KING'S PRIZE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 57, 7 March 1936, Page 20

KING'S PRIZE.

NATIONAL RIFLE MEETING. BOWES DEFENDS TITIJB. AUSTRALIA IS REPRESENTED. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.* TRENTHAM, Friday. Leading marksmen from all parts of New Zealand and two from Australia are competing at the annual meeting of the National Rifle Association, which opened at Trentham to-day. One three-range match and some of the compulsory service matches were fired in fine weather. Most of the rifle clubs -in the Dominion are represented at the meeting. The competitors include last year's champion, F. Bowes, Auckland City, and 10 former champions, some of whom have won the championship belt more than once. Australia is represented by H. V. Bear, of the Launceston Rifle Club, Tasmania, and by Major P. J. Wain, of the Edgecliffe Rifle Club, Sydney. Bear, who has shot in every State in Australia, has on three occasions finished third in the Tasmanian King's shoot. Wain, a former New Zealander, who has been living in Australia for some years, has prewar experience of Trentham. Firing in the King and Henry match, which required seven rounds at 300, 500 and 000 yards, monopolised the morning. This match does not count for the belt, but gives competitors the opportunity of a trial at the short ranges, over which they will fire for the championship later in the meeting. With the sun behind the targets the first men to shoot encountered elevation troubles, but most of the shooting at the two shorter ranges was done under perfect conditions. Back at 000 yards a fresh breeze blew from the left, later swinging round to the left front. The winner of the match was A. H. O'Donnell, Petone, with a score of 102. The original intention was to fire all practices in the service series during the afternoon, but as the day advanced it was realised that this would be impossible. The only match of the series completed was the No. 2 service match, comprising application, snapshooting and rapid fire practices at 300 yards, the winner of which was D. S. McKenzie, Opaki, with 82 out of a possible 100.

Shooting was completed in the 300 yards snapshooting practice of the No. 3 service match, and application practices at 500 yards will be fired to-morrow afternoon. After the completion of these practices the 50 highest scores will be compiled, and the marksmen obtaining these will constitute the service 50 who will take part in tlie final match for the service championship on Wednesday morning. How Aucklanders Fared.' The Auckland scorers in the King and Henry match were: Blomfield and Bowes, 97; Elliott, 90; Russell and Spry, 95; Kelly and Parkinson, 94; Simmonds, 92; Harris, 91; Wakefield, 90; Devore, 89; Clark and Parry, 88. Of these, Blomfield, Bowes and Elliott were placed. Of the Whangarei representatives W. Norris was fifth with 101, and J. Norris, 97, and Wilton, 9G, were placed. Palmer, of Omana, made 90. In the first service mateli the Auckland City Club members placed were: Devore, 81; Simmonds, 79; Parkinson, 74; Blomfield, 72; Clark, 71. Others were: Spry, 08; 'Russell, 07; Bowes, 40. Lea_ding Aucklanders in the snapshooting practice of the second match were: Devore, 111; Simmonds and Clark, 107; Blomfield and Wakefield, 100; Spry, 98; Parkinson, 95; Parry, 94. Detailed scores:— King and Henry Match, seven rounds at 300, 500 and 600 yards.— £5 and King and Henry trophy: A. H. O'Donnell (Petone), 102. £4: C. J. Nix (Featherstone), 102. £3 each: R. H. Nicoll (Petone), 102; J. Jeune (Gisborne), 102. £2 each: W. Norris (Whangarei), 101; F. T. White (Okawa), 101; J. E. Farley (Wanganui), 101; I. L. Ford (Wanganui), 101. Thirty-four took £1 each and 14 took 10/ each. The winner of the B grade was J. H. Maedonald (Alfredton), with 101. No. 2 Service Match, five rounds application, five rounds snapshooting and ten rounds rapid, each at 300 yards.— £4: D. S. McKenzie (Opaki). 82. £3: A. G. Devore (Akarana). 81. £2: W. J. Burton (Okawa), 81. £1 each: H. W. Feast (Greytown). 80; A. E. Tantrum (Levin). 80; H. Simmonds (Auckland), 79; D. Rankin (Karori), 78; W. N. Masefield (Blenheim), 78; F. Hiscock (Christchurch), 76; W. J. Melver (Petone), 76; H. Kine (Opaki), 76; I. L. Ford (Wanganui). 76; J. A. Munro (Mataura), 76; >T. E. Farlev (Wanganui), 75; D. F. Keir (Christchiircli). 75: C. H. Gower (Wanganui). 74: S. C. Parkinson (Auckland City), 74: H. Frankland (Karori), 74. Sixteen others took 10/ each.