Marksman competition held in Sta. Mesa, Manila for consecutive years 1915-1916 sponsored by H.B. McCoy. Both were won by a German immigrant who held the distributorship for Spanish Mauser 1893 Spanish Civil Guard and Guardia Civil model rifles. Later on improved and crafted by the Ovideo Arsenal from the original 7mm Mauser to the 1916 model upgraded to .308 Winchester cal. 7.62 until 1951. There are no surviving records that indicates if it was a superior weapon at the time or if it was the skill of the marksman that bagged the trophies, using it as a sales demo for clients that had already purchased the 1893 model and presumably were used in the Spanish- American War overseas and in the Philippines. It is unknown if it was also previously supplied to the Katipunan or what currency was used to purchase weapons. Subsequently more attention shifted from marksmanship to playing Polo, a sport better suited for gentlemanly competition which they often won until Ricky Y. came along.... way in the future. Never say Colgate to a Spanish conquistador when it's all about trade.
