The 31st Annual Volunteer Match at Collingham
Eight months after the closure of the Nottingham Butts, with a new range not yet settled, the 31st Annual Volunteer Match sponsored by the Nottinghamshire Rifle Association was held at Collingham range north of Newark. Unfortunately the date clashed with the Whit–Monday holiday and a field day for the men of the North Notts. volunteers and the attendance was much reduced.
The match was held in reasonable conditions with firing at 200 and 600 yards with seven to count at each range. Corporal A. Sibert made the top score of 59 out of 70 and won the first prize of £3 and the bronze medal of the National Rifle Association, which entitled him to take part in the Prince of Wales's Prize at Bisley later on in the summer.
ANNUAL COMPETITIONS.
The thirty-first prize meeting of the Notts. Rifle Association for prizes of the value of £33 10s. and the bronze medals of the National Rifle Association, took place recently at Collingham Butts, the use of which had been considerately granted by Major Woolley commanding the Collingham Company of the 2nd Notts. V.B. Sherwood Foresters Derbyshire Regiment. With the exception of one year, when the meeting was held at Newark, and did not prove particularly successful, the annual competitions under the auspices of the Notts. Rifle Association have taken place at Nottingham, but the closing of the range near Coppice-road caused an alteration in the venue this year, and necessitated the shooting taking place upon a holiday. It is to be feared that this arrangement interfered somewhat with the numbers attending, and as the fixture clashed with a field day of the North Notts. men, two of the best shots in the county, Capt. Mellish and Capt. Edge, were unable to be present. Sergeants Carder and Poole, of the Robin Hoods, were notable absentees from among the Robin Hood members of the association.
The weather was cold with a variable wind, and a changeable light in the morning, but luckily there was no rain, and some fairly good shooting was done. The range officer was Captain Cuckson, Quartermaster of the Robin Hood Rifles, and admirable arrangements had been made under the direction of Major Woolley for the carrying out of the competitions. The highest score made in the principal event was 59 out of a possible 70, by Corporal A. Sibert, R.H.R., secretary of the regimental shooting committee, who thereby wins the N.R.A. bronze medal and £3, and is entitled to compete for the Prince of Wales's Prize at Bisley 1891. The ranges were 200 and 600 yards, seven shots at each with two sighting shots; position as far as the Queen's Prize, part 1, 1st stage 1890, two sighting shots allowed. The following were the highest scores:-
| Rank and name | 200 | 600 | Total | Prize | ||
| Corporal A. Sibert, R.H.R. | 31 | 28 | 59 | Bronze medal & £3 | ||
| £ | s | d | ||||
| Corpl. J. Leavesley, R.H.R. | 30 | 28 | 58 | 2 | 2 | 6 |
| Sergt. St. Leo Smith, R.H.R. | 30 | 28 | 58 | 2 | 2 | 6 |
| Corporal W. Ashby, R.H.R. | 28 | 29 | 57 | 1 | 10 | 0 |
| Corpl. H.W. Davies, R.H.R. | 30 | 24 | 54 | 1 | 10 | 0 |
| Corpl. J.W. Smith, R.H.R. | 26 | 27 | 53 | 1 | 8 | 4 |
| Sergt. J.H. Ashworth, R.H.R. | 29 | 24 | 53 | 1 | 8 | 4 |
| Sergt. Broadbury, 2nd Notts. | 30 | 23 | 53 | 1 | 8 | 4 |
| Sergt. C. Woods, 2nd Notts. | 22 | 28 | 50 | 1 | 5 | 0 |
| Private E. Wilson, R.H.R. | 23 | 27 | 50 | 1 | 5 | 0 |
| Private A. Davies, R.H.R. | 24 | 26 | 50 | 1 | 5 | 0 |
| Sergt. T. Harris, R.H.R. | 24 | 26 | 50 | 1 | 5 | 0 |
| Sergt. F. Warsop, R.H.R. | 22 | 27 | 49 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Private E. Marriott, R.H.R. | 29 | 20 | 49 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Sergt. W. Comery, R.H.R. | 29 | 20 | 49 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Corpl. H. Clayton, 2nd Notts. | 24 | 24 | 48 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Private S. Spencer, 2nd Notts. | 24 | 24 | 48 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Capt. A.W. Brewill, R.H.R. | 25 | 23 | 48 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Lieut. Turner Lee, R.H.R. | 22 | 25 | 47 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Col.-Sergt. H. Davis, R.H.R. | 24 | 23 | 47 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Capt. E.A. Cuckson, R.H.R. | 27 | 19 | 46 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Q.-M.-Sergt. W. Jerram, R.H.R. | 28 | 18 | 46 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Private J. Woolley, R.H.R. | 29 | 17 | 46 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Corpl. J. Jago, R.H.R. | 29 | 19 | 45 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 200 | 600 | Total | Prize | |
| Private J. Woolley, R.H.R. | 29 | 17 | 46 | 15s. |
| Private W. Bailey, 2nd Notts. | 22 | 23 | 45 | 10s. |
| Private Wallhead, 2nd Notts. | 21 | 20 | 41 | 5s. |
| Private B. Baumfield, R.H.R. | 22 | 19 | 41 | 5s. |
| Private J. Martin, 2nd Notts. | 20 | 12 | 32 | 5s. |
Transcript from Nottingham Evening Post 25/05/1891
British Library Newspaper Archive