The Great 1874 International Match

by
posted on August 23, 2018
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
1875-american-team-creedmoor-rifles.jpg
Above: The American Team with "Creedmoor" rifles

The Irish Rifle Team, under the leadership of Maj. Arthur B. Leech, challenged America to a long range rifle match. The Irish were then undisputed champions of the British Isles and were considered the finest marksmen of their day. The match, fired at Creedmoor, pitted the veteran Irish shooters against a relatively inexperienced American team firing American-made rifles. The Irish used muzzleloading target rifles, thought to be far more accurate than any breechloader, while the Americans used Remington and Sharps breechloaders especially made for the event.

As a token of international friendship. Maj. Leech, thinking his team would surely win, presented a handsome silver tankard to the Americans. The Americans, against all odds, won the match. The tankard became known as the Leech Cup and today remains one of the most coveted trophies in long range marksmanship.

Latest

2026 Randle Team 1
2026 Randle Team 1

2026 NRA National Smallbore Prone Championship Team Day Results

Black Hawk Rifle Club swept all three conventional prone team places on Sunday, and the three F-Class teams finished within two points at the Cardinal Shooting Center.

All About The 48th Annual ATA Southwestern Grand

The 48th Annual ATA Southwestern Grand runs Sept. 7-13 at the Kansas Trapshooting Association homegrounds, with pre-squadding closing Sept. 5.

U.S. Team Wins FITASC Gold in Lisbon

Derrick Mein led the U.S. to Men’s Team gold at the 48th World FITASC Championship in Lisbon, where Tom Seay topped the individual leaderboard.

Rhode Golden, Simonton Silver in Women’s Skeet at 2026 ISSF World Cup Hangzhou

Kim Rhode wins gold and Simonton silver for a one-two punch on the women’s skeet podium in China.

NRA, Ammunition Depot Partner to Back Second Amendment Court Fights

NRA and Ammunition Depot partner to expand support for Second Amendment litigation.

X-Counts Decide Again at 2026 NRA National Smallbore Championship

Mike Carter wins the metallic prone aggregate on X-count after tying Wesley Shumaker at 3193, while Sam Pagliari leads F-Class Day 2 by a point.

Interests



Get the best of Shooting Sports USA delivered to your inbox.