AUCKLAND RIFLE ASSOCIATION.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXI, Issue 24, 29 January 1900, Page 3

AUCKLAND RIFLE ASSOCIATION.

ANNUAL SHOOTING MEETING.

SATUEDAY'S MATCHES,

The anual meeting of the Auckland Rifle Association was commenced on Saturday afternoon, at the Akarana Eifle Club's range, Avondale. The weather- was fine, though a shifty wind interfered somewhat with the shooting. Only three matches were fired on Saturday—Teams Match, j Tyro Match, and Nursery Handicapin each of. which there was a noticeable increase in the number of entries compared with last year. The Teams Match, for which nine teams competed, was won by the Akarana Bifie Club's No. 1 team, who scored 177 against the Ponsonby Navals' 174. At the 500 yards range Mr Doughty put on the possible—3s points—for the winning team, scoring seven bullaeyes in succession. The Nursery Match, ten shots at 300 yards, fell to Captain Ketirick, of the Coromandel Rifles,; who scored 42 points, while Private j Gatland, of the same company, Avasj second With 41. The last match fired j was the Tyro, for which 25. competit-> ors had entered. Sergl. Atkinson, of j the Auckland Rifles, furnish-! Ed first, putting on the good score of 46. His ten shots at 500 yards resulted in six bulls and four inners. Private Gatland was 2nd and Gunner Willis third. The arrangements were in the capable hands ; of Mr G. Dormer, the ex-secretary of . the Association, the present secretary(Mr C. Taylor) being unable to attend ■ the meeting. Mr P. Kearsley acted as \ range officer, and under his siiper-! vision the shooting proceeded without j any hitch or delay of any kind. Since j last year's meeting a telephone has j been erected between the butts and ' the firing points, which results in a ; considerable saving of time when j shots are challenged. Mounds have j also been erected at 300 yards and 400 yards, and the range is now admirably equipped; The majority of the com- j petitors on Saturday used the .303! (Martini-Enfield) rifle. Those using j the Martini-Henry were allowed a j handicap of one point at 300 yards,; but the two weapons were considered I equal at the longer ranges. The Colonial Ammunition Company's ammunition was used, and gave every satisfaction. Eesults are as under:— TEAMS MATCH—Open to teams of three i men from any volunteer corps, rifle! clubs, or civilians. Ranges, 300 yds and 500 yds; seven shots at each rang-e. AKARANA RIFLE CLUB—No. 1 TEAM. 300yd3. 500 yds. Tl. Mr Doughty 4434545—29 5555555—35 61 Mr Henderson 4344545-29 5455-145—32 61 Mr Buchanan.... 4425534—27 _5342335-25 521 Grand Total 177 PONSONBY NAVALS. 300 yds. 500 yds. Tl. C. A. Willis 28 33 61 W. Morgan 28 28 56 G. E. Spinley 27 30 57j Grand Total 174 COROMANDEL. RIFLES. 300 yds. 500 yds. Tl. Captain Ken rick. 24 27 51 Private Gatland 31 ' 3a CJ Private Senior 28 21) 571 Grand Total.. 172j Other teams shooting and their; scores are as follows: —Victoria Rifles,' Ist team, IG7; "'Whangnrei Rifle Club, 105; No. 2 Natives, 2nd team, 165; No. % Natives, Ist team, 143 ; Victoria fiifles, second team,. 141; Akarana Bifle Club, second team, 140. , NURSERY MATCH, five money prizes.! Range, 300 yds; 10 shots. \ Capt. Kenrick, Coromandel Rifles, 42.. I 1 Private Gatland, Coromamiel Rifles, 41 2 Sergeant Buchanan, No. 2 Natives, 39.. 3. Mr J. J. Buchanan, Akaraua Rifle. I Club, 39 ■ ■■• \ Bugler Salmon, Te Aroha, 39 5 Other scores: Budge 33, Letham 33.: Thorne. Si, Skerrott 34, Pollard 35, | Eatjen 38, Gavey 24, Booth 29, Cairns 38, Davies 35, Pitkethley 35, Extou 34, Evans 33, Senior 38, M. Atkinson 38, Martin 24., J. F. Atkinson 33. TYRO HANDICAP, six money .prizes. Range, 500 yds; 10 shots. Sergeant Atkinson; Auckland Rifles, 46 1 Private Gatland, Coromandel Rifles, 4b z Gunner Willis, Ponsonby Nayals, 45.... 3 Private Letham, Auckland R f1e5,44.... 4 Sergt. Buchanan, No. 2. Native Rifles, with 1 point handicap), 43........... o Private Senior, Coromandel Rifles (with 2 points handicap), 43 o Counted out: Private Pollard* No. 2 Natives (with three points handicap^ no outers), 43; Private Skerrott (with j three ponits handicap, three outers),, 43; Mr J. J. Buchanan, Akarana Rifle Club (with four points handicap), 43; Private Exton. Victoria Rifles (with six points handicap), 43; Private Davies, Victoria Eifles (with seven points handicap), 43. Other competitors: Budge, 41; Thorne, 40; J. P. Atkinson, 17; Gavey, 39; Jackson, 30; Evans, 38; Cairns, 35; Pitkethley, 31; Phillips, 42; Ratjen, I 35, these scores being exclusive of I handicaps,