PETERSFIELD.
THE ISLE OF WIGHT AND THE HAMPSHIRE RIFLE VOLUNTEERS’ CHALLENGE VASE.—This competition took place at the Millbrook range, Southampton, on Thursday, open to the volunteers of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, when Capt. Seward, of the 12th Hants, scored 30 points at 200 and 500 yards, winning the vase, and £5 in the first series of prizes.—Capt. Harfield, in presenting the vase to Capt. Seward, congratulated all present on the fact of its having been won by a good shooting commanding officer, who was an early attendant at Wimbledon, and well known as an earnest promoter of rifle practice.—Thanks, with the accompanying cheers, were then given to the officers of the 2nd Hants Rifles, and to Captain Warner, who officiated as referee in the absence of Captain Crofts.
Illustrated London News —Saturday 02 September 1865
The annual competition for the Hampshire challenge vase, worth one hundred guineas, took place at the rifle range Millbrook, near Southampton, on Thursday week. A total of seventy-three competitors, representing twenty-three corps in Hampshire and the Isle of’ Wight, presented themselves on this occasion; and, in addition to the vase, a series of money prizes, amounting in all to £32, was distributed among the best shots. The winner of the vase was Captain Seward, of the 12th Hants (Petersfield), who received also a prize of £5. Any corps winning the vase three years becomes its owner. This is the fourth competition, the Fareham corps winning the vase in 1862 and 1863, the Cowes corps in 1864, and the Petersfield corps in 1865.