RIFLE SHOOTING

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21954, 1 December 1936, Page 4

RIFLE SHOOTING

NOTES AND COMMENTS [By BULLSEYE] Fixtures December s—-Oakes Shield challenge match. Sydenham v. Christchurch, at Tai Tapu. December 19—Sydenham Defence Club's second competition (300 and 600 yards), at Redcliffs. December 26—Canterbury rifle meeting. February 27, 1937—Jack Shield competition. March 5, 10, 1937—National Rifle Association’s annual prize meeting at Trentham. Sydenham Defence Club Conditions were most unpleasant when members of tire Sydenham Defence Club began firing in the club's first three-range competition at Redcliffs on Saturday afternoon. A strong south-westerly wind, which at times reached gale force, made the task of marksmen extremely difficult, and after two targets had been made useless it was decided to abandon the shooting at the 500 and 600 yards ranges. Following are the scores at 300 yards:—F. Hodge 34, H. Barker 33. R. Sowden 32, W. Barrett 32, C. Thom 30, D. Mawer 30, A. Burberry 30, R. Kilday 29, C. Poulsen 29, A. Webb 29, R. Poulsen 29, F. Scott 29, P. Morgan 29, A. Bicker 29, F. Gaynor 28, W. Cockroft 28, J. McCarthy 28, R. Ball 27, W. Tritt 26, T. Foulds 25, H. Ross 23, W. Green 22. W. Pattison 22. S. Parks 22. Rangiora Club The Rangiora Defence Rifle Club held its fourth club competition on Saturday afternoon. A strong southerly wind made shooting difficult. The conditions were seven shots at 300, 500, and 600 yards. Following are the leading scores:—

In spite of the difficult conditions, F. Hodge and H. Barker, two members of the Sydenham Club, gained creditable scores at the 300 yards range at Redclilfs on Saturday. Hodge’s score card read 4555555—t0tal 34; and Barker's. 5550544total 33. H. Edwards shot most consistently to win the Kaiapoi Club’s three range competition on Saturday. A possible at the 500 yards range was a feature of his shoot. The first Oakes Shield challenge match for a considerable time will be held at Tai Tapu on Saturday between Christchurch (holder) and Sydenham (challenger). Teams will consist of 10 men, the conditions being seven shots at 300, 500, and 600 yards. Constable S. W. Mcßurney, a member of the Sydenham Defence Club, has been transferred to Denniston. He was recently met by Lyttelton members of the police force, and Sergeant D. Wilson presented him with an Oxford dictionary autographed by members of the force. Constable Mcßurney will leave for Denniston to-day. Australian Team for Bisley With the South Australian test completed, there are now seven members definitely selected to repx-esent Australia in the team which wall compete at Bisley next year, through the generosity of Mr J. Woolcott-Forbes (Sydney) in providing £SOOO towards the of the tour. N. E. Blurton and R. E. Wallace were chosen some weeks ago as the Western

Australian representatives. Last week W. T. Collyer (Cyclists) and W. Lucas, jun. (Berri). after four days of strenuous shooting, finished equal with 698 points at the Port Adelaide ranges, and were invited by the association to join the team. It is understood that both will accept the invitation. G. L. Nutt (Adelaide). who finished third in the test, was selected as emergency. The South Australian Rifle Association is to be commended for the excellent arrangements made for the test last week. There were 22 selected riflemen from all parts of the state, and all were down on the firing mounds together, each with a separate coach. Thus it was that 44 experts (riflemen and coaches) were all shooting under the same conditions with changes of weather not affecting one competitor more than another.

300yds 500yds 600yds Hep. Tl. W. Heney .. 31 31 34 scr 96 A. Preslney .. 31 30 23 7 96 S. Thompson .. 31 31 29 3 94 R. Bowman .. 33 32 23 5 93 C. Butters .. 29 31 32 scr 92 J. Cook .. 27 31 28 6 92 Ashburton Club The Ashburton Defence Club opened its season on Saturday with a competition at 300 and 500 yards. Following is the result: — . 300yds 500yds Hep. Tl. N. Bonn .. 43 45 10 98 F. Porter .. 47 46 3 96 L. McNatty .. 42 49 3 94 A. Bonn .. 43 48 1 92 B. Cleary .. 40 42 7 89 G. Lusk .. 41 46 2 89 R. Watson .. 38 38 9 85 J. Welsh .. 33 35 10 78 Jottings