HISTORIC TROPHY

Hokitika Guardian, 17 February 1928, Page 1

HISTORIC TROPHY

AUSTRALIAN TEAMS TO SHOOT* AT TK EXTHAAI. AY ELLINGTON. Fell. 15. AYlien the South African war came to a close in 1902 the First Battalion of the Gordon Highlanders presented a handsome' trophy to the Australian and New Zealand military forces in recognition of their associations together during the campaign. The trophy is of solid stiver and represents a typical scene on the African veldt with a New Zealander standing beside his charger conversing with a private of the Gordon Highlanders. It was allocated for competition among Commonwealth and Dominion riflemen, and . next week it will he competed for at Trentham by teams representative of New South Wales, Victoria, and New Zealand, this being the second occasion on which the competition to I decide the holders of the cup has been decided in this country. The conditions of the gift are that the trophy has to tie fired for in the Australian States. Tasmania and in New Zealand in rotation, irrespective of who the holders might he anil that teams of eight fire ten shots at a 21in circular targets, three seconds exposure for each shot. The trophy was first competed for in 1906, when the New South AVales team were the winners. It was won at Rand wick by New Zealand in 1909, and the Dominion repeated their success at Trentham the following yeat. In 1919 the Victorians were V*e "*m-

tiers, the trophy being competed for at Perth that year. The present holders are the Western Australian team, who won the trophy on the Liverpool Range, near Sydney, in October last. Oil the trophy is engraved the following: “Presented to the Military Forces of the Commonwealth of Australia and the Military Forces of New Zealand by the First Battalion of the Gordon Highlanders in commemoration of their services together in South Africa, 18(19-1900-1901-1902.”