organizing the first contest. They set Friday, July 4, 1884, as the day the first clay target shoot would take place on Prince Edward Island.

Alexander Beazley was pleased to allow Dr. Blanchard and his fellow club members the free use of the open field in the Belvidere Wood. The exact location is not documented, but plot plans of the day indicate it was approximately where the 15th hole at today's Belvedere Golf and Winter Club is located. The name Belvidere itself has changed--prior to the turn of the century the fifth letter was "I" rather than "E." The field was accessible by a lane off the Clay Falconwood Road that led to the Government Stock Farm and Provincial Asylum. With the shooting area established, on July 4th the small, excited group mounted their new trap on a flat board for stability, added a cord to the release lever, loaded their equipment and guns into an express cart and headed for the Belvidere Wood.

a July 4, 1884, was a warm, sunny day on the Island. At 4:30 in the afternoon, four excited gunners arrived at Belvidere ready to try clay target shooting. Three of the four--34 year old Bill Hobkirk, Francis Haszard, and Belvidere neighbour Ernest Blanchard--would, over the next decade become the Club's most active members, while Consul William Worden, although a keen gunner, would leave the Island within a year.

The four decided they would take straight away- shots at a 20-yard rise. The trap was notched so it could be set at a variety of elevations. For this first shoot they set it at notch #1, which sent the targets out at the lowest possible trajectory. Because this was an auspicious occasion they drew Straws for the honor of shooting at the first "bird." Bill Hobkirk won, and promptly broke the first clay target ever shot at on Prince Edward Island. Worden was next and he missed, as did Haszard and Blanchard.

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