SOLDIERS' SPORTS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1633, 27 December 1912, Page 3

SOLDIERS' SPORTS.

THE DOMINION, TOURNAMENT,

OPENING DAY. (By Telegraph.—Press Ascoclatlon.) Christchurch, December 26. Tlie first day. of the New Zealand naval and military tournament attracted largo crowds, to the Addington show grounds /to-dajv and to King Edward Barracks this evening. Major-General A. J. Godley (Commandant of the Forces) was present, and other officers in the arena at the show grounds included Colonel, \ r . S. Smyth (officer commanding the Canterbury district), and local 6taif and visiting officers. Colonel Hon. B. Heaton.Rhodes. (Acting-Defence Minister) was : also amongst the spectators. The general management of the tournament was under the control of Captain A. Jlacarthur Onslow, who was helped by an energetic staff and attendants. The size of the venture, was .not apparent until the great march past of all the competitors at-2 .o'clock./- Then every seat in the grandstand was filled, and also the enclosure, was crowded. Led by mounted men and the guns,, the territorials and cadets marchedspast General Godley. The stamp of horse, was good, mostly being of the type, wanted for remount purposes —sturdy, short-barrelled, and about 15.2 in height. Keen,competition was the outstanding characteristic of all the competitors, and the general excellence of the various competitions and displayy evoked warm appreciation, from the spectators.

Quite the most spectacular was the musical ride by 24 men of C Squadron, under Major ..'Johnson, the squadron leader.-.Nothing like it has been seen in the colonies before, and it is very doubtful whether they have ever had an opportunity ' of,;■ watching horses so excellently trained. -They surpass any team of circus horses.-.that has been.seen here, in that their turn, is;not only longer and spread'tiver more space, but in its amazing complexityof grouping and manoeuvring. That' it ; 'goes'so well, must be attributed to-.the enthusiasm shown by Sergt.-lfajor Sloane'(late.of the 16th Lanof the Bth Eegiment N.Z.M.E.),'; and:.Sergt.-Major Norris (late of the Koyal Horse Guards, and now with the Ist.vßegiment N:Z.M.E.-the C.Y.C.), and also to the:keenness of the men who have been willing to devote all their spare time to. .it. 'The.public applauded each fresh evolution, and wa=s enthusiastic all the while. At its conclusion, General Godley congratulated the men, and expressed his pleasure at the, way in which they had gone about making for the success, of'..the tournament. .

The results, of the principal events are:— . '

Artillery Driving—E Battery, 1; B Battery (A team),. 2. Held ■• Artillery , Competition.— G. Battery, 1"; B'Battery (B team),-2; B Battery (A team), 3; E Battery, i. Physical Drill.—3rd Auckland , Regiment (C-Company), 1; 4th Otago Regiment (H Company), 2; sth Wellington Regiment (C Company), 3. Ambulance Work.—No. 3 Field Ambulance (A section, second team), 1; No. 6 Mounted Field Ambulance (B, section), 2; No. 2 Field Ambulance, 3. Tent-pitching for Cadets-Petone Technical School Cadets (A team), 1; Waimate School Cadets, 2; Rangiora. School Cadets, 3. • : ■, ' . Rifle Exercise—llth Taranaki Regiment (G. Company), 1; 9th Wellington East Coast (C Company),' 2; 11th Taranaki Regiment (A Company), 3: ■ ■. . " Lemon-cutting—Sergt. Corner (Nelson), 1; Sergt. B. Penny (North Auckland), 2; Sergt.-Major Lacey (12th Australian Light Horse), .3. . Jumping Competitions (officers).—Lieut; J. D. M'Arthur (Southland), 1; Lieut. W. T. Jole, 2. . - - . Barrel Pier Raft Competition—No.. -1 Field Company N.Z. Engineers (Christchurch), 1; No.. 2 Company (Dunedm),, 2; No. 3 Companv (Auckland), 3. • . -.Building 'Field' Observatory—No;:;. 1Field Company (Christchurch), 1; No. 3 Companv (Auckland), 2; No. 4 Company (Wellington) and No. 2- Company (Duneclin)', equal,- 3. /:.,'■ ■ il;■';■■_ '■--' , • ' Semaphore Signalling.-H.M.S. Torch,, 1; No. 3 Field Company, 2. Hor=.3 Signalling—No. 3 Field Companv, lj.Auoklatid Infantry.Company, 2.