Caledonian Challenge Shield medal - Robert Mackay

Date Added: 24 April 2008 Year: 1880 Institution Name: dnhhl Cat No: ◀ | 2006_086_085 | ▶ Picture No: 2218

Circular bronze medal (a) with arms of saltire protruding from edge. On one side there is a central shield with the Scottish royal crest and the words CALEDONIAN CHALLENGE SHIELD INST. 1863 round the rim. On the other a shield with a three-turreted castle and CITY OF EDINR & MIDLOTHIAN RIFLE ASSOC INST. 1861 round the edge.
The medal fits in a presentation box (b), which is covered in brown paper. The base of the box is lined with maroon velvet and the lid with cream silk, soiled and worn through, stamped in gold ALEXR KIRKWOOD & SON MEDALISTS 9 ST JAMES SQUARE EDINBURGH ESTAB. 1826. The hinges of the box have broken off and the lid has been stuck to the base with sellotape.
Part of the Robert Mackay collection.

Dimensions: Height 45mm - Width 40mm

11 Comments

I have one of these shield medals. Can you tell me anything else about them? Who would have received one? I have an ancestor who was in the army at that time and he came from Edinburgh.

The Caledonian Challenge Shield is a shooting trophy ( from it's website - at 9ft. 6ft. high x 6ft. wide it is believed to be the largest example of its type in the World and is in the Guinness Book of Records; it is Scotland's premier shooting award, second in importance only to the 'Queens Prize' at Bisley; it was acquired by the 74th Highlanders in 1883 and is still shot for each year; it is part of the The Atholl Country Collection, Blair Atholl, Perthshire).

I assume that the medal was given to Robert Mackay (an excellent shooter) for competing in the competition and achieving a score which was awarded this medal.
Comment left on 13 November 2010 at 10:25 by Jonesib@manx.net

I am also in possession of one of these shields Comment left on 06 January 2011 at 23:19 by William S Fisher

I am in possession of two of these shooting medals. The workmanship is excellent. Are they scarce or have they been around since 1863 ?

Comment left on 19 September 2012 at 13:48 by Doug Grierson. The shooting medals have been awarded most years since 1863 so there will be quite a few of them around. Administrator

I have one also, there is a list of shield winners on scottishrifleassociation.org.uk/CaliShield/CaliShield.html
However I do not recognise a name which relates to my family name Steel or Steele. Comment left on 10 October 2016 at 16:57 by Alex Steel

Hi there, i found one of these about 25 years ago underneath my garage in a house in Old Windsor Berkshire.

Mine has 1863 on it. Id love to learn more about it.

Chris Comment left on 28 November 2016 at 11:56 by Chris

Would be interested in learning the value of such a medal. Comment left on 05 August 2019 at 17:27 by Andrew Campbell Scott

i found one of those medals in an old box of coins dated 1861 on the side with the three turret castle and 1863 on the reverse side with The Caledonian challenge shield did not want to throw it away thought it may be worth something. Is it of any value? Comment left on 23 July 2020 at 10:59 by william milligan

To whom may it concern

I still have those bronze medal with me

Can you tell me if it’s any valuable on this medallion and how rare they’re

And also what shall I do with it?

Regards

Stephen

Comment left on 05 March 2021 at 11:37 by Stephen Prior These medals are selling on the internet for between £10 and £85. If you know who it belonged to and where they were from then you could donate it to the local museum. Administrator

Hi
I recently purchased a group of WW1 medals,
in the lot is a caledonian gold 1863 medal
with a bar pin to the back with a small gold safety
pin chain. The medals belonged to farther and son
name of Mc Kinney unfortunately not on the list of winners of the challenge shield.
Just wondering how many gold medals each year where competed for, i have only found bronze and silver medals but can not find a gold example to compare. Any information would be gratefully received.
Regards David

Comment left on 09 July 2022 at 13:29 by David Marriott

I’m in possession of a gold and a bronze medals which were passed on by my father in law which I believe they belonged to his father the bronze is 1863 on it but I haven’t been able to date the gold one
If any info would be good Comment left on 28 November 2023 at 15:07 by Elizabeth Gillies

Is there somewhere a list of those names t(at have been awarded t(e medal -
I think my Grandfather Henry Harry Charles Buchan 1891 - 1966 was awarded one of these Comment left on 25 November 2024 at 21:17 by Pete Gillespie

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