The Robin Hood Rifles at Trent Range in 1903
The first report from the Nottingham Evening Post covered the match for Sir Charles Seely's Challenge Shield. This was a fire with movement competition for ten man teams over three ranges.
The targets are not described so we do not know whether they were silhouette or normal targets, nor how many per team. Each team would discharge 150 rounds and it would seem that the score was the number of hits achieved.
Nottingham Evening Post, 13 April 1903
SIR CHARLES SEELY'S CHALLENGE SHIELD
The competition by members of the Robin Hood Rifles for a challenge shield and £10, presented by Sir Charles Seely, was fixed to take place to-day at the Trent Range. The shooting is by teams of 10 per company, commanded by an officer or non-commissioned officer, who were required to assemble at the Drill Hall at 10 o'clock in drill order and march to the range under a field officer. Upon arrival the teams were formed up in single rank, with one pace interval at 600 yards from the target. Each team was required afterwards to advance to the 500 yards range and fire, the targets being raised to view for five seconds and then disappearing for 15 seconds, the targets being raised five times in all. The targets were to be fired at at each appearance or the round forfeited, and not more than one round was to be fired by each member of the team at each appearance. The teams being afterwards advanced to 350 yards the same number of rounds were fired as at 500 yards, and afterwards at a distance of 200 yards, five more rounds. The weather held beautifully fine throughout the day, and the light was good, but a strong wind blew up the range. The range officers were Major Peake and Capt. Payne, and the other officers present were:- Capt. G.S. Wigley, Capt. S.A. Everitt, Capt. A.N. Lee, Capt. J.A.H. Green, Lieuts, Spalding and Hardstaff. The result of the competition was declared as follows:–
| Company | Points | Company | Points | |
| C1 | 125 | B1 | 102* | |
| A1 | 122 | E1 | 93 | B2 | 120 | H1 | 75 |
| G1 | 107 | G2 | 74 | |
| C2 | 102* | A2 | 73 | |
The Mason Long Range Competition at 800 yards had been going for some years with four matches taking place during the summer months. This year the entry was described as numerous; doubtless encouraged by the range of prizes on offer.
The first detail was at seven o'clock, which would have meant an early start from the Drill Hall in Nottingham. The second detail was firing half an hour later and the competition had not finished by four o'clock when the reporter had to send his account in to the paper.
Nottingham Evening Post, 4th May 1903
The first of a series of four long range competitions arranged in connection with the Robin Hood Rifles for £10, presented by Mr. T. Mason, and seventeen other prizes in kind subscribed by ladies and gentlemen of the city, took place at Trent Range to-day. The aggregate of the three highest scores of each competitor count for the prizes, ten shots and two sighters being allowed at 800 yards. There was a numerous entry, and though the weather was none too favourable and the conditions failed to improve as the day advanced, some extremely good scores were returned.
Sergeant-Instructor M. Watts (45), Sergeant J.H. Duckett (44), Sergeant H. Smith (40), and Corporal J.G. Briggs (40) were amongst those who went down with the first squad at seven o'clock, but shooting half an hour later Colour-Sergeant F. Wilkinson got seven of his shots on the centre, and compiled 46, a total which had not been equalled at four o'clock, when the principal scores were as follows:–
| Colour-Sergeant F. Wilkinson (B2) | 46 |
| Sergeant-Instructor M. Watts (F1) | 45 |
| Sergeant J.H. Duckett (A1) | 44 |
| Sergeant J.H. Lenton (A1) | 42 |
| Private W. Bart (J2) | 42 |
| Lieutenant J.R. Hardstaff (A2) | 42 |
| Lance-Corporal W. Harrison (B1) | 41 |
| Lance-Corporal P. Robinson (A1) | 40 |
| Sergeant H. Smith (A1) | 40 |
| Corporal J.G. Briggs (G1) | 40 |
| Sergeant J.G. Brex | 38 |
| Sergeant T.G. Sewell (C1) | 37 |
| Lance-Corporal A. Davidson (B2) | 36 |
| Private A. Hildyard (E1) | 35 |
Again it is clear that not all the shooting was being reported in the Nottingham papers as we have only the third stage of battalion aggregate competition mentioned. This took place in May and followed the King's Prize first stage format with seven shots at 200, 500, and 600 yards. The weather was not kind and reported scores out of 105 are disappointing.
Nottingham Evening Post 25th May 1903
R.H.R. BATTALION AGGREGATE
The third battalion aggregate competition arranged in connection with the Robin hood Rifles took place at Trent Range to-day. The conditions from early morning when firing began were favourable, though the wind afterwards became difficult, and there were no particularly high scores returned up to four o'clock when the principal totals were as follows:–
| 200 | 500 | 600 | Tl. | |
| Sergeant J.W. Hall (E3) | 29 | 33 | 30 | 92 |
| Lance-Corporal P. Robinson (A1) | 31 | 31 | 30 | 92 |
| Sergeant H. Smith (A1) | 33 | 32 | 27 | 92 |
| Sergeant T. Hughes (A2) | 29 | 31 | 31 | 91 |
| Colour-Sergeant J.H. Duckett (A1) | 30 | 33 | 27 | 90 |
| Sergeant J.W. Smith (B1) | 32 | 30 | 27 | 89 |
| Private E. Ball (B2) | 27 | 30 | 30 | 87 |
| Corporal F. Carnelly (B2) | 28 | 30 | 29 | 87 |
| Colour-Sergeant F. Wilkinson (B2) | 29 | 29 | 29 | 87 |
| Lance-Corporal G.W. Comery (G1) | 31 | 29 | 27 | 87 |
| Private J. Astle (B2) | 30 | 32 | 25 | 87 |
| Private W. Bart (J2) | 32 | 30 | 25 | 87 |
| Sergeant-Major J. Harris (E2) | 27 | 25 | 34 | 86 |
| Sergeant J.G. Brex (G2) | 32 | 30 | 24 | 86 |
| Sergeant T. Warsop (C1) | 31 | 26 | 28 | 85 |
| Corporal G.F. Blakeley (A1) | 28 | 30 | 27 | 85 |
| Corporal H. Smith (G2) | 28 | 30 | 27 | 85 |
| Sergeant G.F. Thompson (E1) | 30 | 30 | 25 | 85 |
This report probably refers to the second or third round of the Mason Long Range Competition, the first of which was held on 4th May (see above). Once again the results are incomplete and no follow-up report has been found giving the winning scores.
Nottingham Evening Post, 29th June 1903
LONG RANGE COMPETITION
The series of "Mason" Long Range Competitions arranged in connection with the Robin Hood Rifles was inaugurated at Trent Range this morning. Ten shots are allowed under the conditions governing the contest at 800 yards, and when firing commenced shortly after seven o'clock a strong right wind prevailed, and scoring was by no means easy. At four o'clock the principal scores were as follows:–
| Total | |
| Corporal J.G. Briggs (G1) | 45 |
| Sergeant J.W. Smith (B1) | 42 |
| Private J. Lane (B1) | 42 |
| Sergeant H. Smith (A1) | 40 |
| Corporal G. Smith (B1) | 38 |
| Corporal S. Drury (C1) | 35 |
| Private J Astle (B2) | 33 |
| Sergeant H.E. Warsop (G1) | 33 |
There has not been found any report of the Notts. Rifle Association Annual Prize Meeting usually held over the May Bank Holiday weekend; but it seems to have taken place as evidenced by this report.
Lance-Sergeant W.A. Walker had won the N.R.A. Bronze Medal at the Meeting and thereby gained an entry into the National Rifle Association Bisley Meeting. Details are given of the other members of the Robin Hood Rifles team for Bisley.
Nottingham Evening Post, 30th June 1903
The following have been selected to represent the Robin Hood Rifles at the annual prize meeting of the National Rifle Association, Lance-Sergeant W.A. Walker qualifying to attend by virtue of his success in securing the N.R.A. Bronze medal at the Notts. Rifle Association meeting, while Mr. W. Ashby, who is a retired member of the regiment, also accompanies the team:- Major J. Ashworth, Quartermaster-Sergeant W. Comery, Colour-Sergeant H. Tomkins, Colour-Sergeant F. Goodliffe, Sergeant J. Barnes, Sergeant T.E. Burrows, Sergeant J.W. Hall, Sergeant C.O. Higginbottom, Lance-Sergeant J.W. Hildyard, Corporal W.S. Lewitt, Corporal G. Smith, Lance-Corporal W. Harrison, Lance-Corporal P. Robinson, and Private J. Lane: recruit, Lance-Sergeant W.A. Walker; retired, Mr. W. Ashby.
In August the Robin Hood's held their first company shoot at Trent. This was a handicap shoot over two ranges, 200 and 500, with seven shots to count at each range.
G Company took the field on this occasion. No other reports have come to light for the other companies of the R.H.R..
Nottingham Evening Post, 18th August 1903
G COMPANY, 1ST BATTALION, R.H.R.
The first company shoot took place in good weather on the Trent Range, and resulted as follows:–
| Hcp. | 200 | 500 | Tl. | |
| Capt. P.M. Payne | - | 32 | 34 | 66 |
| Private A.E. Whitworth | 2 | 29 | 34 | 65 |
| Colour-Sergeant H. Tomkins | - | 30 | 34 | 64 |
| Lance-Corporal G.W. Comery | - | 32 | 31 | 63 |
| Private J.A. Cooper | 15 | 25 | 23 | 63 |
| Private W.H. Smith | 3 | 29 | 30 | 62 |
| Sergeant J.G. Gillott | - | 30 | 31 | 61 |
| Corporal J.G. Briggs | - | 29 | 31 | 60 |
| Lance-Corporal H. Montgomery | 4 | 29 | 27 | 60 |
| Private A. Cooper | 8 | 23 | 29 | 60 |
| Sergeant-Pioneer R. Gee | 5 | 26 | 28 | 59 |
| Sergeant L. Perley | 8 | 27 | 24 | 59 |
| Sergeant W. Miller | 2 | 29 | 27 | 58 |
| Private R.P. Clarke | 4 | 26 | 28 | 58 |
| Private J. Foster | 4 | 24 | 30 | 58 |
| Bugler F. Harrison | 8 | 24 | 30 | 58 |
| Private E.W. Allsopp | 2 | 29 | 26 | 57 |
| Corporal J. Jones | 3 | 27 | 25 | 55 |
| Private A.T. Hayward | 6 | 23 | 26 | 55 |
| Private W. Crossland | 6 | 25 | 22 | 54 |
| Private H. Clements | 15 | 19 | 19 | 53 |
| Private R.H. Proctor | 12 | 22 | 16 | 50 |
| Corporal W.A. Pritchard | 8 | 26 | 15 | 49 |
| Private F. Cale | 8 | 20 | 19 | 47 |
| Private E. Radford | 12 | 15 | 20 | 47 |
| Sergeant G.F. Swingler | 2 | 26 | 18 | 46 |
| Private J. Smart | 6 | 20 | 19 | 45 |
| Private G. Judkins | 8 | 17 | 18 | 43 |
| Private F. Annable | 8 | 20 | 14 | 42 |
| Corporal A. Lichfield | 10 | 18 | 11 | 39 |
| Private W. Gee | 15 | 13 | 8 | 36 |
| Private T.L. Birks | 8 | 25 | - | 33 |
Transcripts from Nottingham Evening Post 13/04/1903, 04/05/1903,
25/05/1903, 29/06/1903, 30/06/1903 and 18/08/1903
British Library Newspaper Archive