Mexborough and Swinton Times, September 8th 1906
Denaby Main Miniature Rifle Club.
Annual Competitions.
Presentation Of Prizes By Mr. W. H. Chambers.
The Denaby Main Rifle Club has now been in existence some five years, and during that period it has been responsible for the training and development of some really good marksmen. Although the club does not stand alone in the district in organisation, management, and general results, it has few equals.
Quite the event of the year is the annual shooting competition, and an object of keen effort is the Kilner Cup, presented for competition to the Denaby Club, five years ago, by Miss Kilner, now Mrs. Meller.
The fifth annual competition took place at the range on Saturday, and a successful afternoon’s sport was seen. Apart from the Kilner Cup, and the open competitions, there were extra competitions in the shape of quick-firing, shooting at running man, and air-hun shooting. For the Kilner Cup there were 58 entries, and Mr. Witty came out once more a thoroughly deserving winner, with 39 points.
In the evening tea was taken at the Denaby Main Hotel, and was partaken of by about sixty. Afterwards, Mr. W. H. Chambers, president of the club, attended and distributed the prizes.
Prior to his doing so, however, Mr. A. H. Barnard, secretary of the club, presenting a statement, said he thought that had been the most successful prize-shoot yet held. It was the fifth time they had been able to offer the cup and prizes. The number of members in the club was not so many as last year. They now number 89 as against 104 a year ago. They had, however, more competitors. Last year 41competitors were in the Kilner Cup as against 58 this year, an increase or 33 per cent. Therefore, although the actual number of members subscribing was less, those who had joined them took greater interest in the shooting, and that interest, he thought, was growing. They had had the luck to have two equally fine days, so that the destiny of the cup had not been decided, as last year by shooting in fine weather. Entries for the other competitions had increased considerably, and altogether he calculated that the annual prize-shoot would no be a drain on the club’s finances, as the profit mane on the entries would practically pay for the prizes, and he thought that was as it should be. (Hear, hear.) The management of the meeting, he thought, had been very satisfactory. He concluded with a compliment to the markers, whose work, he pointed out, was one of great responsibility, and who had done their duty in a highly satisfactory manner.
Mr. Chambers, who was well received, said they had certainly set an example to the district. Although the club was a small one, compared with others in large towns, so far as he was able to judge and his information went, for efficiency, the Denaby Main Rifle Club would its own with many clubs of much greater pretensions, and with a larger number of members from whom to draw competitive teams. Referring to the competitions which the team had joined during the past season, he remarked that he was very glad to be able to follow their doings, and he was proud to know that Denaby was holding its own equally well in this as in most other things for which it tried. (Applause.)
The shooting had been of a very high-class order, and competition there had really had to be some very good shooting in order to secure the trophy. There was no doubt that as time went on an even greater interest would be manifested in that very enterprising and useful kind of pastime. (Hear, hear.) They would then be able to defend those with whom they were associated, and everything which was dear to them, in case of emergency. He had no doubt they would be able to take their part with those who were attaining efficiency in shooting if ever they were so happy as to be called upon to do so. In that case they would do all that Englishmen should do, and do it well. (Hear, hear.)