SPARROW SHOOTING.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 16851, 3 June 1920, Page 8

SPARROW SHOOTING.

« i NEW- ZEALAND CHAMPIONSHIP. The New Zealand Gun Clubs' Association's Sparrow Championship was decided on the Chriatchurch Gun Club's ground at 'Sockburn yesterday. The match was originally set down to be carried out by the Styx G ivn Club, but as that club could r.ot meet f.htv flnancia.l responsibility, the Christ church Club undertook to conduct the competition. Considerable difficulty was experienced in securing sparrows for tho match, and every av;iilablo fvourc-3 of supply was taxed .-during the past ten days. Even then the supply was short for r.ll tho matches contemplated, and competitors a,Treed to accept linnets as sparrows and to retire at three misses. It was found that there were just sufficient live, birds for the championship, and tho two £25 handicap sparrow matches hod to bo abandoned in favour of clays. The club's new traps were used, and gave srroat satisfaction, their use enabling the match to b© put throuo-h in record time. Shooting started at 10.20 a.m., and finished at 3 p.m. * Before the nvetinp; commenced, the secretary, Mr D. F. Dennrhy, paid that he resetted to announoe that ha had 'list received n«ws of the death of the president of New Zealand Gun Clubs' Association, Mr T. A. Bambor. 'cf "Wnnganai. Mr C. E. Brown, a member of the Council, who represented the Association at the jratherinsr, spoke as_a personal fric-nd of the late Mr B;imber, eulog-iein-j his mtiny sterling qualities, and tho shooters in silence passed a motion expressing their deep regret at Mr Bomber's decease, and their sir.core sympathy with his relative".

Mr Dennehy also congratulated Mr E. F. Stead, a vice-pre si.-lent of the Christchurch Gun Club, on his success in the City Council election on the previous day.

The Championship Match carried with it besides the iew Zealand title, a gold medal with a blue enamel centre round a diamond, and £18 first prize, i'2o as second prize, and £12 aa third prize. Conditions were: Seven shots each at 18 yards, 21 yards, and 23 yards. For'y-3ix entries wero received from all parts of New Zealand, the cornp?titore, apart from vell-knp-vn local men, including E. Groome, of Ilawke's Jiay (li =-t year's champion); H. Ellis, of Pntane, INTapi?,r (secretary of tho En-3t Coast Gun C'lub); L. p. Hughes, of Auckland (nn ex-champion and a shootcT well-known tliroagiiout Australasia); J. Jones, of Canterbury (1020 clavbird champion); A. N. Turner and C. N. Byrne, of Dunedin: the three brothers Tnit, of Kaikoura; the brothers, of Kaikrmro; J. Skelling, of Rungiora, and many others. Mr A. L. Falls, of >7apier, acted as referee, and Mr G. V. Orma.ndy ps scorer. Tho arrangements for the match were r<rry completely carried out by the sccrftarr (Mr D. F. LVnnehv), who received valuable Resistance from Messrs Etrney, Pamnond, H. Vale, and others. There was a larga attendance of onlookers, and t)>o keenest intrant was shown in the e-hooting.

The liarlit wm rathtrf dull, hut «omo excellent ma.rksman.°hip was witnessed. The finish was an exciting one, a.s the recond round left onlv two competitors, V,\ Chisnall (Christcliurch) and C. E. Brown (Sumner, late of Lvttelton), who had not rri=s<-d a hit*. l .. Each misled'a bird in tho third round, thus tying, and they decided to divide the first end second money, taking £31 each, and then shot off for the championship and ohi3r.«?l miswd his lirst shot in the r,hootoff, and Brown J?ra3F..-d his bird and cra-ined the title. Third money was i-ecurcd by L. Moffat, of Christchurch.

Ths first eix f<-sr« -wore:—C. E. Brown (Sumner), 38yds 7, 21 yds 7, 23yds 0; total ?(). W. C'liijn?H 7, 7, G— CO; L. Mnffatt (ChriTtchvrch), 7, 6,-G—l9: C. Truscott fChriptchnroh), 5, 7, 6—IS: P. F. I!ru (Christchtiroli), 6, 7, —IS; E. F. St<v.d (Chmtchnrch), 6, 5, • 7—IS.

The champion 'vr. s presented, to Brown by Sir E. 1\ Stead.

A Clay Bird Handicap il:ito>h, of 20 r, 2 s out, with pri/'« of .£'.s, *7, nn-1 was then decided. ThfTo v.-?rc 31 corajjoiitors, and C. Tniscott (ChriatcVjr'-M arid A. Turner (Dunodin), with 10 o-,ich. divided first, and second money. third nionrv pliiirer! by G. Bni»r: (Bnr.s-ioni), E. Hammond fChristchurch). L. (C'lri.Mc'mrr-h), K? Stro<?ter (fchriitchurch), F. Pi'ch<n- (llav.-ar-den), ;>r.*i L. P. (AncM.-.nd). A .-£1 Fweopstake. first miss cat, '"as also d-ocid-ed before the failing lisrht ftoT>x>*d shootin;? 'or th? day, and w-js won By C. Truscolt (Chrietclnirch).