The National Rifle Association, barely two years old, was ill-prepared when in November 1873 the ‘New York Herald’ published a challenge to the riflemen of America from the riflemen of Ireland. Their Creedmoor rifle range on Long Island had opened in Spring that year, and there was growing sporting interest in rifle shooting notably from the Amateur Rifle Club of New York City. In Great Britain their National Rifle Association had been established for over a decade and riflemen regularly competed out to 1,000 yards. The premier ‘home countries’ long range rifle match between England, Ireland and Scotland, the Elcho Shield, was won for the first time by Ireland in 1873. Buoyed by their success Ireland wanted further laurels, and it was the Amateur Rifle Club that accepted their challenge on behalf of the riflemen of America. The subsequent match at Creedmoor in 1874 was the first in a series of international competitions fired at 800, 900 and 1,000 yards that took place during the remainder of the 1870s. It is the forerunner of the Palma Trophy match still held today. The central story of Creedmoor is told via an extensively annotated article from 1876, the writer’s enthusiasm giving a feel for the times and in the lead up to the Centennial Match at Creedmoor that year. David Minshall provides background information on events that lead to the Irish challenge and the 1874 rifle match and concludes the story with details of the follow-up match at Dollymount, Ireland, in 1875. Appendices include a chronology of Creedmoor, correspondence relating to the Irish Challenge and insight into target rifles used at the time. Contemporary illustrations are used throughout.
