October 2026 (1) - Flipbook - Page 70
The Grand Centennial
Ri昀氀e Contest, 1876
150th Anniversary of
the 昀椀rst Palma Trophy Match
by David Minshall
The year 1876 was an
important one for America,
being the centenary of the
Declaration of Independence.
Huge celebrations were
planned, with exhibitions and
festivities held in Philadelphia.
Judge Gildersleeve, secretary
of the NRA, suggested a ri昀氀e
match to mark the centenary
at a meeting of the Board of
Directors on 9 November 1875.
The NRA also approached
the National Centennial
Commission regarding authority
to use its name in promoting
the matches. With Gen. Joseph
R. Hawley as President of the
Commission and an Honorary
Director of the NRA, he had no
di昀케culty gaining this approval.
Letters of invitation were
sent to Ri昀氀e Associations in
England, Scotland, Ireland,
Canada, Australia, France,
Germany, Austria, Italy,
Switzerland, Brazil, Chile, India,
Prince Edward’s Island, etc.
The principal match was to
be for the “Championship of
the World,” open to teams of
eight from each Country. The
letter concluded: “Permit us to
add that it is the intention of
our Association to make the
70
The Centennial Trophy
(later known as the Palma Trophy)
(Harper’s Weekly,
20 September 1876)
American Ri昀氀e Tournament
of 1876, one of the greatest
to all who participate, and
we take much pride being the
medium of announcing to
your Countrymen the earnest
wish of the American People
to meet you on this interesting
occasion.”
The 昀椀nal line-up of nations
accepting the invitation
to compete in the Grand
Centennial Ri昀氀e Match during
September was: America,
Australia, Canada, Ireland and
Scotland.
The teams arrived in New
York throughout August and
early September and spent time
practising at Creedmoor, and in
sightseeing, entertainment, and
visiting theatres and concerts.
On Tuesday, 12 September,
the Ri昀氀e Match opened with
a short-range event in which
only a few members of the
long-range teams competed.
A mid-range match held in
the afternoon attracted more
interest from the long range
shooters, and the clear weather
with only a light wind made for
some good scoring.
The main match was, of
course, the international team
October, 2026, Issue #4
