ARDROSSAN
ARTILLERY CORPS
The handsome silver cup, presented to the Corps by
the ladies of Ardrossan, was competed for at the heavy guns on Saturday last (17
September 1870).
There was a large muster and the practice was
considered very fair.
The target, everyone complained of, was
ridiculously small and an effort should be made have it replaced with something
more easily discernible at a distance of 1400 or 1500 yards.
It is about one twelfth the size of the target
fired at the carbines at 100, 200 and 300 yards distance.
On the scores being made up, it was found that
the winning shot had been fired by Bombardier James Steele who will become its
custodier from the evening of the annual ball which takes place in March till
the date of the next competition.
It was won last year by Caldwell Anderson.
It has been arranged that a detachment of ten
men go to Kilmarnock on Saturday, today, to engage in a return match at Carbine
practice with an equal number belonging to the Kilmarnock Corps.
Ardrossan
and Saltcoats Herald, 24 September 1870
CIRCUS DISAPPOINTMENT
Sanger’s Circus visited Ardrossan on Wednesday (21
September 1870).
The same company was in Largs on Tuesday and
our Irvine correspondent writes that great disappointment was felt at their not
appearing on Wednesday and on the day following, passing through the town
without giving a performance as advertised.
Ardrossan
and Saltcoats Herald, 24 September 1870
NEW STEAMER FOR THE BELFAST TRADE
A splendid new steamer named the South-Western, has this week been placed on the
station between Ardrossan and Belfast, the vessel formerly plying having been
found too small for the carrying on of the traffic between these ports.
She was built by Messrs Blackwood and Gordon of Port Glasgow and is
registered to accommodate in summer, 64 passengers in the fore and 221 in the
after cabin and in winter, 64 in the fore cabin and 137 in the after.
The fore cabin is panelled with maple which has taken on a brilliant
polish and is sumptuously upholstered.
She has considerably more room for cargo, can stable 42 horses, has large spaces
fitted up for pigs and, in addition, can accommodate two to three hundred
cattle. Mr William Kinnear, who has long
ably commanded on of the Ardrossan and Belfast steamers, is master.
Ardrossan
and Saltcoats Herald, 24 September 1870
LOSS OF AN ARDROSSAN SHIP AT ISLE OF MAN
The ship, Glencairn, Captain Droon, bound from
Liverpool to Quebec, went ashore on Friday week (10 September 1870), in
Castletown Bay, Isle of Man,
She is upward of nine hundred tons burthern and
belongs to this port.
She was laden with coals and it is thought will
become a complete wreck.
Ardrossan
and Saltcoats Herald, 24 September 1870
ARDROSSAN COURSING CLUB
Last week, we reported Thursday’s running.
On Friday (17 September 1870), the meet was at
Craigspark but hares were very scarce and arrangements were made to meet on the
day following at Rowallan, the property of the Countess of Loudon from whom the
Earl of Eglinton rents the shootings.
Saturday morning was most unpromising but
fortunately at midday, the heavily-charge clouds lifted and, the sun coming
through, a splendid day and a good stock of hares, this protracted meeting was
brought to a close by evening.
Glenavon, the favourite among the puppies, was
the first called to slips but a brace of hares getting up the dogs, took
separate ones and Glenavon being severely run, was drawn.
Mr Borron was lucky enough to divide both
stakes and, in each case, takes the plate attached.
His young dog, Beau Couer, is a very promising
puppy, showing both pace and working qualities of a very high order but perhaps
the best youngster that ran was Sixty Nine who fell after making first turn and
was just beaten in a short scrambling trial with Seafield.
In the all-aged stake, it was rather remarkable
that the two left in were the Waterloo representative of their respective
owners, Messrs Borron and Hawthorn, at the late meeting held over the plains of
Altcar.
Both are fair greyhounds and an interesting course
might have been expected had it been run off but both had had enough and as Mr
Borron was agreeable to pay a little extra for the collar, Captain Hawthorn’s
representative was very properly agreed to a division.
Mr Boulton, as judge, and Mr Wilson, as
Slipper, very creditably performed their respective duties.
Ardrossan
and Saltcoats Herald, 24 September 1870