Cyclists Section Challenge Cup
And now for something totally different — a competition involving cycling and shooting. The cycling part involved a 30 mile route from Derby Drill Hall going south through Melbourne to Lount a few miles north-east of Ashby-de-le-Zouch, then easterly to Belton and the Loughborough road near Hathern, turning north on the main road to Kegworth, through Sawley to Trent Station and the Trent Range.
On arrival at the range, the teams were faced with firing at 600 yards prone at silhouette targets, ten rounds per man, then advancing to 500 yards for a further five rounds prone and five kneeling.
After the result had been announced, tea was served and gratefully consumed, though whether taking tea meant just that or something more substantial is not clear. Speeches of thanks followed.
Derby Daily Telegraph, 7th September 1903
By "Mentor"
(Specially Contributed)
The competition for this trophy takes place after the chief duties of the year are over, and at a time when the men are likely to be fit and well. It takes the form of a 30 mile ride, with shooting 20 rounds of ball ammunition at the end. No mean performance this.
Saturday last was the day fixed for the competition, and Derby Drill Hall the starting place. At the time appointed only two teams put in an appearance, namely the 1st Derby and the 2nd Robin Hoods. No doubt the very wet morning kept the other teams away. The 1st Derby team, under Sergeant Woodward, moved off at 1.20, and the Robin Hood team, under Captain Rayner, half-an-hour later. The route taken was to Trent Rifle Range, by way of Melbourne, Lount, to the Ashby road, and Melton road, through Belton and on to the Loughborough road, through Kegworth to Smalley, and on to the Trent range. The time for the journey by the 1st Derby team being 2hrs. 37min. and for the 2nd Robin Hoods 2hrs. 23min.
The Derbys next took up their position for the firing part of the competition. This consisted of advancing at the "slope" to the 600 yards firing point, and delivering ten rounds, lying, at targets representing figures of men. From this the team moved on to 500 yards, and delivered five rounds lying and five kneeling. Captain Lewis, 1st Derby, acted as range officer, Captain Poynts, Robin Hoods, as inspecting officer, Captain Leo, Robin Hoods, as butt officer, Captain Lee, of the Leicester Volunteers, and Captain Porter, 1st Derby, as checkers.
Both teams having fired, the result was made known, showing the Robin Hoods to be the winning team by 32 points. Captain Rayner proposed a vote of thanks to the officers and men for their kind assistance in conducting the match. This was seconded by Sergeant Woodward, 1st Derby. Captain Rayner then invited the teams to partake of tea with him, which he had kindly provided on the range, an invitation which was thankfully, and promptly accepted, as that little ride and subsequent shoot had made the men in pretty good form for refreshment.
After tea Captain Rayner thanked the teams for their presence in the competition that day. Though the only two teams to enter they had made a grand show, the riding being very good. He hopes next year more teams would enter for the cup. He wished to again thank those officers who had helped in that afternoon's work. Sergeant Woodward, 1st Derby, proposed a vote of thanks to Captain Rayner for the trouble he had taken in arranging the competition, and the way it had been carried out. Although the 1st Derby team had not won, he hoped when he had a company to select from he should have the honour of leading that team to victory, and "lifting" that cup from the Robin Hoods. He also wished to thank Captain Rayner for the tea he had so thoughtfully provided for them. Sergeant Wilkes, 2nd Robin Hood Cyclists, in seconding the proposition, said it gave him great pleasure to be in the team for the first time, but he hoped to again meet with them another year.
The 1st Derby team consisted of Sergeant H.S. Woodward (commander), Sergeant Siddals, Corporal Slack, Private Abel, Private Moss, Private Burgess, Private Synier, Private Walker, Bugler Davis. It must be noticed that the 1st Derby team was greatly handicapped in having only a section of cyclists to select from, while their rivals had a whole company, and while the Robin Hoods had free use of their range, the Derby men, owing to race week, were unable to fire a shot in practice. This must be taken into consideration in their defeat, while not detracting in any way from the merit of the Robin Hood's performance, or set up as an excuse for the Derbys' defeat, as they are too good sportsmen to need excuses for being beaten.
There appeared on 14th September, buried amongst a long column of miscellanies, a brief report of this year's Jesse Boot Challenge Vase competition, the winners being G Company of the 1st Battalion Robin Hood Rifles.
Nottingham Evening Post, 14th September 1903
The Jesse Boot Challenge Vase, offered for competition by teams drawn from the various companies of the Robin Hood Rifles, was shot for at Trent Range on Saturday, and was won by G Company 1st Battalion, with an aggregate of 900, or an average of 90 per man. C Company, 1st Battalion, being the runners-up, with 855.
Transcripts from Derby Daily Telegraph 07/09/1903
and Nottingham Evening Post 14/09/1903
British Library Newspaper Archive