Isle of Man Times, 29 June 1901

Opening of the New Rifle Range
    The new rifle range was opened last week, and all who visited it were unanimous in according it very high praise, as meeting everything that the rifleman requires. Unfortunately, the weather on the inaugural day was not at all suitable. There was such a thick haze that the targets were scarcely visible at 100 yards, and those members of the Douglas Rifle Club who attended to do their class of firing had to post pone their practice to some future occasion.
   Major Rowe, the inspecting officer, from Chester, was present, however, and expressed his entire approval of the new rifle range; while Mr. George Drinkwater, on behalf of the new club, expressed their thanks to Captain Mackenzie, of the volunteers’ corps, for providing them with such an excellent range.   He hoped the volunteers and the members of the rifle club would be on the best of terms with each other, and the possession of such splendid facilities for rifle practice would induce many of the youth of the town of Douglas to go in for this healthy and improving exercise, which was valuable in its training both for mind and body.
    A few shots were fired at 100 yard’s distance by some of the gentlemen present.
    It is rather against the range that it is inconveniently situated. Of course, the distance is nothing compared to that which many volunteers and riflemen in English towns have to travel for their shooting; still the nearer the range is, the better it is in order to ensure regular practice. After leaving Port Soderick station, riflemen have to descend the glen as far as the shore, and then ascend the steep brows to the range, a circuitous and rather difficult route.
    If they could prevail on the Isle of Man Railway authorities to stop the train at a point a little beyond Port Soderick, and could secure the use of a footpath from the land owner, the distance to the range might be greatly lessened, as well as the time occupied. The range would thus be of more general utility, and would be more frequently and generally used. 

Reproduced by kind permission of Isle of Man Newspapers