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Evidently the organisation had risen on the crest of a wave of enthusiasm at that time. Further glimpses of its history will be given in another instalment.
We saw yesterday how the Hongkong Rifle Association, resuscitated during the latter part of 1885, had grown into a major organisation by 1888. That it subsequently retained a measure of local support and enthusiasm probably, though, through the efforts of the "old stagers" of the Eighties - is shown by references in the contemporary records, but there seems to have been a failure, at a later stage, to induce fresh blood to support the association as it should have been.
Let us take, for instance, the year 1890. Here we find mentioned in June of that year a remarkable performance by Mr. E.L. Woodin at one of the meetings: shooting with a match rifle he made ten "bulls" in succession at 500 yards, and followed this up by scoring 49 out of a possible 50 at 600 yards! They certainly had some good shots in the Colony. This same expert performer with the rifle won the Kwan Teen Challenge Cup for 1890; and we read that as Mr. Woodin had thus won it five times, it became his property.
Of subsequent vicissitudes we have few details, but the present Hongkong Rifle Club, as successors to the former Association and League, are in possession of an account book going back to 1895, where we find that there was a strong membership and the H.K. Rifle Association was still flourishing at that date. Indeed, there is a long list of lady members, showing how the fair sex had taken up membership even then. The annual report for 1895 states that there had been a satisfactory year, with a considerable increase in membership, which had risen to 200 as against 150 at the last general meeting. Thanks were expressed for the valuable support given by members of the Rifle Brigade.
The accounts for the period 1896 to 1899 do not disclose such a strong position, nor indicate such excellent support as in the earlier years. The annual report dated 1900, however, shows that interest and support had been maintained. The Governor, General Officer Commanding, Vice-Admiral, Mr. (later Sir) Paul Chater, Mr. E.R. Belilios, Mr. J.J. Bell-Irving, and Sir Thomas Jackson are among those thanked for gifts of prizes and donations to the prize fund. It is stated that weekly competitions had been well attended. As before, the main support, both in membership and competitors, came from the Services.
Incidentally, the report mentions that "Hongkong again won the Interport Match with the record scores of 934 in 1898 and 952 in 1899".
In the following year's report (1901) it is mentioned that Hongkong won the Interport for the third successive time in 1900, with a score of 930. It is also stated that, "During the year a new agreement was entered into between the Naval Authorities and the Association for the use of the range, which came into operation on the 1st October last."
In 1902 it is stated that, "The Association is in a sound financial state. The membership is large, but a good many more might avail themselves of the opportunities afforded of becoming an efficient marksman than has been the case during the past year. The championship at the Easter meeting of 1901 was won by Mr. G.P. Lambert. Hongkong won the Interport for the