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Ross's score for the Queen's Prize was completely 

 thrown into the shade. For the Newton Cup Ick 

 scored 16 out of a possible 30 at 800, 900, and 1,000 

 yards, 5 shots at each range, his nearest competitors 

 being Marriott, of the 4th West York Volunteers, with 

 15, and Leece, of the Manchester Rifle Club, with 13. 

 But the great feature of that meeting was the Homeric 

 contest for the Southport Cup between Ick and Leece, 

 who had tied with 1 5 out of a possible 30 at the three 

 long ranges. T/te Times devoted a leader to that 

 exciting contest, from which I quote the following 

 passage as a specimen of rt The Thunderer " in one 

 of its moods of enthusiasm forty years ago : 



" Lieutenant Ick and Mr. Leece, as we have already 

 said, were equal on the original score. They had made 

 1 5 points each, and it was therefore necessary that they 

 should resume their shooting for the purpose of deciding 

 the question of the prizes. Accordingly, at the con- 

 clusion of the regular contest, these two champions 

 stood forth again to try which was the better man. 

 The target was pitched at 1,000 yards distance con- 

 siderably more than half a mile. Mr. Leece, however, 

 had that very morning hit the mark five times in 

 succession at this prodigious range, so that he was 

 much in favour, though, on the other hand, Lieutenant 

 Ick had already beaten him for the 50 prize. With 

 these qualifications respectively, the rivals took their 

 ground, and the anxiety of the spectators was plainly 

 perceptible. Lieutenant Ick led smartly off, and the 

 clear ring of the ball against the target told instantly 

 of the hit. Mr. Leece then planted himself in position 



