Sheffield Daily Telegraph – Monday 15 March 1909
Rifle shooting
The Movement at Denaby
A Flourishing Club.
The rifle club at Denaby Main is fortunate in the possession of an enthusiastic membership, and controlling officials, imbued with the spirit of progress, in the persons of Mr. W. H. Chambers, the popular President. Mr. H. S. Witty, an excellent shot and captain of the team, and Mr. A. H. Barnard, the hon. secretary and treasurer, whose interest in the rifle club movement is widely known by reason of his prominent secretarial connection with the Sheffield and District Association.
The annual tea and meeting of the club, held in the Denaby Main Hotel on Saturday night, provided a striking illustration of the large results from small beginnings. In the crowded room were many who had served their country with the regulars or volunteers, and there can be no doubt that their present active connection with the rifle club is doing much to encourage the youth of Denaby to awaken to sense national responsibilities.
For the colliery village contributes a strong company to the Territorials, and is also turning its civilians into good shots with the rifle.
About 160 sat down to a knife and fork tea which was followed by a business meeting. The old officials were unanimously re-elected with thanks for past services.
Mr. A. H. Barnard, hon. secretary and treasurer, in the course of his annual report, said that the number of members joining the club last year was considerably less than in the two previous years —75 against 135 in 1907, and 111 in 1906. The actual number of rounds fired was, however, very little less, being 32,912 as against 36,000 in 1907, and 33,000 in 1906.
The slight falling off in membership was accounted for by the formation of a rifle club at Mexborough. The standard of shooting at Denaby had shown no signs of falling off. The number of matches shot was 15, 13 on the miniature range (8 won and 5 lost) and 2 on the full range (one, won and one lost.) The average points scored per shot were 4.25.
The winners of the Captain Pope Challenge Cup were W. Ramskill (twice), F. W. Rudd, A. H. Barnard, and H. S. Witty (twice).
The President’s prize was won by Mr. S. Gething, with the score of 130 points.
Forty-two members took part in the annual shoot, prizes being provided the club funds and by generous club supporters. The Kilner Challenge Cup was won by F. W. Rudd (93 points), the Donegal Badge W. Ramskill (140), the S.M.R.C. silver medal by L. Wright (137).
Mr. Ramskill’s score entitled him to a skilled shot certificate of the N.R.A;, the only one gained by the club during the year. For N.R.A. Riflemen’s certificates, 19 had qualified against 24 the previous year.
The club was represented in the Queen’s Cup Competition by Mr. W. Ramskill, and in the Civilian competitions at York, and at the Sheffield and District Rifle Association’s annual meeting, in which Mr. H. S. Witty carried off the All- Comers’ Challenge Cup.
The Committee had decided to allow members of the local battalion the Territorial army practice on the range, and it was hoped that this year they would takeadvantage of the opportunity.
Financially, the club continued to be in a good condition, the balance in hand at the end of the year being £4 10s.5d. more than last year. The chief items on the receipt side were £20 3s. from the honorary members’ subscriptions, and £28 7s. Id. from the sale of ammunition to members.
The report was heartily adopted. The concluding meeting was largely devoted to entertainment. Mr. J. H. Kelley, C.C., of Wath, presided, and was supported by Messrs. W. H. Chambers. G. Parbury (Sheffield), A. H. Barnard, H. S. Witty, Captain Archer, J. Clayton, and M. Hulse (Mexborough), with T. Mosby in the vicechair.
The Chairman said the large attendance showed interest and it was interest that was necessary, because if they did not show interest in national affairs, conscription would be unavoidable. Such movements as theirs would tend to keep the spirit of volunteering alive, for volunteer fighters would fight better than pressed men. (Applause.) He commended to the young men such institutions as rifle clubs, and particularly emphasised the good service they could their country by joining the Territorials.
The Chairman then handed over N.R.A. certificates to the following;—Messrs. W. Ramskill (skilled shot), L. Wright, A. Wright, A. H. Barnard F. French, H. S. Witty, M. Hulse, J W. Smith, J. Hunting. Joyner, J. Edington, J. F. Ramskill, C. B. Walker, H. Williamson, F. J. Kavanagh, Rudd, E. Robinson, and Bridges.
Mr Clayton proposed the toast of the Denaby Main Rifle Club. Mr. W. H. Chambers replied. The Rifle Rangers (Glee party). Miss Gibbs, and Messrs. Plastow, T. Soar, T. Allen, and Houson, contributed to the musical programme.