WITH SERVICE RIFLE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 69, 23 March 1931, Page 10

WITH SERVICE RIFLE.

ON THE RANGE.

AMMUNITION SATISFACTORY.

PROGRESS OF THE EVENTS

(By Telegraph.—Special to "Star.")

TREXTHAM, Saturday

The 1930 ammunition which is being used at the National Rifle Association's meeting is being praised by competitors. The expressed opinion is that so perfect are the conditions in all its aspects that failure to register good totals lies solely with the marksman.

In the past the service series have occupied a complete shooting day, the reason being that previously all matches in this series were repeated, each being shot as a separate match. On this account it is difficult to make comparisons in respect to scores, as the present .programme only provides for three matches, two being amalgamated. The markmanship is, however, well up to the average, and, u anything, those who are fortunate to get into the prize lists, so far, have had to shoot exceptionally well. The tile competition and moving target was shot as one match for prize allotment purposes. The winner proved to be H. Judkins, of Auckland, who returned an aggregate score of 40, the runner-up being Captain W. N. Masefield, who was a point behind. Last year W. _ Duncan (Westport) won the tile competition (two practices) with a score of 40 out of a possible 50, and the moving target went to C. H. Gower (Wanganui) with 24 points, the possible being 60. Captain W. N. Masefield, with an aggregate of 134, heads the forty who are eligibly to shoot for the service championship. S. Hay and H. Judkins obtained a siniil \r total, but were placed second and third respectively in the count back. The Champion Service Team Match went to the Karori No. 1 team, w'u become the holders of the Sir John Logan Campbell Shield for twelve months. J lie shield, a valuable one, was won outright by the Wanganui Defence Rifle Club at the 1924 championship meeting and generously redonated. The Islington cup, which is allotted to the team registering the highest aggregate in the Tile Competition, was won .>? the Featherston team with a score of 3.C.

Record Shooting. The Kins and Henry match, fired over three ranges, comprised the initial deliberate shooting series, not couutrt;.' for the belt. These series are in the nature of "pipe openers" and are \yelcomed bv marksmen as they Rive an indie.;tion of a competitors' chances in the championship series. Some remarkable scores were returned in this match. The possible was 100 and those who secured 93 (with the exception of two) and under were counted out. Nineteen obtained 100 and over. VV. H. Ballinger, of l'etone, and Captain. \\. JN. Mnsefiekl who, two years ago, had an <;x----citins conclusion for second honours m Me King's, were onlv two and three points respectively under the Lie former tied with A. R. Barker,, of Marlborough, for head of the list in the A grade, but lost the position in the count back. The weather on Saturday morning-was not conducive to good shooting. _ Jheic was a heavy, dull atmosphere, visibility was impaired and a left-rear oreeze. although steady, had to be contended with I'hc lirst match of the day was a combined one, the Cress well and Witooinbe and Caldwell, the former being at BUO and the latter at 000 yards. lhe first, possible at 800 yds came from the ritte or *~ O Hay, of Sydenham, who was tlii fust m 'an clown, and he was followed by Ins clubmate, J. Buschl, with 40. At trie previous meeting both the Crcsswcd and Witcombo and Caldwell matches were fired separately, the Cresswell was won by P Berry, Dannevirke, with 48, ami D Rait, G'isbornc, the Witcomoj am* Caldwell, with a similar score. 11l is year the finances of the association would not permit of.separate prize money, hence the combination of the matches, win h received the approval ot the compellloi*. The following are additional puzu dinners to those already published:--Service Series. Rapid Shooting, combined with application, 300 yds, possible Bo.—W. reiver (.l'etone), H. Barlow (Linton) 08, *. J. Jeune (Gisborne) «7, taking 20/ each, H. Judkius (Auckland City) 07 H. O. Byers (Union), F. Bolton (Opaki) 66, J. Farlev (Makirikiri), Captain W. W. Masehold (Blenheim) 05, Captain H. Slmmonds (Auckland) 0-1, E. A. Ballinger (ketone.S McKay (Alfredton), A. Barker (Ronga) 03 taking 10/; A. S. Berry (Oannevirke), las't year's belt winner, was bottom ot the list with an aggregate score of 02. Snapshooting, 300 yds, possible 50.— H. Smith (Opaki) 42, J. Hunter (Petone), b. .1 C. Reston (Akarana) 41, H. Cromie (Ashburton) 41, taking 20/ each ; A. G. Rhodes (Greytown), P. Soler (Wanganui) 40, F. Lewis (Linton), R- Nlcoll (l'etone) 38, J. Feast (Grevtown), L. Caldwell (Karon), 11. Congreve (Old Navals), C. Glassey (Ashburton), W. Mcßain (Old Navals), who won the North Island championship at Wanganui, 37, taking 10/ each. The lowest on the prize list had a score of 30. Tile and Moving Target, 200 yds each distance, possible 53. —H. Judkins, 40, 40/; Captain \V. W. Masefield, S.. .O. Hay 39, T. Warburton (l'etone), . Haldane (Walpukurau), C. Franklin (Danncvrlke) 35, taking 20/ each; .T. Buschl (Christchurch) 34, K. Russell (Nelson) 11. Moss (Inverergill) 33, Cadet H. Whiteman, R. Russell (Wellington), F. Lewis (Linton) 32, R. Mottram (Old Navals), E. Wrigley (Opaki), E. S. King (Wanganui), R. J. King (Opaki) 81, takiuc 10/ each.

Service Forty. The leading aggregates :— Captain W. W. Masetield, S. 0. Hay, H. Judkins, 134; J. Paterson (Wauganui) 130; F. Ching (Karori), 128; L. Caldwell (Karori), 126; 11. Boon (Karori), 125; Jeune (Gisborne), H. A. Cromie (Ashburton), 124; F. Soler (Wanganui), C. Nix (Featherston), 122; Captain H. Simmons (Auckland), A. Rhodes (Greytown), F. Lewis (Linton), 121; C. Whiteman (Upper Hutt), 120; H. Moss (Invercargill), 117; W. Keer (Ashburton), C. Glassey (Ashburton), H. Baildon (Linton), It. Poster (Karori), 116. J. E. Farley (Maklrikiri) and R. C. luisseil (Auckland) 107, are to shoot-off for final place.

Champion Service Team Match (teams of four men), scores made in service matches to count.—Karori No. 1 (H. N. Croxton 90, 11. Boon 125, A. Caldwell 120, F. W. Ching 128—409), 00/ ; Wanganui, 405, 40/; Ashburton, 437, 20/; Petonc No. 1, 425. Thirteen teams competed.

King and Henry Match, ranges 300, 500 and 000 yds, possible 105.—A grade: A. R. ' Barker, 103, 100/ ; YV. H. Ballinger 103, 80/; W. W. Masefleld, 102, 60/; A. C. Edmonds (Alfredton). W. H. Feast (Grevtown), 102, 40/; R. H. Nlcholl (Petone), R. J. King (Opaki), W. Mclver (Petone), C. Whiteman (Upper Hutt), F. W. Ching (Karori), C. J. Nix (Featherston), 11. V. Croxton (Karori) 101, C. Glassey (Ashburton), F. J. Jeune (Gisborne), H. Reynolds (Christchureh), Captain H. Simmonds (Auckland), A. Shaw (Wanganui), W. E. Jones (Timaru), L. G. Benton (Featherston) 100; C. Pickering (Opaki), D. F. Keir (Ashburton). B. S. Kinp (Wanganui), J. H. Thompson (Rangiwahai), F. Soler (Wanganui), T. Goodall (Suburbs). E. A. Ballinger (Petone), G. Crimp (Christchnrcb),! 99: S. O. Hay (Christchureh). and E. W. Wrigley (Onaki), 98, take 20/ each. B grade: E. C. Russell (Nelson), 101, 60/.T. E. Farley (Makirikiri), 101, 40/; R McKenzie (Featherston), M. Soloman (Petone). F. R. Lewis (Linton). 98. and W Oakley (Christchureh), 97, fake 20/ each! Twelve-with scores ranging from 97 to 95* divide 120/.

Tyros.—H. G. Byers (Linton) 95 1! Congreve (Old Navals) and C. Jurv (Grevtown) 92. take 20/ each, and four with scores ranging from 91 to 90, receive 10/ ! each. ' Imperial Aggregate. Last year H. V. Searle, a tyro from Nelson, won the Imperial aggregate with an aggregate of "201. On that occasion five matches were concerned and on this only three, so comparison is futile. As anticipated, the shooting in the earlier portion of Saturday morning was good as the wind was steady. S. O. Hay, of Christchureh, struck a good "patch" when scoring a possible. When J. X. Thompson, of Rangawahia, went to the mound the wind was stronger in force, and his possible at 800 yds in the Cresswell match was an excellent effort. No less than thirteen marksmen dropped only a point at the 800 yds range. On coming back to the 900 yds range the weather conditions changed, There was a mirage in evidence,

I the wind came in puffs and was continually veering, which, together with changing light, baffled the competitors. Crashes were frequent, as an instance: J. -N. Thompson finished with 41 and b.O. Hay with 39. The winner of the CresswellFitcombe and Caldwell match, W. .AleIver, of Petone, in addition to winning £12 in prize money, becomes the holder of the club coffee v cup, and in addition receives a gold medal. Shooting conditions had improved when the contestants for the belt went to the mounds to lire the Marlborough and VVellington matches. G. A. Eyles, Aapier, won the Marlborough match in 1930 with 49, and this afternoon Boon and Berry made similar scores. On the count back thev could not be separated, as each had dropped a point in their third shot. Berry, the present holder of the belt, has not been prominent in the preliminary matches, but is showing better shooting form in the championship series. llie most consistent shot has been, so far W. Mclver, who has an aggregate of 146 tor the belt, and is leading. Over the three ranges this afternoon he only lost tour points, and was one of the last to go down," and had to contend with a failing light. His first sighter was a miss, followed by a two, then six bul s in succession, a four, and finally three bulls, at the longer range.