MILITARY SPORTS.

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 9274, 21 April 1891, Page 1 (Supplement)

MILITARY SPORTS.

The Heretaunga Mounted Infantry held their annual military tournament at Newtown Park on Saturday afternoon in the presence of about 1200 spectators. Tbo weather was fine, but a strong northerly wind blew across the ground, which made matters rather unpleasant for the visitors. Most of the competitions proved rather interesting, although the entries were not large. Three teams competed in the bayonet exercise?, and each of them did their work well, the judge having some difficulty in awarding the first prize. The sword exero bo competition was very keenly contested, the judge awarding an equal number of points to the two competing squads. The horse-jumping contest, for which a largo number entered, waa the moat interesting competition of the day, from a spectator's point of view. Tho prize waa eventually carried off by Mr Crawford’s Wi Parata, which was well ridden by “ Dick Roako." The Horetaunga Mounted Infantry appeared to advantage in several displays during tho afternoon, notably tho ** musical ride,” in which about thirty members of the corps performed a series of evolutions very creditably indeed. Four members of the corps—Corporals Silva, Compton, Pringle, and Private Thomson—showed the control they had over their horses by making them lie down while they fired over their bodies. This feat was laudiy applauded by the spectators. Tho intervals between the various events was filled in very pleasantly by tho Garrison Band, under Bandmaster Herd, and the newly.formed Bugle Band also performed several selections. Tho officers in connection with tho sports were:—Stewards, Captain G. W. Loveday, Lieutenants J. Primdo and T. M, Wilford, SergeantMajor Crespin, Sergeants 0. Gopolaud andl Q. Pringle ; Treasurer, Sergeant J. Haacox ; Secretary, Quartermaster-Sergeant Ram*den ; Judges—Tilting at the ring, Mr C. Y. O’Connor ; horse jumping, Mosers Lingard, Ward, and Elkiugton ; bayonet and sword exorcise, Captain W. Barclay; gun wheel race, Lieutenant J, Pringle. Following ara the results:—

Tilting at the Ring ; prizes, £3 and £1. — Corporal Silva, 1; Corporal Welch, 2; Private Onncan, 3. Eleven competed. Only members of the Mounted Infantry took part in the conmetidon.

Sword Exercise (open]to eqoads of G from any corps) j prize, a trophy.—The Hera, taunga Mounted Infantry and D Battery teams, which were the only competitors, tied fir this event, the judge (Captain Bar. olay) awarding each team 160 points. The points were made up as follow : —Dressing; Mounter! Infontry 10, Artillery 10; time. Mounted Infantry 40, Artillery 45; clean movements, Mounted Infantry 15, Artillery 10 ; general soldierlike qualities, Mounted Infantry 50, Artillery 45 ; result of inspeo. lion, Mounted Infantry 45, Artillery 50. The teams were as follow D Battery, Captain Moorhouse (in charge), SergeantMajor Robinson, Sergeants Kuohen and Jeffrey, Corporals Carter and Pilcher, Bombardier Howe ; Heretannga Mounted Infantry, Sergeant-Major Crespin (in charge'. Sergeants Copeland, nanoox, J. Pringle, Coaporala Tacfcer, Silva, and W. Pringle, the judge. Bayonet Exercise for squads of 12 men ; prize, silver cap value, £ls.lss.—City Rifles (Sergeant-Major Davis), 135 points, 1 ; Wellington Rifles (Color-Sergeant Oakley), 1.2 S points, 2; Wellington Naval Artillery (P.O. Armstrong), 122 points, 3. Those were the only competitors. The points were awarded as follows Dressing—City Rifles, 10; Wellington Rifles, 10 ; Navals, 7-_ Time—City Rifles. 10 ; Wellington Riflss, 0; N avals, 9. Clean movements— City Rifles, 25 ; Wellington Rifles. 25 Navals, 21. General soldierlike qualities— City Rifles, 40; Wei ington Rifles, 40; Navals, 40. Inspection—City Rifles, 50 ; Wellington Rifles, 44 ; Navals, 45. The winning team consisted of Sergeant-Major Davis (in charge). Corporals Harris and Guise, Lance-Corporal Rankin, Privates Heard, B. Alpine, R. Alpine, Madden. Robertson. Robinson, Vincent, Carpenter, and Aydon.

dun Wheel Race, 120yds ; prizes, £2, £l. —bombardier Howe, D. Battery, 1. Sergeants Kuchen and Pethetiok (0. Battery), ann P.O. Race {X aval Artillery) also competed, Kuchen had a good lead and looked like winning, when one of the other competitors ran bia wheel against him. Kuchen came down, and others fell over him. Res me b’ace, for members of carps.— Private Thomson, I ; Sergt.-Major Crespin, 2. Twelve competed. This proved rather on interesting event. The competitors had to ride about 200yds and rescue a *‘dummy” soldier under fire of a supposed enemy, who were in ambush.

Horse Jumping Contest; over five jumps ; prizes, £lO, £2, and £l—ilr H. D Crawford’s Wi Parata, 1 ; Hr Maddox’s Harkaway, 2; .Mbs Willis’ Kotin", 3. Thera were IS competitors. Both the first and second horses were ridden by “ Diolc Roake,” the well known huntsman, and Mr B. M. Jackson had* the mount on the third horse.