Bisley and the Coronation 1902
The 1902 Bisley Meeting was held shortly before the coronation of King Edward VII and the programme published in May included a special series of prizes to mark the occasion.
Nottingham Evening Post, Friday, 9th May 1902
The final programme for the Bisley Meeting was passed yesterday, and will be issued next week. The King's Prize will consist of 600 cash prizes, amounting to a sum of £2,420; and the St. George's, 285 prizes, aggregating £950. These prizes are of the usual value; but the special donations to mark the Coronation year have been arranged in a series of prizes, as follows:–
CORONATION PRIZE.
First Prize – Sir Henry Fletcher's Trophy, value 50 guineas, and £100. Highest scorer in the Navy and Marines:*ndash; Buchanan Cup, value 25 guineas. Highest scorer in the Army and Militia:' Buchanan Cup, value 25 guineas. Highest scorer in the Volunteers:– Gale and Polden Cup, value 25 guineas. Highest scorer among Civilians:– Daily Express Cup, value 25 guineas. Highest scorer from the Colonies:– London and Ryder Cup, value 25 guineas. Highest Naval or Military scorer in Reserves or Retired:– Captain Barlow's watch, value 25 guineas. Highest Retired Volunteer scorer:– Captain Barlow's watch, value 25 guineas. Cash Prizes:– 161, of &[pound;822 value.
All cups in the Coronation Championships are to be won outright, and the total value of the competition is £1,072, or next in value to the King's. £526 of the money prizes is contributed by the London Stock Exchange. The distances are 200, 500, and 600 yards, seven shots at each distance.
By the end of June, the National Rifle Association was reporting a substantial increase in entries over the prior year, with particular interest in the Coronation Prizes.
Nottingham Evening Post, Monday, 30th Jun 1902
It is stated by the National Rifle Association that, beside the substantial increase in competitors for the King's Prize for the approaching Bisley Meeting, there is a corresponding increase of entries for all competitions with the Service Rifle, both for volunteers and all comers. For the special Coronation Prizes there are already nearly 1,500 competitors. For the Alexandra the entries promise a total approaching 200 more than last year, and the present increases in the aggregates are:&ndash All Comers, 145; Volunteers, 30; and Grand, 121. In every respect, there is ample promise of a very successful Rifle Meeting.
Transcripts from Nottingham Evening Post 09/05/1902 and 30/06/1902
British Library Newspaper Archive