RIFLE SHOOTING.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 50, Issue 130, 14 March 1930, Page 6

RIFLE SHOOTING.

THE KING'S MEDAL. WON BY SERGEANT THOMSON. (Per Press Association.) TRENTHAM, This Day. Conditions for the conclusion of the N.Z. Army Rifle meeting were trying owing to 'the gusty wind. A unique circumstance respecting the competition for the King's Medal was that representatives of every arm of the New Zealand force, including the Navy and Cadets, had qualified. The highest scorer, Sergt. Breckon, is a New Zealander, born at Christchurch, but he was not eligible for the medal. Sergt. Thomson, the winner, was also successful in 1926, a coincidence being that on that occasion he also was topped by Sergeant Howard (Royal Navy). The prizes were presented by the Hon. G. W. Forbes (Acting Prime Minister). Results: — KING'S MEDAL—6OO yards deliberate; 600 to 100 yard's fire with movement; 300 yards rapid ; 300 yards snapshooting. Possible 200. 120s—Sergt. C. Breckon (H.M.S. Philomel) .... ... 148 80s—Sergt. J. Thomson (Permanent Staff) 146 60s—Corp. F. Jane (Hawke's Bay) 145 40s—Sergt-Major R. Jordan (Permanent Staff) ... ... 144 VICKERS GUN, Stoppage Competition . 40s—First Battalion (Hawke's Bay Regiment). Fourteen teams competed. VICKERS GUN, Fire Order. Competition, leaders only. 40s—Sergeant O. Doll (First Battalion Auckland Regiment). VICKERS GUN, all practices. 150 s, Vickers Challenge Trophy and Silver Spoon for each member First Battalion Hawke's Bay Regiment (Sergeant D. Graham, leader) ... 319 100 s and Silver Spoon each —Nel-son-Marlborough Mounted Rifles ... 299 LEWIS GUNj Stoppage Competition. 40s—First Battalion Southland Regiment . Ten teams competed. LEWIS GUN, Direct Fire Order Competition, leaders only. 40s—Sergeant C. Maret (First Battalion Auckland Regiment). Eleven competitors fired. LEWIS GUN AGGREGATE, all Practices. 120 s, Lewis Shield and Silver Spoon for each member — First Battalion Hawke's Bay Regiment 275 80s and Silver Spoon for each member First Battalion Wellington-West Coast Regiment 261 The Stafford Challenge Shield, which was won by Hawke's Bay Regiment, with an aggregate of 1045, is a trophy presented by the townspeople of Stafford (England) to the New Zealand Rifle Brigade to commemorate their kindly feelings toward New Zealanders who were stationed at Brocton Camp during the Great War. The competition embraces the grand aggregate in the Vickers, Lewis guns and rifle team matches. The runners-up were the Auckland Regiment with 691,