Nottinghamshire Rifle Association

Nottingham Evening Post, Friday, 5 Jan 1906

ITEMS OF LOCAL INTEREST

Colonel Cantrell-Hubbersty made the definite announcement at the annual prize distribution at the Robin Hood Rifles last night that this year's camp would be at Conway.
The period selected is the end of July, and the men are to have the option of attending for fourteen days.
Lady Birkin graciously undertook the duty of presenting the prizes, and it is interesting to recall that Sir Thomas Birkin was one of the first officers enrolled in the regiment in 1859.
One hundred and sixty-one thousand rounds of ammunition were fired over the Trent Range last year.

Nottingham Evening Post, Monday, 29 Jan 1906

ROBIN HOODS AT DINNER

Interesting Suggestions By Mr. E. Jardine

The annual dinner and prize distribution in connection with E Company, 1st Battalion, Robin Hood Rifles, took place on Saturday evening at the Albert Hotel. Captain Barnsdale presided, and among those supporting him were Mr. E. Jardine, J.P., Major Wigley, Lieut. Jardine, and Lieut. Barnsdale.

Colour-Sergeant J.R. Coupe submitted the annual report, stating that in the early part of 1905 the company numbered 128 all told, and at the close of the year 109 - a loss of 19. Of marksmen they had ten, as compared with seven last year, the increase being due to the generosity of Mr. G. Wigley. As regarded shooting the company last year stood very high - he believed fourth in the battalion - 60 points per man; this year it was 59 points.

Having handed the prizes to the recipients, Mr. Jardine proposed "Success to E Company", remarking that this was the first company in which he took an active interest since leaving the Robin Hoods. As they knew, he added, he was a Liberal Unionist, but during the whole of the last administration, whenever an opportunity presented itself, he never failed to severely criticise the Secretaries of State for War, particularly Mr. Arnold Forster, who seemed to spare no words to sneer at and degrade the volunteers in the eyes of the public. He said on one occasion that anything that stood on two legs was good enough for the volunteers. He hoped Mr. Haldane, who was a strong man, would do much better for the volunteers, that he would not only increase their efficiency, but would double their numbers. But he rather feared that nothing would be done. Never once during the present election had he heard a candidate asked what he was prepared to do for the volunteers, so it was evident that they were looked upon as a negligible quantity; he asked his hearers to put patriotism before party, and whatever side they might be on to urge their members to do what they believed was necessary for the welfare of the empire, and increase and improve our defensive forces. (Applause.)

Major Wigley had referred to football. He (the speaker) took much interest in this sport, because he believed that those who played were improving their physique, their courage, and making themselves more fit in every way to fight if necessary; and he threw out suggestions that a Robin Hood football club should be formed. (Hear, hear.) Whatever Mr. Haldane did, he hoped that he would make the volunteers a really fit fighting unit, ready for service at any moment. (Hear, hear.) He was of opinion that the Robin Hoods and all other volunteer corps should be ready within two hours to march, with their transport, food, and ammunition. To him, a business man, it seemed quite a simple proposition. The present state of things was far from satisfactory, due, in a great measure, to the laxness of the late Government. The new Administration, with its large majority, had a magnificent chance of doing something for the volunteers. (Hear, hear.) Rifle shooting, he was sorry to say, had in that company, not been so good as it should have been, and he thought they would be better off without those members, who were too lazy to go to the range. He suggested as one way of increasing efficiency that a register should be kept at headquarters, in which those volunteers out of employment should enter their names. If this were done he believed that with the assistance of other employers he would be able to provide regular employment for the good ones, but not the wastrels. (Applause.) This would ensure employment for all efficient volunteers, and it would induce men to join the movement. In conclusion, Mr. Jardine expressed the hope that more Robin Hoods would take advantage of his miniature rifle range at Basford.

Nottingham Evening Post, Monday, 16 April 1906

ITEMS OF LOCAL INTEREST

The most interesting shooting competition of the year in connection with the Robin Hood Rifles took place today, when teams of ten men per company fought for possession of the Seely Challenge Shield.
One of the conditions of the contest was that members should parade at headquarters in drill order and march to the range.
The tramp had to be completed within three hours, and the summerlike weather rendered it most enjoyable.
Last year the experiment was tried of limiting the competition to members not above the rank of corporal, but this had the effect of considerably lowering the character of the shooting, and today the old conditions were practically restored, members up to the rank of colour-sergeant being included.

 

SHOOTING AT TRENT.

SIR CHAS. SEELY'S CHALLENGE SHIELD

Under perfect conditions, members of the Robin Hoods to-day competed for the challenge shield offered by Sir Charles Seely, and valuable money prizes. Nineteen entered, and the men, who had to parade at headquarters in drill order, with braces, haversacks, and overcoat, marched to the range.
A Company 1st Battalion were the winners with 128 points, and A Company 2nd Battalion, who had not previously annexed any of the big battalion prizes, were second with 125. G Company 2nd Battalion were third, with 123 points.

Nottingham Evening Post, Tuesday, 5 June 1906

ITEMS OF LOCAL INTEREST

The Notts. Rifle Association, which is holding its 46th annual prize meeting at Trent today, is in a sound financial position.

Last year the receipts amounted to £108 15s., £54 6s. being received in subscriptions, whilst the expenditure was £83.

There is now a sum of £32 in the bank on the deposit account, and £21 to the credit of the life membership fund.

Nottingham Evening Post, Saturday, 7 July 1906

SHOOTING AT TRENT.

R.H.R. OFFICERS' CUP COMPET1TION

The third of the four shoots in the first officers' cup competition of the Robin Hoods took place on the range at Trent yesterday. The best three out of four count, and the competition is shot at three distances, 200 yards, 500 yards, and 600 yards. There are two classes of competitors:&mdash Class A those who have won prizes since the opening of the Trent range, and Class B those who have not won prizes, and the men are handicapped. The weather was excellent for shooting. Scores:—

Class A.
	200	500	600	H'cap	Tl.
Major J Ashworth, F1	34	33	26	0	93
Capt. P M Payne, G1	30	31	29	0	90
Capt. H Spalding, D1	31	31	22	4	83
Class B.
Lieut. T S Black,J2	30	31	31	8	100
Lieut. A J Woodward, G1	28	32	24	2	96
Capt. W H Newham, D1	28	33	28	5	94
Capt. H Hanson, E2	25	32	25	8	90
Lieut. G H Black, G2	25	28	20	15	88
Capt. D J Jardine, G1	25	34	23	5	87
Lieut. G H Stubington, F1	29	33	24	0	86
Lieut. J D Barnsdale, C2	23	19	22	12	76

Nottingham Evening Post, Monday, 3 Sept 1906

RIFLE SHOOTING.

JESSE BOOT COMPETITION.
A FIASCO.

Unfortunately the Jesse Boot Competition in connection with the Robin Hood Rifles has ended in a fiasco. It is distinctly laid down in the regulations, that "members not registering on the days allotted to their companies will be disqualified from taking part in any subsequent competition," and although this condition is new this year it has been prominently published not only in the annual pocket book of the regiment, but also in orders. However, the regulation was either ignored or overlooked by many of the men, with the result that wholesale disqualifications have taken place, and some of the best shooting companies have thereby been thrown out of one of the most important competitions of the season. There were originally six teams in the contest, and those qualifying for the final stage were A, B, C, and G Companies of the 1st Battalion, C 2 and B 2 being knocked out. For the reason stated B 1, C 1, and G 1 and B 2 were disqualified, so that the only companies able to take part in the final were A 1 and C 2. These teams went to the range on Saturday, twelve men from either company firing seven shots at 200, 500, and 600 yards, the ten highest to count. The shooting was not of a very high order, the best score of the day being 88, made by Sergeant P. Robinson, of A 1, his company being winners of the challenge bowl and first prize with 775 points against 744 made by C 2. Scores:—

A COMPANY, 1ST BATTALION.
	200	500	600	Tl.
Sergeant P. Robinson	31	32	25	88
Corporal B.R. Smedley	27	29	28	84
Colour-Sergeant H. Smith	30	25	28	83
Private W.H. Stevenson	25	30	26	81
Lance-Corporal H.S. Freestone	26	29	25	80
Private W.H. Smith	26	22	29	77
Lance-Corporal A.E. Whitworth	31	26	20	77
Private R.P. Clarke	27	25	21	73
Sergeant L. Duckett	25	25	21	71
Private W.H. Barber	21	20	20	61
Total				775
Counted out:– Private E.W. Allsop 59, Lance-Corporal Lasonby 53
C COMPANY, 2nd BATTALION.
	200	500	600	Tl.
Colour-Sergeant G. Allsop	29	31	26	86
Sergeant J.C. Atkin	23	30	30	83
Private W.H. Packer	24	27	25	76
Private B. Dexter	27	27	22	76
Lance-Corporal H. Parnham	27	29	20	76
Lance-Sergeant J. Harrison	27	25	21	73
Lance-Sergeant J.M. Lee	26	23	23	72
Sergeant J. Bailey	25	21	24	70
Lance-Corporal T. Lane	34	29	13	66
Total				744
Counted out:– Private A. Smith 63, Private J Bellaby 62

Nottingham Evening Post, Monday, 1 Oct 1906

ITEMS OF LOCAL INTEREST

A remarkable performance was achieved the other day by Colour-Sergeant Henry Davis (retired), who joined the Robin Hood Rifles in 1868, and completing thirty years' service before retiring with permission to retain his rank and wear the uniform.

Though he is over 70 years of age he went down to Trent Range and, shooting through the "V" without the aid of spectacles or the paraphernalia with which our crack shots now equip themselves, he had seven shots each at 200, 500, and 600 yards, and compiled 87, made up of 28, 32, and 27 at the respective distances.

At one time Colour-Sergeant Davis was one of the best shots in the regiment, and "Matey", as he was familiarly known by his comrades, has evidently retained much of his old skill.

Nottingham Evening Post, Friday, 16 Nov 1906

EDITORIAL ARTICLE
THE ROBIN HOODS.

Not only the Robin Hoods themselves but all the citizens of Nottingham may take pride in enthusiasm such as that displayed at the annual dinner of the non-commissioned. officers last night. There was every reason for looking back with satisfaction on the year's work and the successful encampment at Conway, while next year's visit to Towyn, well situated in the centre of Cardigan Bay, may be anticipated with even greater eagerness.

The fact that the Mayor is an old officer of the regiment made the gathering all the more noteworthy, and his Worship celebrated the occasion by interesting reference to the proposed new headquarters. That the Corporation and the Robin Hoods may advantageously work together in this direction has been abundantly demonstrated by their fortunate partnership in connection with the Trent Range. With the Mayor's view that this ought to be an inducement to the Corporation to enter into somewhat similar arrangements in regard to the building of a drill hail every patriotic citizen will agree.