RIFLE SHOOTING.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 51, Issue 135, 20 March 1931, Page 6

RIFLE SHOOTING.

THE NATIONAL MEETING. 150 COMPETITORS TAKE PART. (Per Press Association). TRENTHAM, This Day. Marksmen from all parts of the Dominion are competing at the annual meeting of the National Rifle Association this morning, in perfect weather. With 150 competitors taking part, the original programme, based on an entry of *IOO riflemen, had to be slightly revised, and a small reduction made in the prize-money. In view of the general depression and the fact that the Government has withdrawn its usual grant of £IOOO, as well as the usual concession of free railway warrants for competitors, the attendance is considered satisfactory. Hawke’s Bay riflemen are usually prominent at the meeting, but. the recent earthquake in that locality has kept practically all of them away on this occasion. Before the competitors went to the firing points ft>r the compulsory Service series with which the meeting was opened, they were addressed by the chairman of the executive committee (Captain H. Marshall). In welcoming them, he said it would have been impossible to have held the meeting had it not been for the assistance given, by the Defence Department. The reigning rifle champion, I . Berry, is defending liis title, while several previous belt winners are taking part. The. application and rapid practice in the Service series was won by H. Boon (Karori). The winner of the snapshooting series was S. O. Hay (Sydenham).