THE OTAGO HUSSARS.

Evening Star, Issue 10767, 31 October 1898, Page 1

THE OTAGO HUSSARS.

The cavalry tournament of the Otago Hussars, which is always held in connection with their annual training, came off at the camp, Tahuna Park, on Saturday. The weather was distinctly unfavorable, for a bitterly cold wind swept the ground all the afternoon, and was accompanied by rain showers after four o'clock. The attendance was very good, and there must have been about 1,500 present, ladies predominating. Lieutenant - colonel Webb was there, ana a number of officers of local volunteer companies could be noticed among the spectators. The various events were watched with great interest, particularly the special display by the squadron, and the manner in which Major Robin handled the company drew expressions of admiration from all present. The display consisted of a short series of squadron, movements, including massing of squadron, dismounted men forming in squares enclosing the horses and protecting them with heavy fire, squadron forming the double ride breaking to the flank by troops, and the same double ride by separate troops, followed by a circular ride by troops; filing off and performing a grand spiral*at a gallop, afterwards reforming. The competitions were well contested, and the results are given below. The Garrison and Industrial School Bands were in attendance, and played selections during the afternoon. Results : Cutting the Lemon (open to all members enrolled since June, 1897).— Trooper Kamsay 1, Trooper Kirkland 2, Trooper Ellis 3. Also competed: Troopers Applegarth, Johnstone, Shand, Helmore, Allen, Currie. W. Thomson, J B. Thomson, Richards, and WelLman. Ramsay and Kirkland each made three points, but the former did the work in better style. Ellis and Currie ran off for third place, when the former won on account of pace. Heads and Posts; v"Jr suill g practice, cuts and points; points made at rings 5m in diameter • rings to be taken, and then dropped off sword—Corporal Landels 1, Trooper Moreland 2, Trooper Orbell 3, Sergeant Freeman 4. jne other competitors were: Sergeant-major Orbell Sergeants Templeton and Hazlett, Corporals Findlay and Muir, Troopers M'Kegs, Hazlett, Gou'rlev. Hastic. J. B. Thomson Townsend, and Ellison. In the first round Corporal Landels made 7 points—the maximum number. Moreland, who was placed second, scored 3 points. Trooper Orbell, Sergeant Freeman, and Corporal Findlay tied, and in the run off Orbell took third and Freeman fourth place. Night Alarm in Bivouac. Sections of four men. Horses picketed at one end of park. Midway are laid saddles, bridles, jackets, caps, belts, arms, etc., and men lying beside them with heads on saddles. Alarm sounds; men jump up. and either dress and carry gear to horse or bring horse to gear. Form section; No. 3 to mount: Nos. 1, 2, and 4 keeping one yard apart; double up to finishing point; kneel and fire a volley; No. 3 to bring unhorses ; after firing volley all mount; then each section to advance.straight to its front; complete section to be formed before moving off. —Corporal Muir's Reef.ion 1. Corporal Landels s section 2, Sergeant Freeman's section 3, Sergeant Hazlett's section 4. Five other sections competed. Sergeant-major Orbell's section was second in point of time, but llic men failed to gain a place, as they had in their haste neglected to fasten up properly all their equipments. _ , . n Lloyd Lindsay.—Sergeant Templeton, Corporal Muir, Trooper Orbell, and Trooper Black, 1 ; Corporal Landels, Troopers Hazlett Gourley, and Trumpeter Allen, 2; Sergeant Freeman, Corporal Findlay, Troopers Currie and Wellman, 3. Also competed: Sergeant Hazlett. Corporal Grieve, Troopers M'Kegg and Moreland. The competition included three jumps, and at the two firing points No. 3 of each section led the horses around a flag fifty yards away. The contest was an interesting one, and the wining team performed their task in the smart time of 3min 29sec. The horses of the teams were kept well in hand, which showed that they had been well trained, and the jumps were clean and well taken. Corporal Landels's team ran the winners very close. The Victoria Cross competition was struck out owing to the unfavorable weather. COMPETITIONS DURING THE WEEK. Best Trained Horse.—Sergeant Templeton 1, Corporal Findlay 2, Sergeant Freeman 3, Corporal Muir 4. -.j Best Turn-out: Man, horse, umform, and gear.—Trooper Morice 1, Trooper Gourley Z, Trooper M'Kegg 3, Trooper Orbell *• Best-kept Tent.-Troopers Miller, Moreland, Kirkland, and Shand 1. The whole troop comBadges, for ten best swordsmen.Sereeanta Freeman, Templeton, Corporate Findlay, Grieve, Fox, Troopers Gourley, Morice; Ellison, J. B. Thomson, and Ellis. Champion Challenge Shield.—Sergeant Templeton (20 points) 1, Sergeant Freeman and Corporal Findlay (19 points each) 2, Corporal Muir (17 points) 4. The company struck camp yesterday afternoon, and the troops rode at once to their re- : spective homes, tne Taieri and Waikou»i(j > contingents riding put to those places.