MILITARY TOURNAMENT.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 263, 15 November 1901, Page 3

MILITARY TOURNAMENT.

EAST COAST MOUNTED KII’LES.

j The annual military tournament under j the auspices of the East Coast Mounted i Lilies took place in the Lark yesterday | afternoon. The morning broke fine, a I lovely dav, but soon after noon heavy ! clouds gathered, a heavy shower of hail I fell, and later on there were light showers I which, while not preventing the carrying ! out of the programme, had the effect of material] v lessening the number of those who would otherwise be present. However, all things considered the attendance might be classed as good. The ladies were in strong force, and took keen interest in the proceedings. The programme was a capital one, and the events were well contested, some of them being very exciting. Though the ground was apt to .be- slippery after the rain, there were no accidents to mar the afternoon s sport. Trooper Harold Bright nad a narrow escape from injury, his horse falling with him at a hurdle : there were a few moments suspense as horse and rider toppled over, but it was soon relieved by a hearty cheer as the popular young trooper quickly regained an upright position, and bv his manner showed that he was not injured. The judges were Major McCredie, Captain Winter, and ’ Messrs J. Macfarlane, Elliot, and Charles ‘

Evans, Lieuts. Colebourne and Miller, and other members of the executive giving c-very assistance- in the carrying out of the programme. The secretary was SergeantMajor A. G. Bc-ere. who had everything splendidly organised, and excellently fulfilled the multifarious duties of the office. Sergeant-Major Beere had taken up the duties because the secretary, Quarter-master-Sergeant Evans, was unavoidably absent from the district. The City Band, under Bandmaster Morrison, was present, and added greatly to the afternoon’s enjoyment by the excellent music supplied. The results were : Jumping by Sections. Corporal Hamilton’s section, including Troopers Mclntyre, Beere, and Farrier Barker, 214 points ... 1 Lieutenant Hutchinson'sseetion: Troopers Hira Akurangi, E. Richardson, and W. L. Oates, 209 points ... ... 2 Corporal Zachariah’s section : Troopers Sheet, Bright, and A. D. Sherrill, 202

points ... ... ••• •: The work was all good, that of the win ning section especially being well done.

Lemon Cutting. Captain Winter ... ... 1 Trooper Beere 2 There were four other competitors, but Captain Winter showed the practised hand, and in fine style sliced five out of six lemons.

Cutting Turk’s Head. Trooper Hira Akurangi ... I Trooper Waka Maaka ... 1 The Natives were declared to have made a tie of it after a very entertaining contest. Lloyd-Lindsay Match. Lieutenant Hutchison's, including Troopers Hira Akurangi, \V. L. (lutes, and E. Richardson, 100 points ... ... ... J Corporal Hamilton's, Troopers McIntyre, Beere, and Parker, 102 (joints ... ... ... 2 Corporal Zachariah’s, Troopers Steet, Deere, Sheriff, ‘Jet points ... o

Three sections competed. As the Parker brothers were unable to attend the section under Sergeant Morrison was unable to take part in the contest. The points (20 being the maximum) were made up as follows : Winning team : Dressing, 20 ; jumping. IS ; riding, IS ; voile.,'s, 16 ; words of" command, 10 : time, plus 2 points ; general efficiency, 10 ; total, 106. Corporal Hamilton's section : 16, 11, 16, IS, 10, 0, 10—102. Corporal Zachariah’s section : IS, 10, 10, 10, 14, 2, 16 OS. Captain Winter, in announcing the decision, said that it was evident that the competitors had not had sufficient practice ; the men should have tried to get practice under someone who knew how the movements should be done.

Novel Race. Trooper R. -J. Witers... ... 1 Trooper Bright ... ... - Bugler Sherrift' ... ... i> Corporal llauiilton ... ... -1 Competitors had to walk and lead horses one third of distance, mount and trot onethird, and gallop home, taking three hurdles in course; the walking to bo to the satisfaction of the judges. When it came to the mount and trot, Trooper li. J. Witters gained a substantial lead, so much so that when he reached the stage at which galloping was allowed, ho was able to content himself with a pleasant canter, his handsome black steed taking the jumps beautifully. He was warmly warmly applauded on reaching tho winning post. Tug of War.

Makauri to am (Sergeant Morrison, Witters (2), Higgs, and two others ... 1 The day being cold was just suited to a lively tussle of the kind, and tho contests proved very exciting, it taking the ofticers all their time to prevent enthusiasts leaving the ranks of spectators to give a tug for whichever side they favored. After a fierce pull, the returned troopers were hauled over the dividing line, and then began a great struggle for supremacy between Town and Makauri. “Go,” shouted Captain Winter : taut went the line, and for seconds, beyond a slight sway to either side, there was no appreciable advantage. Louder shouted the barrackers, and there were discordant cries when tho stalwart men from Makauri gained an inch. The Maoris especially were bubbling over with enthusiasm, and one excited spectator who kept lashing up the competitors with hi- soft felt hat required an officer to himself to keep him from taking a hand. At last the Town began to yield, and then with a triumphant shout and cheers from the spectators, Makauri got the upperhand. and the team were proclaimed the victors. Gretna Green Race. Corporal Zachariah and Trooper Skeet 1 Sergeant Morrison and Trooper McCullough ••• 'd This race was watched with great interest, tho “ ladies ” not showing uniformity in their costumes, hut all being decidedly expert with the horses. The costumes were mainly of the striking type of colors, but that of Trooper Gates, as a Red Cross nurse, was. without jocularity, a decidedly elegant costume. The jumping and handling of the horses were splendid, and very fast time was being recorded by Bugler Sherritl and Trooper Bright; they had safely negotiated the jumps at full speed, and slowed down when halfway through, in the belief that the race was over; bearing the shout to go on, they set off again at = top speed, hut'the horses had hardly got into full swing when the hurdle had to be cleared. Sherrifi's horse cleared it beautifully, hut Bright’s horse caught the top of the hurdle and then crashed into it. knocking portions of it to fragments. Horse and rider came down what looked like a very had cropper, and for a moment there was a painful suspense, He's killed ! ” was the whispering that could bo heard on the stand, and tho next pair of horses were pulled to the side of 1 the hurdle and jumped clear of the wrreckage. Then as Trooper Bright got up, there was hearty cheering from _ the stand, and soon it was evident that he had sustained no injury. The contest continuing, Troopers Mclntyre and Davidson appeared to have the best of it, but they were outclassed through the “ lady” having too much of the “reformed” costume, and not sufficient of the old stvle. After a grand run Corporal Zachariah and Trooper Skect were adjudged the winners, with the Makauri representatives next. Trooper Oates gained the prize for the best lady’s dress. Six-furlong Race.

Avalanche (Trooper Hamilton) ... 1 Screw Jack (Bugler Sherrill") ... 2 Screuader (Trooper Bennett) ... 3 The minimum weight was 12 stone. Hamilton got away with the lead from a good start, and won easily, though the race was an interesting one from start to finish.

Band Race. Bandsman Vosper 1 Bandsman Pettie 2 The race, which took place _ during a slower, was a fast go, but it seeded

hardly fair that the big drummer (Baudsman Adair having usurped that position), had to start from the same line as the man with a light instrument; still, each man had to play the instrument as he ran. Victoria Cross Race. Bugler Sherriff ... _ 1 Returned Trooper McKinley 2 The race was run in heats. Bugler Sherrill had the great advantage that he I was able to pick up the dummy withoutdismounting from his horse. The second heat was won bv McKinley, but in the final Sherriff had a substantial lead. Sergt. Langham, D.S.M., had a horse that was hard to manage, and the animal boited the wrong way round the course. Pursuit of De Wet Race. ■■ De Wet” 1 Lieutenant Hutchinson was by lot chosen as " De Wet,' and having a fresh horse he was at considerable advantage over the others, who had to follow the course chosen by f him. He went round the racecourse twice, clearing the hurdles, fence, water jump, and sod wall each time round. Corporal Zachariah rapidly gained on the pursued one, but at the back of the course his horse ran round the hurdle, and though later on the pursuer was able to pass " De Wet,” and could beat him at I the jumps, it had no effect, and when the time allowance was up, " De Wet” was still able to elude his would-be captors.