This biscuit barrel of silverplate and wood was won by a member of the Victorian Horse Artillery, Driver J. Mc Keon, along with Sergeant Harry Looney, Driver J. Ryan and Driver J. Wallace at Islington in 1893.A wood and silver-plated biscuit barrel with plated lidRoyal Irish Military Tournament /1893/Riding & jumping in sections/2nd prize (on Lid) on barrel. M. A. Williams. Royal Hotel Sunbury August 11th 1905royal irish military tournament., victorian horse artiller, rupertswood battery collection, george evans collection

The Victorian Mounted Rifles was raised as the mounted arm of the Victorian Colonial defence force in 1885. It was under the command of Colonel Thomas Caradoc Rose (Tom) Price (1842-1911). Price was born in Tasmania, educated in Hobart Town and at Scotch College, Melbourne, before entering the East India Military College, Addiscombe, England. He was commissioned on 7 July 1861 in the Madras Infantry and began twenty years’ service in India with several regiments, retiring in April 1883. On his return to Victoria he was tasked with raising of a force of one thousand, to be known as the Victorian Mounted Rifles, and appointed a lieutenant-colonel in the Permanent Military Forces. Companies of the Victorian Mounted Rifles were raised in rural districts throughout Victoria. The soldiers were paid a small annual allowance and were required to provide their own horse. Many members served in contingent to the Boer War. After Federation the VMR was gathered up into the Australian Light Horse. Hand written letter from Major Parker, Director of Royal Tournament replying to Robert Morrison's letter ( 3103.906 ) . He points out the difficulty of affiliated regiments 14/20 Hussars and Queens Royal Irish Hussars providing horses because they no longer have horses.