Pigeon-shooting.

Pigeon-shooting. In the days of the Red House, at Battersea, the members met four times a week in their enclosure on the banks of the Thames for the purpose of pigeon-shooting. The traps mostly in use at that time were what were known as 'H' and 'T.' Betting was frequently heavy when men like Lord Huntingfield, Lord Winchelsea, Lord Kennedy, Sir Richard Sutton, Sir Charles Kent, Captain Ross, and Mr George Osbaldeston were present. Captain Ross in 1828 killed at 30 yards rise, from five traps, seventy-six birds out of eighty; three of the other four settled on the fence, and the fourth bird was hard hit, although the shooter's first barrel missed fire. The shooter handled a 12-bore gun by William Moore, charge of powder and shot unlimited. Captain Ross won the Red House Club Cup, value 200 guineas, both in 1828 and 1829; and in 1841, in a match at Edinburgh with Lord Macdonald, he at 35 yards rise killed fifty-two birds out of fifty-three. When the Red House Club was closed in 1850, trap-shooting was for some years out of fashion, until it occurred to Mr Frank Heathcote that a system of handicapping might be advantageously adopted in order to place good and bad shooters on something like an equality. Many successful meetings were now held under Mr Heathcote's management at the Old Hornsey Wood House, until the ground was wanted for building and other purposes. Mr Heathcote in 1867 rented for £700 a year the Hurlingham estate at Fulham (q.v.); and a club being formed, the property was subsequently purchased for £20,000. After the appointment of Captain the Hon. D. J. Monson to the post of manager, the club flourished to such an extent that for several years prior to 1891 it had its full complement of 1500 members, under the presidency of the Prince of Wales. As regards the shooting members there are not more than 200, and fully half of these never fire at a pigeon. This can easily be accounted for, as a gentleman can get himself elected almost immediately as a shooting member, whereas in the ordinary ballot for members he might have to wait two or three years. In 1891 over 200 candidates were down for election. The entrance-fee is 15 guineas, with an annual subscription of 5 guineas. The polo-ground is the best in the country, and during the height of the London season it is nothing unusual to see three or four thousand of the élite of London society in the park and grounds.