | 41 | 43 | 173 |
+-------------------------+----+-----+----+-----+----+-----+-----+-----+

* * * * *

The Fifth Grand National Archery Meeting was held on July 19 and 20, 1848, at the same place.

Only five ladies shot, and they shot 72 arrows at 60 yards, and 72 at 50 yards.

Seventy-four gentlemen shot at this meeting. Horace A. Ford here made his first public appearance, scoring--

+----------+----------+----------+-----------+
| 100 Yards| 80 Yards | 60 Yards | TOTALS |
+----+-----+----+-----+----+-----+-----+-----+
|Hits|Score|Hits|Score|Hits|Score| Hits|Score|
+----+-----+----+-----+----+-----+-----+-----+
| 31 | 81 | 38 | 142 | 32 | 118 | 101 | 341 |
+----+-----+----+-----+----+-----+-----+-----+

He stood fifteenth in the list.

* * * * *

The Sixth Grand National Archery Meeting was held on July 18 and 19, 1849--again at Derby.

+-----------------------+----------+----------+-----------+
| | 60 Yards | 50 Yards | TOTALS |
| LADIES +----+-----+----+-----+-----+-----+
| |Hits|Score|Hits|Score| Hits|Score|
+-----------------------+----+-----+----+-----+-----+-----+
| Miss Temple | 36 | 122 | 19 | 67 | 55 | 189 |
| Miss Mackay | 24 | 98 | 19 | 65 | 43 | 163 |
| Miss Billing | 25 | 89 | 14 | 62 | 39 | 151 |
+-----------------------+----+-----+----+-----+-----+-----+

Eight ladies attended this meeting, and the _National Round_ (96 arrows at 60 yards, and 48 arrows at 50 yards), equally divided between the two days, was shot now for the first time, and has been ever since shot by the ladies, except at the next meeting at Edinburgh.

Forty-six gentlemen shot at this meeting, and the Champion's medal was first awarded on this occasion, and won by Mr. H. A. Ford, who won most points[9] (5), Mr. Moore having won 4--namely, hits and score at 80 yards, and gross score--and Mr. Attwood won the points for score at 100 yards.

* * * * *

The Seventh Grand National Archery Meeting was held on July 24, 25, and 26, 1850, at Edinburgh, in Warrender Park.

Eight ladies shot at this meeting, and the round, which, owing to the condition of the weather, was all shot on the third day, consisted of 72 arrows at 60 yards, and 36 arrows at 50 yards.

Eighty-three gentlemen shot, and the Champion's medal was won by Mr. H. A. Ford, who made all the points.

At this meeting there was also some shooting at 200 yards, 180 yards, and at 100 feet, in addition to the usual double York Round.

* * * * *

The Eighth Grand National Archery Meeting was held on July 25 and 26, 1851, on Wisden's Cricket-ground at Leamington. At this meeting thirty-three ladies shot the National Round.

Mr. H. A. Ford won all the points for the Champion medal except that for score at 80 yards, which was won by Mr. K. T. Heath.

+-----------------------+----------+----------+-----------+
| | 60 Yards | 50 Yards | TOTALS |
| ---- +----+-----+----+-----+-----+-----+
| |Hits|Score|Hits|Score| Hits|Score|
+-----------------------+----+-----+----+-----+-----+-----+
| Miss Villers, | | | | | | |
| afterwards | 73 | 323 | 35 | 181 | 108 | 504 |
| Mrs. Davison | | | | | | |
+-----------------------+----+-----+----+-----+-----+-----+

Miss Villers's score showed a rapid stride in advance amongst the ladies, as she was more than 100 points ahead of the second lady, Miss Eaton--73 hits, 297 score--and the third, Mrs. Thursfield--75 hits, 293 score.

Ninety gentlemen shot at this meeting.

On the 27th a handicap sweepstake match was shot.

* * * * *

The Ninth Grand National Archery Meeting was held on July 7 and 8, 1852, at the same place, in Leamington.

+-----------------------+----------+----------+-----------+
| | 60 Yards | 50 Yards | TOTALS |
| LADIES +----+-----+----+-----+-----+-----+
| |Hits|Score|Hits|Score| Hits|Score|
+-----------------------+----+-----+----+-----+-----+-----+
| Miss Brindley | 45 | 155 | 39 | 181 | 84 | 336 |
| Miss M. Peel | 51 | 217 | 33 | 113 | 84 | 330 |
| Miss Villers | 49 | 197 | 30 | 132 | 79 | 329 |
+-----------------------+----+-----+----+-----+-----+-----+

At this meeting thirty-six ladies and seventy-eight gentlemen shot.

Mr. H. A. Ford won the Champion's medal with 6 points, Mr. Bramhall having won 2 points for hits and score at 100 yards, and Mr. J. Wilson 2 points for hits and score at 60 yards.

This match had a most exciting finale. When the last three arrows alone remained to be shot, Mr. Bramhall was 2 points ahead in score. It was then a simple question of nerve, and Mr. Ford's proved the best, as he scored 14 to his opponent's 2. The two gentlemen were placed at adjoining targets, and Mr. Bramhall's nerve was further disturbed by his hearing some one noisily offer to bet heavily in favour of Mr. Ford. Mr. Ford shot first at his target, and Mr. Bramhall second at his.

Mr. Ford's score on July 9, in the handicap match, amounted to 485.

* * * * *

The Tenth Grand National Archery Meeting was held on July 6 and 7, 1853--again at Leamington.

+-----------------------+----------+----------+-----------+
| | 60 Yards | 50 Yards | TOTALS |
| LADIES +----+-----+----+-----+-----+-----+
| |Hits|Score|Hits|Score| Hits|Score|
+-----------------------+----+-----+----+-----+-----+-----+
| Mrs. Horniblow | 54 | 230 | 35 | 135 | 89 | 365 |
| Miss M. Peel | 44 | 180 | 40 | 184 | 84 | 364 |
| Miss Clay | 46 | 192 | 35 | 145 | 79 | 337 |
| Mrs. Tennant | 48 | 190 | 31 | 129 | 79 | 319 |
| (_née_ Temple) | | | | | | |
+-----------------------+----+-----+----+-----+-----+-----+

The silver bracer for the Lady Championess, presented by the Norfolk Bowmen, was first competed for at this meeting, and won by Mrs. Horniblow, who won 6 of the 8 points, Miss M. Peel having secured the 2 points for hits and score at 50 yards.

Mr. Ford won all the Champion's points, and now first began to show his marked superiority.

Fifty ladies and eighty-two gentlemen shot.

* * * * *

The Eleventh Grand National Archery Meeting was held on July 5 and 6, 1854, on the racecourse at Shrewsbury.

+-----------------------+----------+----------+-----------+
| | 100 Yards| 80 Yards | TOTALS |
| LADIES +----+-----+----+-----+-----+-----+
| |Hits|Score|Hits|Score| Hits|Score|
+-----------------------+----+-----+----+-----+-----+-----+
| Mrs. Davison | 68 | 318 | 41 | 171 | 109 | 489 |
| (_née_ Villers) | | | | | | |
| Mrs. Horniblow | 56 | 212 | 40 | 186 | 96 | 398 |
| Miss Baker | 61 | 245 | 34 | 152 | 95 | 397 |
+-----------------------+----+-----+----+-----+-----+-----+

Mrs. Davison won the silver bracer with 7 points, Mrs. Horniblow, who made a score of 325 on the handicap day, having secured the eighth point with the highest score at fifty yards.

Mr. Ford won all the points of the Champion's medal, and made a further stride in front of all other competitors, making over 1,000.

Sixty-six ladies and ninety-four gentlemen shot.

* * * * *

The First Grand Leamington and Midland Archery Meeting was held in the Jephson Gardens, on July 19 and 20, 1854.

* * * * *

The Second Grand Leamington and Midland Archery Meeting was held on June 20 and 21, 1855.

* * * * *

The Twelfth Grand National Archery Meeting was held on August 1 and 2, 1855--again at Shrewsbury.

+-----------------------+----------+----------+-----------+
| | 60 Yards | 50 Yards | TOTALS |
| LADIES +----+-----+----+-----+-----+-----+
| |Hits|Score|Hits|Score| Hits|Score|
+-----------------------+----+-----+----+-----+-----+-----+
| Mrs. Davison | 70 | 278 | 45 | 213 | 115 | 491 |
| Mrs. Horniblow | 67 | 277 | 36 | 160 | 103 | 437 |
| Miss Clay | 64 | 282 | 36 | 146 | 100 | 428 |
+-----------------------+----+-----+----+-----+-----+-----+

Mrs. Davison won 7 points, and again secured the silver bracer.

Miss Clay won 1 point for score at 60 yards.

Miss H. Chetwynd made 296 on the handicap day.

Mr. Ford won the Champion's medal, having won all the points except that there was a tie between him and Mr. Wilson for hits at 60 yards.

The weather was unfavourable at this meeting, which helps to account for the apparent falling off in the scores.

Fifty-five ladies and eighty-three gentlemen shot.

The series of eighteen articles, out of which this book was afterwards formed, began to appear in the 'Field' on October 6 in this year.

* * * * *

The Third Grand Leamington and Midland Archery Meeting was held on June 18 and 19, 1856.

* * * * *

The Thirteenth Grand National Archery Meeting was held on July 2 and 3, 1856, on the College Cricket-ground, at Cheltenham.

[10] Did not shoot the last six arrows at 50 yards, being prevented by
indisposition.

Mrs. Horniblow won the silver bracer with six points, Mrs. Davison having won the point for score at 60 yards, and having made the same number of hits as Mrs. Horniblow at that distance. Miss H. Chetwynd made the same number of hits at 50 yards as Mrs. Horniblow.

Mr. Ford again secured the Champion's medal with eight points, his old opponent Mr. Bramhall having won the points for hits and score at 100 yards.

Seventy-two ladies and 112 gentlemen shot at this meeting.

The first edition of 'The Theory and Practice of Archery' was published in the course of this year.

* * * * *

The Fourth Grand Leamington and Midland Archery Meeting was held on June 10 and 11, 1857.

* * * * *

The Fourteenth Grand National Archery Meeting was held on July 1 and 2, 1857--again at Cheltenham.

+-----------------------+----------+----------+-----------+
| | 60 Yards | 50 Yards | TOTALS |
| LADIES +----+-----+----+-----+-----+-----+
| |Hits|Score|Hits|Score| Hits|Score|
+-----------------------+----+-----+----+-----+-----+-----+
| Miss H. Chetwynd | 82 | 390 | 46 | 244 | 128 | 634 |
| Mrs. Davison | 73 | 339 | 41 | 209 | 114 | 548 |
| Mrs. Horniblow | 80 | 346 | 42 | 194 | 122 | 540 |
| Mrs. R. Blaker | 69 | 325 | 39 | 171 | 108 | 496 |
+-----------------------+----+-----+----+-----+-----+-----+

Miss H. Chetwynd won the silver bracer with all the points, and exceeded all the previous performances of ladies in match shooting.

+-------------------------+----------+----------+----------+-----------+
| | 100 Yards| 80 Yards | 60 Yards | TOTALS |
| GENTLEMEN +----+-----+----+-----+----+-----+-----+-----+
| |Hits|Score|Hits|Score|Hits|Score| Hits|Score|
+-------------------------+----+-----+----+-----+----+-----+-----+-----+
| Mr. H. A. Ford |107 | 495 | 90 | 466 | 48 | 290 | 245 |1251 |
| Mr. G. Edwards | 69 | 255 | 76 | 322 | 43 | 209 | 188 | 786 |
| Mr. W. J. W. Baynes | 65 | 245 | 74 | 314 | 44 | 212 | 183 | 771 |
| Mr. P. Muir | 69 | 261 | 57 | 315 | 39 | 201 | 165 | 777 |
| Mr. J. Bramhall | 67 | 233 | 58 | 254 | 46 | 234 | 171 | 721 |
| Mr. H. C. Mules | 66 | 254 | 58 | 260 | 40 | 206 | 164 | 720 |
| Mr. E. Mason | 57 | 215 | 65 | 279 | 41 | 197 | 163 | 691 |
| Mr. H. Garnett | 61 | 235 | 67 | 263 | 35 | 169 | 163 | 667 |
| Mr. H. Hilton | 55 | 243 | 59 | 243 | 37 | 183 | 151 | 669 |
| Mr. J. Wilson | 62 | 260 | 57 | 237 | 35 | 161 | 154 | 658 |
| Mr. C. H. Fisher | 40 | 122 | 54 | 248 | 42 | 194 | 136 | 564 |
+-------------------------+----+-----+----+-----+----+-----+-----+-----+

Mr. Ford again secured all the points for the Champion's medal, and made the finest score ever yet made in public.

The average of the shooting of all showed a marked improvement at this meeting; and it was gratifying to Mr. Ford to be able to state that several of the leading archers attributed their high positions in the prize-list to their careful following out of the principles and directions laid down in his book.

Sixty-one ladies and ninety-seven gentlemen shot.

Mr. H. C. Mules scored 389 on the handicap day.

* * * * *

The Fifth Grand Leamington and Midland Archery Meeting was held on June 23 and 24, 1858.

Twenty-nine ladies and twenty-nine gentlemen shot.

* * * * *

The Fifteenth Grand National Archery Meeting was held on July 21 and 22, 1858, at Exeter.

+-----------------------+----------+----------+-----------+
| | 60 Yards | 50 Yards | TOTALS |
| LADIES +----+-----+----+-----+-----+-----+
| |Hits|Score|Hits|Score| Hits|Score|
+-----------------------+----+-----+----+-----+-----+-----+
| Mrs. Horniblow | 58 | 256 | 43 | 201 | 101 | 457 |
| Mrs. St. George | 58 | 254 | 36 | 174 | 94 | 428 |
| Miss H. Chetwynd | 56 | 204 | 43 | 219 | 99 | 423 |
| Mrs. R. Blaker | 54 | 228 | 38 | 184 | 92 | 412 |
| Lady Edwardes | 54 | 262 | 31 | 139 | 85 | 401 |
| Miss Turner | 59 | 255 | 34 | 136 | 93 | 391 |
+-----------------------+----+-----+----+-----+-----+-----+

+-------------------------+----------+----------+----------+-----------+
| | 100 Yards| 80 Yards | 60 Yards | TOTALS |
| GENTLEMEN +----+-----+----+-----+----+-----+-----+-----+
| |Hits|Score|Hits|Score|Hits|Score| Hits|Score|
+-------------------------+----+-----+----+-----+----+-----+-----+-----+
| Mr. H. A. Ford | 87 | 399 | 81 | 385 | 46 | 292 | 214 |1076 |
| Mr. G. Edwards | 73 | 267 | 70 | 324 | 44 | 226 | 187 | 817 |
| Mr. J. T. George | 59 | 217 | 63 | 311 | 40 | 212 | 162 | 740 |
| Mr. W. J. W. Baynes | 57 | 229 | 60 | 254 | 43 | 219 | 160 | 702 |
| Mr. J. Spedding | 48 | 184 | 71 | 299 | 44 | 212 | 163 | 695 |
| Mr. E. Mason | 52 | 172 | 66 | 292 | 42 | 176 | 160 | 640 |
| Mr. H. C. Mules | 56 | 176 | 59 | 255 | 44 | 210 | 159 | 641 |
| Mr. P. Muir | 48 | 176 | 60 | 250 | 39 | 209 | 147 | 635 |
+-------------------------+----+-----+----+-----+----+-----+-----+-----+

Mrs. Horniblow won the silver bracer with 4-1/2 points. Miss Turner won the point for hits at 60 yards, Lady Edwardes the point for score at 60 yards, and Miss H. Chetwynd won the point for score at 50 yards and divided the point for hits at this distance with Mrs. Horniblow.

Mr. Ford, having won all the ten points, became Champion for the tenth time. He accounted for the apparent falling off in the shooting at this meeting as compared with the previous one by the fact that the weather was rough and the ground difficult.

Eighty-four ladies and eighty-six gentlemen shot.

* * * * *

A Grand Archery Meeting was held in the grounds of Aston Park, near Birmingham, on September 8 and 9, 1858.

+-----------------------+----------+----------+-----------+
| | 60 Yards | 50 Yards | TOTALS |
| LADIES +----+-----+----+-----+-----+-----+
| |Hits|Score|Hits|Score| Hits|Score|
+-----------------------+----+-----+----+-----+-----+-----+
| Mrs. Horniblow | 75 | 317 | 42 | 218 | 117 | 535 |
| Miss H. Chetwynd | 65 | 287 | 39 | 187 | 104 | 474 |
| Miss Aston | 67 | 251 | 41 | 175 | 108 | 426 |
| Lady Edwardes | 61 | 267 | 32 | 142 | 93 | 409 |
+-----------------------+----+-----+----+-----+-----+-----+

It was intended, and advertised, that this meeting should be repeated in 1859; but, from insufficient support, it was abandoned, and the first of the series of annual archery meetings held in the grounds of the Crystal Palace was substituted for it.

* * * * *

The Sixth Grand Leamington and Midland Archery Meeting was held on June 15 and 16, 1859.

Thirty ladies and thirty-three gentlemen shot.

* * * * *

The Sixteenth Grand National Archery Meeting was held on July 6 and 7, 1859--again at Exeter.

Miss Turner won the silver bracer with 5 points, Miss H. Chetwynd having won 2 points for gross hits and 1 point for hits at 60 yards.

+-----------------------+----------+----------+-----------+
| | 60 Yards | 50 Yards | TOTALS |
| LADIES +----+-----+----+-----+-----+-----+
| |Hits|Score|Hits|Score| Hits|Score|
+-----------------------+----+-----+----+-----+-----+-----+
| Miss Turner | 77 | 385 | 45 | 245 | 122 | 630 |
| Miss H. Chetwynd | 82 | 370 | 43 | 215 | 125 | 585 |
| Mrs. G. Atkinson | 76 | 334 | 42 | 207 | 119 | 541 |
| Mrs. Horniblow | 74 | 356 | 38 | 160 | 112 | 536 |
+-----------------------+----+-----+----+-----+-----+-----+

The Champion's medal for the eleventh consecutive time was won by Mr. Ford with 8 points, Mr. Edwards having won the points for hits and score at 80 yards.

+-------------------------+----------+----------+----------+-----------+
| | 100 Yards| 80 Yards | 60 Yards | TOTALS |
| GENTLEMEN +----+-----+----+-----+----+-----+-----+-----+
| |Hits|Score|Hits|Score|Hits|Score| Hits|Score|
+-------------------------+----+-----+----+-----+----+-----+-----+-----+
| Mr. H. A. Ford | 85 | 357 | 72 | 312 | 48 | 282 | 205 | 951 |
| Mr. G. Edwards | 65 | 269 | 74 | 370 | 45 | 249 | 184 | 888 |
| Rev. W. J. Richardson | 70 | 298 | 68 | 332 | 40 | 182 | 178 | 812 |
| Mr. A. Edmondstone | 78 | 300 | 66 | 250 | 41 | 231 | 185 | 781 |
| Mr. H. C. Mules | 58 | 218 | 61 | 255 | 37 | 215 | 156 | 688 |
| Mr. E. Meyrick | 70 | 252 | 50 | 198 | 40 | 184 | 160 | 634 |
| Mr. J. Rimington | 54 | 238 | 56 | 244 | 44 | 204 | 154 | 686 |
| Mr. J. T. George | 49 | 205 | 67 | 285 | 39 | 173 | 155 | 663 |
| Mr. T. Boulton | 57 | 237 | 56 | 204 | 41 | 171 | 154 | 612 |
| Mr. H. Walters | 49 | 165 | 60 | 266 | 40 | 188 | 149 | 619 |
| Mr. H. B. Hare | 47 | 219 | 53 | 225 | 37 | 183 | 137 | 627 |
| Mr. W. Swire | 57 | 213 | 47 | 223 | 42 | 176 | 146 | 612 |
| Mr. C. H. Fisher | 55 | 253 | 49 | 187 | 34 | 146 | 138 | 586 |
+-------------------------+----+-----+----+-----+----+-----+-----+-----+

Eighty-six ladies and eighty-four gentlemen shot.

* * * * *

The second edition of Mr. Ford's book was issued in this year, and the account of this Grand National Archery Meeting was not included in it.

* * * * *

A Grand Archery Meeting, under the management of Mr. Merridew, was proposed to be held in the grounds of Aston Park, Birmingham, on July 27 and 28, 1859, as mentioned by Mr. H. A. Ford at page 124; but at the Leamington meeting of the same year it was decided that this proposed meeting should be transferred to the grounds of the Crystal Palace at Sydenham, and thus commenced the annual Crystal Palace Archery Meetings.

* * * * *

The First Grand Annual Crystal Palace Archery Meeting was held on July 27 and 28, 1859, on the Cricket-ground.

Twenty ladies and forty-one gentlemen shot.

* * * * *

The Seventh Grand Leamington and Midland Archery Meeting was held on June 13 and 14, 1860.

+-----------------------+----------+----------+-----------+
| | 60 Yards | 50 Yards | TOTALS |
| LADIES +----+-----+----+-----+-----+-----+
| |Hits|Score|Hits|Score| Hits|Score|
+-----------------------+----+-----+----+-----+-----+-----+
| Mrs. E. Lister | 72 | 336 | 45 | 197 | 117 | 533 |
| Mrs. Litchfield | 72 | 324 | 39 | 163 | 111 | 487 |
| Mrs. Horniblow | 66 | 238 | 46 | 202 | 112 | 440 |
+-----------------------+----+-----+----+-----+-----+-----+

Thirty-two ladies and thirty-six gentlemen shot.

* * * * *

The Seventeenth Grand National Archery Meeting was held on July 4 and 5, 1860, at Bath.

+-----------------------+----------+----------+-----------+
| | 60 Yards | 50 Yards | TOTALS |
| LADIES +----+-----+----+-----+-----+-----+
| |Hits|Score|Hits|Score| Hits|Score|
+-----------------------+----+-----+----+-----+-----+-----+
| Mrs. E. Lister | 69 | 337 | 43 | 213 | 112 | 550 |
| Mrs. G. Atkinson | 79 | 341 | 42 | 190 | 121 | 531 |
| Mrs. Rogers | 66 | 306 | 38 | 188 | 104 | 494 |
+-----------------------+----+-----+----+-----+-----+-----+

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The theory and practice of archeryChapter XIII: The Public Archery Meetings and the Double York and Other Rounds (1)

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