R. H. NICHOLL WINS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 56, 7 March 1932, Page 12

R. H. NICHOLL WINS.

KING'S PRIZE AT TRENTHAM. CROXTON IS RUNNER-UP. B GRADE AGGREGATE TO H. KING. (By Telegraph.—Press Assoc'atiDii.) WELLINGTON, Sunday. The New Zealand champion marksman is R. H. Nicholl (Petone), who won his first King's Prize by a margin of four points at Trenthan? It was a triumph for grit, determination and consistency. After his win Nicholl was hoisted into the historic chair and carried by his club mates shoulder high to the Y.M.C.A. hall, where he was presented, amid cheering and applause, with tho Ballinger Belt, the gold medal and gold badge of the National Rifle Association, and a cash prize of £25. With a score of 381 out of a possible 400, Nicholl had a lead of six points when the King's forty went down at the 000 yards range to fire their final teu rounds for the King's Prize. Second and third positions in the forty were filled by 11. V. Croxton (Karori) and J. C. Feast (Greytown), whose respective scores were 375 and .'J74. After the King's Prize match the relative order of these three marksmen was unaltered. A 45 at the final range would have given Nicholl the title, but lie finished witji a 47, which, brought his aggregate tip to 428' out of a possible 450.

Nicholl wasted no time and was the first in his batch to finish, his ten shots taking exactly six minutes. Croxton put on 49 to finish with an aggregate of 424, and Feast made 48, bringing his aggregate up to 422. Cromie Registers Ten "Bulls." H. Cromio (Ashburton), who was fourth with an aggregate of 420, made a possible with his final ten rounds. This entitled him to the rifle challenge cup, awarded for the highest score in the JvingV Prize match. Immediately prior to the King's Prize match, tho final match for the service championship was tired. The winner was J. B. Farley (Wanganui). Details of the. top .scores in the contest for the King's Prize are:— £25. Ballinger Riflo Belt, gold medal and gold badge of the National Rifle Association.— R. H. Nicholl (Petone), 428. £12, Silver star and badge.—H. V. Croxton (Karori), 424. £7, Silver star and" badge.— J. C. Feast (Greytown), 422. £5, Silver star and badge.—H. Cromie (Ashburton), 420. Other scores were:—£3 and badge, H. King (Opaki), 420; 11. Kippett (Oamaru), 418; £2 and badge. T. W. Warburton (Petone), 410; C. Glassey (Ashburton), 415; H. W. Feast (Greytown), 414. The following take £1 and badge:—P. B. Goldfinch (Karori), 414; W. N. Masefiold (Blenheim). W. H. Ballinger (Petone), 413; T. H. R. Boon (Karori), L. G. Benton (Featherston), E. T. Haldane (Waipukurau). 410; H. L. Mason (Christchurch), F. N. McVicar (Waipukurau), 400; D. F. Keir (Ashburton). 408: W. Mclver (Petone), 407; G. R. Smith (Kaponga), 406. Ten others with scores ranging from 405 to 401 receive £1 each. (

Now Champion's Career. The new champion, Nicholl, who is 33 years of age, attended his first national meeting at Truntham in 1920 and every year since then he has been a competitor at the annual rifle shooting championships. In 1024 Nicholl competed at Bisley and reached the second stage in the contest for King"s Prize, missing the final stage by two points. While at Home on that occasion lie competed with marked success in the British miniature rifle championships. He won the New Zealand miniature championship in 1920 and at present is runner-up for that title. Aggregates and Winners. Results of other matches and aggregates are:— B grade aggregate for highest scores by B grade competitors in belt matches except the final ten shots.—H. King (Opald), 371, 1; C. Glassoy (Ashburton), 370, 2. Tyro aggregate, for highest aggregate scores by tyro competitors in belt matches except the final ten shots.—W. 11. Martyn (Xelson), 353, 1; D. G. Wyllie (West Taieri), 340, 2. Bisley aggregate, for highest aggregate scores in the Taranaki and Otago match.— H. King (Opald), 192, 1; 11. H. Nicholl (Petone), 190, 2. Kiflo club champion teams match, teams of four, alj scores in belt matches except the final ton shots.—Petone, 1405.

Colonial Ammunition Company's cup. for teams of four, scores in Taranaki and Otago matches.—Petone No. 1, 724, 1; Ashbitrtqn, 720, 2. Champion teams match, of four men, seven rounds at 300, 500 and 600 yards.— Petone, 303, 1; Blenheim, 390, 2. Grand ap■••cgate for highest aggregate scores in all belt matches, B series matches and service matches. —11. H. Nicholl (Petone), 543, 1; 11. A. Feast, 537, 2. Otago match, ten rounds at 800 and 900 yards—ll. V. Croxtou (Kurori), 98, 1; C. Blaekwood (Timaru), 07. 2.