VOLUNTEER COMPETITION.

Gisborne Times, Volume X, Issue 1043, 10 November 1903, Page 2

VOLUNTEER COMPETITION.

THE COLEMAN SHIELD.

GISBORNE LOW DOWN ON LIST,

(Per Press Association.) Napier, last night. The Coleman Shield shooting compofi. tion for the various corps of the East Coast Volunteer District took place at Waipawa to-day, Eleven teams competed, representing the East Coast Mounted Rifles from Gisborne, Pahiatua Mounted Rifles and Woodville Rifles from the Bush districts, the Hurumua Mounted Rifles from Wairoa, the Waipawa Rifles, and all the Hastings and Napier corps. The weather in the morning was drizzling and rather hazy, but cleared later in the day. The shooting, in spite of the adverse weather, showed a marked improvement upon any previous competition, the first four corps all boating the winning total of last year, which was 108 behind the winning aggregate. This year the East Coast Mounted Rifles unfortunately arrived on the ground after the first round had been completed, and had to fire immediately after coming from a steamer and train journey, so that under the circumstances their display was a creditable one. The Napier Guards topped the aggregates at each range, and beat their nearest opponents by 41 points. Capt. Nelson, of the Woodville Rifles, a New Zealand ex champion rifle shot, is the winner of the champion belt for the year, as being the highest scorer in tbe competition, and Sergeant McCardle. of the Pahiatua Mounted Rifles, ■ holds the Bolton Cup for the year for the highest scorer in the mounted rifle corps. The following are tbe positions of the corps :

Napier Guards 1017 Napier Rifles 076 Woodville Rifles 972 Hastings Rifles 961 Hawke’s Bay Mount. Rifles 908 Rahiatua Mounted Rifles... Sod Waipawa Rifles ... . 886 Ranfuriy Rifles ... 816 HutUiana Mounted Rifles 814 East Coast Sloufltsfl Rifles 734