The 1877 Annual Volunteer Match
The format of the Seventeenth Annual Volunteer match did not follow the same pattern as previously. The match was reduced to one day's shooting on Tuesday, June 19th, over the usual three ranges and, judging from the scores recorded, allowing seven shots at each range rather than five, though this is not specifically mentioned in the report.
The intention was to make it easier for members of the Administrative Battalion to take part and have a chance of winning the bronze medal. Whether this achieved its purpose or not is not clear as no-one is listed as from the Administrative Battalion.
With only one day's shooting involved, the main prize list was settled on the aggregate scores with ties being shared rather than ranked by shooting off. After the main prize list was settled, those not winning an aggregate prize were awarded prizes for each range's score.
The Association prize for members only was decided on the scores at 200 yards and 500 yards as previously but shot concurrent with the main match. The winner was awarded a silver cup of value five guineas
Corporal S.R. Derrick, 6th R.H.R., was the winner of both the main match and the concurrent Member's match. He was awarded £10 and the NRA bronze medal, with its entitlement to enter the Prince of Wales' match at Wimbledon, plus the Members' silver cup.
The whole day having been taken up by the bronze medal competition, the Yeomanry Prizes were carried over to Wednesday, June 20th. With more time for them, the match was extended to two ranges, 200 yards and 500 yards. The winner, Sergeant Moss, was awarded a silver cup. The two runners up received £2 and £1.
Nottinghamshire Guardian, Friday, June 22, 1877,
reprinted in Volunteer Service Gazette, 4th August 1877.
NOTTS. RIFLE ASSOCIATION.
The seventeenth annual prize meeting of this Association was held on Tuesday and Wednesday last, under favourable auspices at the Nottingham Range, and proved a most successful gathering. The rules of the society have recently been carefully revised, and the present competition is the first one held under the new arrangement. Several important alterations were made by the executive, notably the introduction of aggregate prizes, and confining the competition to one day for Volunteers. This concession was made by the Council with view to induce the members of Administrative Battalion to compete in greater numbers, and so give them a better
chance of winning the bronze medal of the National Rifle Association, which up to the present time they have failed to do. Among the visitors to the ground we noticed Colonel Seely, the popular commander of the Robin Hoods, Adjutant White, Captain Hodgkinson, etc.
The arrangements for the competition were carefully and energetically carried out by the hon. secretary of the association, and altogether the meeting may be pronounced a great success, in fact, the brilliant scores made far exceeds anything yet experienced in its annals. One hundred and thirty pounds was the total amount of prizes offered, and the principal winner is Corporal Derrick, a young and steady rising shot, who takes £10, the bronze medal, and a member's cup, value £5 5s.
The Lord Lieutenant of the county (Lord Belper) continues to be the permanent president of the association, and he is supported by a long line of noblemen and gentlemen as vice presidents and subscribers. The Council consist of some of the leading Volunteers in both battalions.
The following are the names of the winners, with the value of their prizes:–
AGGREGATE PRIZES — Bronze Medal Competition.
| 200 | 500 | 600 | Ttl | £ | |
| Corporal S. R. Derrick. 6th R H.R. | 31 | 33 | 26 | 90 | £10 and NRA medal |
| Sergeant H. Davis, 3rd R.H.R. | 29 | 32 | 28 | 89 | £8 |
| Sergeant G. carder, 9th R.H.R. | 30 | 29 | 29 | 88 | £6 |
| Prvt. T. Templeman, 4th R.H.R. | 27 | 32 | 28 | 87 | £5 |
| Corporal T. N. Coles. 1st R.H.R. | 30 | 33 | 22 | 85 | £5 |
| Sergt. G. D. Webster, 5th R.H.R. | 26 | 31 | 27 | 84 | £4 |
| Private E. Dallas, 5th R.H.R. | 31 | 28 | 24 | 83 | £4 |
| Corporal A. Slim, 5th R.H.R. | 27 | 33 | 23 | 83 | £4 |
| Prvt. E. Wilson, 4th R.H.R. | 24 | 31 | 27 | 82 | £3 6s 8d |
| Crpl. W. Jerram. 1st R.H.R. | 27 | 30 | 25 | 82 | £3 6s 8d |
| Sgt. F. Warsop, 10th R.H.R. | 28 | 32 | 22 | 82 | £3 6s 8d |
| Private T. Mallet, 4th R.H.R. | 27 | 28 | 26 | 81 | £3 |
| Corporal H. Duckett, 4th R.H.R. | 32 | 28 | 21 | 81 | £3 |
| Corpl. T. Ashford, 5th R.H R. | 30 | 23 | 27 | 80 | £2 10s |
| Surgeon T. Wright, Staff. | 27 | 31 | 22 | 80 | £2 10s |
| Captain J. Wright, 1st R.H.R. | 25 | 31 | 23 | 79 | £2 |
| Private R. Kemp 4th R.H.R | 26 | 27 | 25 | 78 | £2 |
| Corporal W. H. Baker, 2nd R.H.R. | 29 | 29 | 20 | 78 | £2 |
| Sergt. E. Cartwright, 7th R.H.R. | 21 | 27 | 25 | 78 | £2 |
| Private W. May, 5th R.H.R. | 24 | 26 | 26 | 76 | £2 |
| Corporal R. Coupe, 9th R.H.R. | 26 | 26 | 24 | 76 | £2 |
| Private J. Roe. 9th R.H.R. | 27 | 29 | 19 | 75 | £2 |
| Prvt. St. Leo Smith, 4th R.H.R. | 26 | 20 | 28 | 74 | £1 |
| Hon. Cpl. J. Mayfield, 10th R.H.R. | 27 | 26 | 21 | 74 | £1 |
| Assistant-Surgeon J. O'C. Hynes, 10th R.H.R. | 26 | 30 | 18 | 74 | £1 |
| Col-Srgt. Cumberland, 8th R.H R. | 26 | 30 | 18 | 74 | £1 |
| Qr.-Mr.-Sgt. Cuckson, 9th R.H.R. | 24 | 25 | 25 | 73 | £1 |
| Private H. Newham, 6th R.H.R. | 29 | 28 | 16 | 73 | £1 |
| Private W. Heggs, 5th Notts. | 26 | 23 | 23 | 72 | £1 |
| Private T. Vickers, 7th R.H.R. | 25 | 25 | 22 | 72 | £1 |
| Private J. Ashforth, 3rd R.H.R. | 26 | 26 | 20 | 72 | £1 |
| Corporal E. Dracott, 5th R.H.R. | 28 | 26 | 20 | 72 | £1 |
| Corporal T. Freeman, 4th R.H.R. | 27 | 29 | 16 | 72 | £1 |
| Col.-Sgt. T. Hodgson, 5th R.H.R. | 27 | 26 | 18 | 71 | £1 |
| Private F. C. Cuckson, 9th R.H.R. | 27 | 30 | 14 | 71 | £1 |
| Corporal J. Mince, 9th R.H.R. | 23 | 21 | 26 | 70 | £1 |
| Sergeant D. Sibley, 3rd R.H.R. | 19 | 30 | 21 | 70 | £1 |
| Cpl. G. C. Liberty, 1st R.H.R. | 20 | 23 | 26 | 69 | 13s 4d |
| Colour-Sergeant W. Brookhouse, 4th R.H.R. | 25 | 26 | 18 | 69 | 13s 4d |
| Prvt. H. W. Kirk, 5th R.H.R. | 25 | 26 | 18 | 69 | 13s 4d |
RANGE PRIZES — Aggregate winners excluded.
| 200 yds. | £ | |
| Privt. F. WIddowson, 7th Notts | 31 | £1 |
| Privt. A. Atkin, 4th R.H.R. | 29 | £1 |
| W. Clayton ,5th Notts. | 28 | £1 |
| Sergt. J. Toplis, 10th R.H.R. | 27 | £1 |
| Privt. A. Curtis, 7th Notts. | 27 | £1 |
| 500 yds. | £ | |
| Privt.F. Widdowson. 7th Notts. | 28 | £1 |
| Privt. W. H. Stevenson. R.H.R. | 27 | £1 |
| Capt. G. Hodgkinson, 3rd Notts. | 27 | £1 |
| Lieut. Pratt, R.H.R. | 26 | 13s 4d |
| Privt. T. Loach, 3rd R.H.R. | 26 | 13s 4d |
| Sergt. W. Cooke, 6th R.H.R. | 26 | 13s 4d |
| 600 yds. | £ | |
| Privt.R.Brown. 5th R.H.R. | 25 | £1 |
| Sergt. J. Toplis, 10th R.H R. | 20 | £1 |
| Privt. W. B. Caunt, 2nd R.H.R. | 19 | 15s |
| Capt. W. Lambert, 5th R.H.R. | 19 | 15s |
| Privt. T. Lambert. 5th R.H.R. | 19 | 15s |
| Lieut. Brooksbauk, 3rd R.H.R. | 19 | 15s |
MEMBERS' PRIZE
A Silver Cup. value 5 guineas, given to the member of the Association making the greatest score at 200 and 500 yards in the above competition.
| 200 yds | 500 yds | Ttl. | |
| Corpl. S.R. Derrick, 6th R.H.R. (Silver cup) | 31 | 33 | 64 |
YEOMANRY PRIZES — Wednesday, June 20th.
| 200 yds | 500 yds | Ttl. | |
| Sergt. Moss, S.N.Y.C. (Silver cup) | 30 | 26 | 56 |
| Sergt. J. H. Lowe. S.N.Y.C. (£2) | 20 | 29 | 49 |
| Sergt. J. Thompson. S.N.Y.C. (£1) | 24 | 24 | 48 |
Transcript from the Nottinghamshire Guardian 22 June 1877
British Library Newspaper Archive