MILITARY TOURNAMENT

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 224, 4 January 1911, Page 3

MILITARY TOURNAMENT

XORTII TAIiAXAKI MOUNTED RIFLES i ??® Xorth Tavanala Mounted Rifles field the corps' annual tournament on Monday on tlie AA'aitara sports ground. The weather, which threatened in the morning, kindly held up ami the events weie deelded without disappointment. 1 he corps is an unusually good one, well olhcered, well mounted, and possessing a splendid "esprit de corps" tlmt may yet lift it into prominence.' The entries weie too few, and the horses consequently were overworked. There was a lack of precision in getting tlie events oil, but this was entirely due to the fact that horses are not made of cabt iron with rivettcd boilers. If the entries had been larger the events would have been got oil move smartly, The corps was exceedingly lucky in obtaining the services of Captain C. P. Rogers (12th Lancers), who had with him Messrs W. Birdling and AA 7 . p. Birdling. Quarter-master-Sergeant E. A. Hawkins (late hrst Contingent. Mr. If. M, L un( ] managed the secretarial duties wit]) ,S»arkd aplomb, and Battalion Major Lister look- tlie timtf. A notable loiutirp of the touniahient was the work of a small party of mounted cadets of the only mounted cadet corps in Xtv Zealand (Captain James Mitchell's). Results:—

Tent-peggmg -R. W . Richardson (Mounted Cadets)- 1, Corp. Old (Taranaki Mounted Rides)- 2, Sergeant Kempsal) (late Eighth Contingent) 3. ' , J hl ' e f I!lK ' c '—Trooper J. Jones ( Mounted Cadets) 1,-Trooper 11. W. Kennedy 2, Trooper R. P. Richardson (Mounted Cadets) 37"

AA rest ling on Horseback—Trooper P. L. Old 1, Corporal AA r . P. Terrell 2. This event provided immense merriment, and was splendidly contested.

Lloyd-Lindsay Competition (for Capt. Ilaseler s shield) —Sergt.-Ma jor Jennins' section of four 1, Sergt. Hine's section 2. An exciting contest, in which the winning section 'of four did perfect work. Ihe winning four jumped like one horse, and was under splendid control. Cockade Fight—Trooper Hansen 1, Seigi: Kempsal) 2. This provided great interest-, but in a sword fight pliable feathers should not be used, as the public weary of the troopers' endeavor to defeather tho. other fellow. The public was highly interested in this.

Tent Pitching and »Stri'king--A sipiad of men from the Waitara Infantry Territorials annexed this. Tlie work of both teams (the other was from the Mounted Rifles) was very poor. Sa\ing the Gun—Corp. Terrell's section of four I, Captain Mitchell's section of cadets 2. This was the most spectacular event of the sports, and was hugely enjoyed. The '•'enemy" (detailed from the nearest infantry company)- fired too late. Their work would have been useless in actual conllict.

Costume Race —Trooper Lye ], Trooper Graham 2. An amusing gallop in <n-o-tesque attire, occasioning much laughter. Xight Alarm Trooper Lindsay l", Trooper J. Bayly 2. There was keenness in getting off the mark but some rasrged work in getting ready to put up a good fight. *

Victoria Cross Race—Trooper Bavly 1. Trooper Richardson (Cadets) 2. There were several heats in this event, ami it was liard luck for the boy Richardson, who liad the smartest pony on the ground. Richardson, failed to pick his "dummy' up in time. The rescue of a dummy weighing a few pounds is no test of h soldier's ability to rescue a wounded man .weighing perhaps 12 stone. But the spectacle is good.

The Waitara Military Band played remarkably well during the sports. There was ail excellent musical ride led by <Sorgf. Loncrgan (who possesses the ideal horse), and other interesting and amusing items. The corps might send at least one section of four to the Palmcrston North tournament next year.