The 1886 Annual Volunteer Match
The Regimental Orders of 17th June 1886 covered the teams selection for Wimbledon by competition and other arrangements and the usual shooting range activities.
The annual Nottinghamshire Rifle Association prize competition was announced for Wednesday, 23rd June.
The Nottingham Daily Express, Tuesday, June 22, 1886
ROBIN HOOD RIFLES
Headquarters, Nottingham Castle, 17th June 1886
REGIMENTAL ORDERS
By Colonel Seely, M.P., Commanding.
No. 1 — Parades:–
Tuesday 22nd June, Battalion Drill under a Field Officer; fall in at Race Stand at 7.30 p.m. Undress uniform, leggings to be worn.
After the 22nd June there will be no parades until further orders.
No. 2 — The selection of the team to shoot for the Belgian Cup at Wimbledon will be decided by firing 10 rounds, at 400 yards, on Saturday 19th and Saturday 25th instant, at 3.30 p.m.
The 12 highest scorers to form the team and reserve.
The 25 members going to Wimbledon ONLY allowed to compete.
The selection of the China Cup Team will be made at Wimbledon.
A practice for the Belgian Cup will take place on Saturday, July 3rd, in addition to the above dates. Surgeon Hynes will act as captain to the team.
No. 3 — Range:–
Registering Target Practice daily.
Tuesday, 22nd June, A Company Monthly Competition.
Wednesday, 23rd, Notts Rifle Association Competition.
Thursday, 24th June, C and F Company Monthly Competition.
(By Order)
P.H. DALBIAC (Captain), Adjutant, R.H.R.
The Nottingham Daily Express reported on the Nottinghamshire Rifle Association prize meeting on the Friday following. This was the twenty-sixth meeting at the Town Butts for the Volunteers sponsored by the Notts. R.A.
The weather on the day of the match was not good for shooting. There was a blustery north-west gale with very variable strength and changeable light.
Sergeant E. Dracott of the Robin Hood Rifles came out with the best score of 94 (ex 105) on the three range shoot. He collected £2 10s. in prize money and the bronze medal provided by the National Rifle Association, plus an entry into the Prince of Wales's Prize at Wimbledon.
Nottingham Daily Express, Friday, June 26, 1886.
NOTTS. RIFLE ASSOCIATION.
The twenty-sixth prize meeting of this association took place on Wednesday, at the Town Butts, when the bronze medal of the National Rifle Association, and £35 divided into twenty-five prizes for Martini-Henry rifles and eight for carbines were competed for, the conditions being as in part 1 of the first stage of the Queen's prize, 1886, viz. seven shots each at 200, 500, and 600 yards, and in the carbine competition, seven shots each at 200 and 500 yards. The weather was very unfavourable for shooting, the wind blowing a gale from the left front, and varying greatly between the shots, the light was also very changeable.
The bronze medal was won by Sergeant E. Dracott, of E Company, R.H.R., with the good score of 94 points, and he is now entitled to shoot for the Prince of Wales's prize at Wimbledon in July next. The competition was under the management of Surgeon J. O'C. Hynes, the honorary secretary, who made the necessary arrangements, and to whom the thanks of all the members are due. The following are the highest scores in order of merit, and the winners can obtain their prizes on making application to Sergeant H. Davis, Milton-street, Nottingham:–
| 200 | 500 | 600 | Total | £ | s. | d. | |
| Sgt. E. Dracott R.H.R. (and medal) | 32 | 34 | 28 | 94 | 2 | 10 | 0 |
| Pte. S.H. Hobson | 31 | 30 | 31 | 92 | 2 | 10 | 0 |
| Staff-Sgt W Jerram | 30 | 29 | 32 | 91 | 1 | 16 | 8 |
| Pte. A. Sibert | 33 | 30 | 28 | 91 | 1 | 16 | 8 |
| Cpl. T. Loach | 32 | 31 | 28 | 91 | 1 | 16 | 8 |
| Sgt. H. Davies | 28 | 29 | 32 | 89 | 1 | 10 | 0 |
| Cpl. H. Browne | 32 | 27 | 28 | 87 | 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Pte. E. Wilson | 29 | 30 | 28 | 87 | 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Sgt. W. Comery | 31 | 27 | 28 | 86 | 1 | 2 | 6 |
| Pte. W.P. Groves | 30 | 29 | 27 | 86 | 1 | 2 | 6 |
| Pte. J. Leavesley | 29 | 33 | 24 | 86 | 1 | 2 | 6 |
| Pte. M. Freestone | 31 | 34 | 21 | 86 | 1 | 2 | 6 |
| Pte. W. Miller | 30 | 31 | 23 | 84 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Sgt. W.H. Aldam | 30 | 24 | 29 | 83 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Pte. W. Ashby | 29 | 28 | 26 | 83 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Sgt. St. Leo Smith | 28 | 28 | 26 | 82 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Sgt. A.J. Moore | 29 | 24 | 29 | 82 | 0 | 15 | 0 |
| Sgn-Majr. T. Wright | 28 | 25 | 27 | 80 | 0 | 15 | 0 |
| Pte. A.J. Rushton | 27 | 28 | 25 | 80 | 0 | 15 | 0 |
| Pte. H.W. Davis | 28 | 30 | 22 | 80 | 0 | 15 | 0 |
| Cpl. A. Poole | 30 | 29 | 21 | 80 | 0 | 15 | 0 |
| Sgn, J.O'C. Hynes | 31 | 30 | 19 | 80 | 0 | 15 | 0 |
| Capt. Mellish | 28 | 27 | 24 | 79 | 0 | 15 | 0 |
| Sgt. S.R. Derrick | 30 | 26 | 23 | 79 | 0 | 15 | 0 |
| Cpl. G.E. Allsopp | 30 | 23 | 25 | 78 | 0 | 7 | 6 |
| Sgt. Bradbury | 28 | 26 | 24 | 78 | 0 | 7 | 6 |
YEOMANRY CAVALRY COMPETITION
| 200 | 500 | Total | £ | s. | d. | |
| Rgtl. Sgt.-Major Barnaby | 28 | 29 | 57 | 1 | 2 | 6 |
| Cpl. Noon | 31 | 26 | 57 | 1 | 2 | 6 |
| Sgt.-Major Bayley | 27 | 26 | 53 | 0 | 15 | 6 |
| Sgt. Bradbury | 30 | 23 | 53 | 0 | 10 | 0 |
| Cpl. Allcock | 27 | 22 | 49 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| Sgt. Morris | 28 | 21 | 49 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| Sgt.-Major Adams | 24 | 24 | 48 | 0 | 7 | 6 |
| Sgt. Slater | 26 | 21 | 47 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
Transcript from the Nottinghamshire Guardian 19 June 1868
British Library Newspaper Archive