THE TRENTHAM MEETING. THE CHAMPION AND THE RUNNER-UP

Press, Volume L, Issue 14909, 6 March 1914, Page 10

THE TRENTHAM MEETING.

THE CHAMPION AND THE RUNNER-UP

— • - FINAL STAGE OF THE KING'S PRIZE. WON BY MASEFIELD (SOUNDS). AN EASY VICTORY. (press association* telegram.. TRENTHAM, March 5. The King's Prize, ten shots at 1000 yards—the final match for tho champion belt—was fired this afternoon at 3 o'clock. A fairly strong north-west-erly (rear) wind was blowing, and clouds obscured the sun. It was expected that Mas .field, tho president of the Sounds Rifle Club, who liad a commanding lead, would win, and this ex-■■:'-elation was borne out. Opening with two for his sighter. Masefield started with a bullseye and his full score was as f0110w5:—54354-44-5, total 44. which brought his grand total up to 625, or sixteen points ahead of the second man, Lieut. Simmonds. of the Railway Corps, Blenheim, who scored 40. giving him a total of 609. Rifleman H. Loveday, of Ohura, filled third place. Ho added 34 points to his original score of 570, and took third position with 604. RifleniaD Milroy, of Nelson, finished up with a total of 603, having increased his score by 39. Oliver (Ohura) was in fine shooting form, and wound up with a good score of 45, bringing his total up to 598, and GTven, of the Suburbs (Wellington) Club, finished on the same mark. Mclvor (Te Awaniutu) scored 42, his total being 595. Rifleman Eyles (Dannevirke), who has performed very consistently through the meeting, also added to his score by 42, and handed in a card of 592. Corporal Loveday (Woodville) made the highest score in tho match, 46, and the individual scores dwindled down to 28. Owing to the weather conditions tlio shooting in many cases wa_ of an indifferent character, and there was nothing approaching any excitement on the mounds. There was only a fair attendance of the public. The visitors included tho Hon. R. Heaton Rhodes (PostmasterGeneral), General Godley. Colonels Heard, Johnstone, Cochrane, and Robin, Lieut.-Colonel Newall, the Hon. Lieut.-Colonel Baillio, M.L.C.. and Mrs i'.illie, and Mr J. P. Luke (Mayor of Wellington). THE WORK OF THE ASSOCIATION. At the close of the contest the victor was warmly cheered, congratulated, and chaired shoulder-high by his comrades and fellow-competitors. The men wero then lined up in front of a platform on which the trophies tp be presented were arranged. Colonel Collins, chairman of tho executive, speaking from the dais, thanked the public for their presence and their encouragement. Tho competitors had experienced all sorts of weather, and in consequence reputations had been made and lost. He thanked the Government for their liberal treatment of the Association, pointing out that sistance amounted to a grant of £750, ammunition valued at £500, free railway passes estimated at £250, equipment, and the services of 25 members of the permanent force. He also mentioned tho fact that as the services of the Permanent Artillery men were not available as markers this year, they had oeen compelled to seek the services of civilians, and this extra cost, amounting to about £250, had also boen borae by tho Government. Tlio employment of civilian markers had been something of an innovation, but he was pleased to say it had been an unqualified success, and he thanked the markers for their accuracy and promptitude. Colonel Collins then went on to refer to the services tho Association had given, since its establishment in _o< 9, to tne JJ-ominion. as a means of encouraging rifle shooting. An effort was being made to _eep the Association up to date by the inclusion of service matches in the programme. This was necessary to meet the military requirements, and had caused some criticism from those who pinned their faith to bull's-eye shooting, but he could say that whilo General Godley insisted upon tho men shooting under service conditions, he had no intention of banning the bull's-eye. (Applause.. Continuing, Colonel Collins said that the future of the Association lay with the rifle clubs, .which in .urn must bo fed from the Territorials. But good as the Territorial . system was, it was not"calculated to encourage keen shots • it did not give sufficient encouragement to practice, and as a remedy for this weakness he (Colonel Collins) advocated a more liberal supply of ammunition *o the younger branch of the service. They were in t*he habit of hearing the range described as "tricky Trentham," but ho hoped that this view would not be unduly dwelt upon, and so discourage young marksmen from coming to t■ *t? ' meetings, because a. srood scores coiiTd be put on at Trentham as on local ranrres. _lo honed that next yenr every experienced marKsman would brine a <yro with him. (Aoniause.) Colonel Collins then read apologies for absence from his ncy ,_o Governor, the Hon. W. F. Mns<sey, the Hon. James Alien, and Sir Joseph W. rd. and then called on +v . Hon. R. Heaton Rhodes to address T_. gathering. THE GOVERNMENT AND THE ASSOCIATION. Mr Rhodes said he was there to convey to all concerned the congratulations of the Ministry upon the success I of the meeting. He had beard that reputations had been lost on the range, I but lie hoped that by practice and perseverance they would be re-OV<*. Ed next year. He had also heard from Colonel Collins that there had been a shght decrease in the entries, but he felt confident that time would remedy that also. The Government was sympathetic with the work of the Association, nnd so. too were the military authorities. The appointment of musketry instructors proved that, and their work would be watched with the greatest interest. Mrs Godley had shown her practical sympathy with shooting by organism-, a series of contests amongst the Senior Cadets. Rifle clui.s were our second line of defence, out he hoped the . •'ay would never come wlien they would 1 be required. But they must no. depend ' upon skill with tbe rifle alone. They ! ; must learn the value or drill and discipline. As an unorganised force they could do' nothing. Field practice was ' also a necessary adjunct to their useful- ' ness. and in return for what assistance . the Government gave them, they ex- ■ pected them to enter heartily into the ! i sn : rit of the service matches. There j ' was no desire to abolish the bull's-eye ' practice, but th««y must recognise that ! they were in a stage of transition. .. ' change was taking place at BisJey. _n 3 ' it must come here. too. . c congratulat- i ed Rifleman Masefield and Marlborouah I upon his win, nnd he was glad to sco amoncst them Lieut.-Colonel Baillie, a < veteran of tbe Indian wars, who repre- ! sented Marlborough, and who would l . extend his congratulations to tho win- i nor. (Cheers.) The Hon. Lieut.-Colonel Baillie. , M.L.C.. then spoke a few felicitous ( words, and the crowd broke out into a c burst of lusty cheering as the cham- c pion bowed his acknowledgments. > Tht- prizes were then presented to the \ winners by Mrs R. • ''-"ins, wife of , Colonel Collins, and, amidst another _ round of applause for Rifleman .Tns. - j field, whose win was an exceedinsly t

popular one, the championship meeting of 11.'1-1 came to an end.

President *W. N. Masefield, of tho Sounds Rifle C'luj, is a native of Akaroa, aud is 32 years of age. He has spent most of his life af Mauaroa, Marlborough Sounds, where his parents went to reside when ne was about live years old. Mr Masefield has a tine career, as a rifleman. Ho joined the Sounds Rifle Ciub when 20 years old, and at 21 was elected president. He is very popular with his club-mates. Tho present is his ninth Trentham meeting, and he has got into the King's 50 on seven occasions. Ho has always been recognised as a good team shot, and when thc United Service Match was organised he was one of the first selected. He has fired in even- United Service Match, and his score of 104 out ot a possible 106 at m\.'o, 600, and GOO yards, still stands as a record on the Trentham range. Ou three occasions he has been top in the match, and onco second. As an individual shot ho has many good performances. Cot tho least being his 101 93, n-i -" ■+~ made at the present meeting. Threo ycaiv. ago Mr Masefield visited the i'islcy meeting, where he got into rro-t of the vn.?.f lists, won a grand aggregate meda!.. ->*ia" got his King's badge for getting in tK> final hundred of the Kinc's Prize Matth. Hft has throe Empire Matches to his credit —two in Australia and one in New Zealand. In tho latter hi" was the highest in tho match, and was high up~T"t Australia. Mr Masefield is also a good gun shot, and a first-class golf player. Lieut. Herbert Simmonds is tha son of Mr LI. A. Simmonds. now of Picton, nnd was born at Koromiko, or. ihe Picton road, twenfy-sevon years ago. His association with the rifle began five years ago, when he joined the Picton Volunteers as a private. He soon gained promotion to the rank of sergeant, and six months ago signed on with tho Territorials, when he obtained his commission as a lieutenant. He developed a capacity for shooting very early in his volunteering experience, making some good scores on the Waikawa range. In 1909 he came to Trentham for the first time, and for a beginner did remarkably well. In 1910 he got in the final fifty, in 1912 he was only two points away, and last year four points away. In 1912 he was leading for the service championship until the final shoot, when he fell away into seventh position. This year he came from 17th placo into oth and only wanted three hits to win. In recognition of his consistency as a shot, Lieut. Simmonds was the first chosen for the united service match, and has also been selected to represent New Zealand in the Empire Cup Match if that Imperial event takes place in Melbourne this year. The following is the result of the firing for the KING'S PRIZE, distance 1000 yds, ten shots, 3isiey targets. Rifleman Masefield (Sounds), Champion Belt and £2S .. •• •• ">•""" Lieutenant Simmonds, £16 .. •• 609 Rifleman 11. Lcveciuy (Olmra), .£l2 .. 605 Kifleman Milroy (Nelson), £3 .. ..603 Rifleman Oiiver (Ohura), £i .. ..593 Riiieman Given (Suburbs), £4 ..533 Rifleman Mclvcr (Te Awamutu), £4 .'. 598 Rifleman Eyles (Dannevirke), £4 .. 532 Rifleman Henderson (Sounds), £4 .. 591 Rifleman Bent (Signalling Corps), £4 .. 591 Rifleman Soper (Tua Marina), £4 .. 530 Rifleman Mcintosh (Opaki), £4 .. 589 Tho following won £1 12s each: — Rifleman Chee6eman (Tua Marina) .. SSS Rifleman Brownlee (Auckland) .. .. 587 Sergeant-Major Frank (Staff) .. ~ 58" Rifleman T. King (Inglewooa- .. ~ 566 Rifleman Cherneide (Karori) .. .. SSS Rifleman Causley (Thames) ... .. 531 Rifleman Hunt (Suburbs) .. .. 584 King (9th Regiment) .. .... ~ 534 Rifleman James (Okawa) .. .. 584 Rifleman Carter (Petone) .» ..581 Devore (3rd Regiment) .. .. 683 Rifleman Patrick (Auckland) .. .. 533 Rifleman Loveday (Woodville) .. .. 583 Tho following won 16s each:—Devore (Oamaru) 583, Hartnoll (Dannevirke) 532, i'jjoj Potter (Reserve) and Bolton (Opaki), each 580; Marenzi (Kaitawa), Engstrom (Opaki) 579, Sharland (12th Regiment), and Thomas (Hautere), each 578; G. Loveday (Ohura), Sandford (Christchurch), Deihl (Mangawoka), Mason (Dannevirke), each 577; Gillan (Dunodin), Corporal Ching, each 576; Lane (Akarana), Narbey (Eltham), Feast (Op.iki), each 575; Duncan (13th Regiment), Whito (Christchurch), each 574, Moselem (Kaeo), 573; Croxton (Karori), I Knowles (Taihape), each 572; Caldwell (Kanieri), Cuthbertson (Tua Marina), each 567; Craw (Linton), 563. UNITED SERVICE MATCH. Rifle Chibs, £10 and Dawson Shield .. 897 Territorials' team .. .. ..89; Staff team .. .. .. .. 65i RIFLE CLUB CHAMPION TEAMS' MATCH. Ohura Rifle Club. COLONIAL AMMUNITION COMPANY'S CUP, for team with highest aggregate over long langes. Suburbs Rifle Club, £2 12s 6d .. l"3] Sounds Rifle Club, £1 12s 6d ' .. IHC Opaki Rifle Club No. _, £11* .. U3J Kaponga Rifle Club .. .. ~ 1122 Karori Rifle Club No. 2 .. ~ U2C Lintjon Riflo Club No. 1 .. .. mj Karori Rifle Club No. 1 .. .. ni** CHAMPION TEAMS' MATCH, 300, 500 and £00 -yard!", seven ehots. Opaki Rifle Club No. 1, £3 and Shield 4C7 Christchurch Rifle Club, £6 .. 45J Ohura Rifle Club, £4 .. .. !! 44g Suburbs Rifle Club No. 1, £3 "' 445, Tua Marina Rifle Club, £3 .' 449 Auckland City Rifle Club, £2 .. ' 44a Te Aroha Riflo Club .. .. '.'Tie Maurioevillo Rifle Club .. "444 Karori Riflo Club No. 1 "441 Sounds Rifle Club .. " 443 Sergeant-Major takes tho Ivynoch Cup for the hi.h«s ag- ; gregate score in tho Service Championship; j BISLEY AGGREGATE. I The following are the principal prizewinners in the Belcv aggregate: — Rifleman Masefield (Sounds), £4 .. 266 Rifhuian Soper (Tua Marina), £3 4a ..' 254 Rfleman H. Lovedav (Ohura), £3 4 S 253 .Rifleman Given (Suburbs), £2 8s "o2 Private Bent (Auckland), £2 8s ' -'51 Rifleman T. King (Inglewood), £2 & .. 251 Rifleman Cheoscmaii (Tua Marina), £1 . 1 - 3 •• •• ■• ..251 R'.floman Mclvcr (Te Awamutu). £1 12s 251 Rfleman Brownleo (Auckland), £1 i'2s.. 250 Rifleman J. Craw (Linton), £1 12s .. 243 The following won 163 each:—Rifleman Henderson (Sounds), Rifleman Armstrong (Whangamomona), each 218; Sergt. Shariand (12th Rest.), Rfleman Giilan (Dunedin), Private King (29th Regt.), each 247; Rifleman Loveday (Ohura), Rifleman Lane (Akarana), Rifleman Wallace (To Aroha), Rifleman Lumsden (Rangitikei). Rifleman Jonos (Akarana), Rifhman Ch:ri:side (Karori), each 215; Capt. Koc-s (Suburb?), Rifleman Causlejr (ThameF), Rifleman James (Oknwa*, Rifleman Carter (Nelson), each 212: Rifleman (Waiiftca), Rifleman Eylea (Dannevirke), R'fleman Healey (Ohura), Rifleman Caldwell (Karon). raoh 241; Rifleman Vermeil (Tiiilarau) 240.