RIFLE SHOOTING

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22308, 24 January 1938, Page 3

RIFLE SHOOTING

NOTES AND COMMENTS [By BULL'S EYE] Fixtures January 29—Oakes Shield Challenge Match, Sydenham v. Ashburton, at Ashburton. January 29—Christchurch Defence Club s second long-range competition (800 and 900 yards), at Tai Tapu. February 19—Canterbury Rifle Association's Jack Shield meeting, at Redcliffs. February 23—Wairarapa championships

at Trentham. _._ February 25, March 2—National Rifle Association's annual prize meeting, at Trentham.

Sydenham Defence Club The Sydenham Defence Rifle Club fired its sixth competition at Redcliffs on Saturday. With the exception of a light shower during the afternoon, conditions were ideal and some outstanding scores were registered, particularly at the 500 yards range. The conditions were 10 shots at 300 yards and 11 shots at 500 yards, with two optional sighters at each distance. Following is the result:—

S. Parks 48, 48, scr—96; H. Barker 45, 50. scr—9s; F. Hodge 44, 50, scr—94; V. Tims 46, 48, scr—94; A. Ross 42, 48, 4 94; C. Thorn 38. 52, 2—92; P. Le Brun 40, 45, 5—90; D. Clayton-Mawer 40, 50, scr—--90; C. Poulsen 41, 43, 5—89; P. Jack 43, 41, 5—89; R. Poulsen 40, 46, 2—88; K. Walker 39, 40, 5—84; H. Gillum 33, 43. 7 83; R. Burbery 31, 48, 4—83; W. Turner 31, 42, 9—82; R. Hodge 32. 38, 4—74 Service Competition

The Christchurch Defence Rifle Club fired its first service competition at Redcliffs on Saturday afternoon. The conditions were as follows:—300 yards: five shots application, seven shots rapid, seven shots snap-shooting on the ordinary target and six shots snap-shooting on the small disc; 500 yards: five shots application and seven shots application. Following are the results:—

Jottings Latest entries to hand for the big National Rifle Association meeting at Anzac Range (New South Wales) in February next, include one from W. Webster, a member of the National Rifle Association City Rifle Club, London. At present in South Africa, he is going to Australia with the South African team, due to arrive in Sydney by the s.s. Themistocles on January 28. The Oakes Shield challenge match between Ashburton (the holder) and Sydenham (the challenger), which was abandoned on two occasions earlier in the season on account of unsuitable weather, will take place at Ashburton next Saturday.

With a score of 100 off -the rifle, W. Tritt was the winner of the Sydenham Defence Club's sixth competition at liedcliffs on Saturday. His score card read. 300 yards, 5445455555; 500 yards, 4554.

It is safe to say that a King's prize winner from every part of the British Empire will be competing in the sesquicentenary matches of the National Rille Association of New South Wales. Competitors who take part in this meeting will represent the greatest gathering ox expert marksmen the world has known.

The following will represent the Syden- [ ham Defence Club in the Oakes Shield match at Ashburton next Saturday:—S. Parks, S. O. Hay, F. Hodge, J. McCarthy, H. Barker, W. Tritt. and W. Barrett. Emergencies: D. Clayton-Mawer. P. Morgan, and A. Ross. The leaders in the Christchurch' Defence Rifle Club's championship (cutting out one lowest) three and two-range competition are as follows:—D. Keir 583, D. Murray 577, E. Truman 575, G. Crimp 575, R; Weston 573, T. Hiscock 572, H. Jones 569. The leaders in the three-range aggregate are:—D. Keir 394, D. Murray 391. F. Hiscock 389, R. Weston 388, E. Truman 387, G. Crimp 387. H. Harries 385, H Jones 385, D. Harries 382. R. Weston showed his skill as a service marksman at Redclift's on Saturday by winning the Christchurch Defence Club's service competition by a clear margain of- nine points. There were no fewer than five scores of 52 registered at 500 yards in the Sydenham Defence Club's sixth competition at Redcliffs on Satuiday. These were registered as follows:—H. Barker, 55454545555; C. Thoni. 44—45545555455: S. O. Hay. 55545545545; P. Morgan, 44—55445554555; R. Kilday, 3—5555444535. S. Parks, with 48, had the leading score at 300 yards. His t-core card read; 4—5555554545. New Zealand Team Sails The New Zealand rifle team which will ■take part-in-the-sesquicentenary matches df'the National Rifle Association of New' South Wales sailed from Wellington by the Wanganella on Thursday evening. With such a high calibre of shooting at present in New Zealand, opinions differ as to whether the team as selected is the best the Dominion is capable of producing. However, it is a solid combination, containing- some well-experienced and seasoned marksmen, whose records have evidently carried weight with the selectors in their arduous task. The team will be under the command of Captain W. N. Masefield, of Blenheim, who needs no introduction to marksmen throughout New Zealand. A brief summary of his record is as follows: —Winner of ; the New Zealand King's three times, New Zealand grand aggregate five times, Wairarapa aggregate six times, South Island championship three times. He has represented New Zealand on 14 occasions. Riflemen throughout New Zealand will watch with interest the performance of Ihe New Zealand team in company with the world'** best, on the Anzac Range, Sydney,, next month. The Empire Trophy

The Empire Trophy, a beautiful shield of unusual design and workmanship, which will be competed for at the Anzac Range, Sydney, on February 14 and 15, was presented by the Commonwealth Council of Rifle Associations in 1907. The inatch is for teams of eight past or present members of the naval and military forces of the United Kingdom, Canada, South Africa, India, Australia, New Zealand, and other units of the British Empire. The ranges usually fired over are 300, 500, and 600 yards on the first day, and 800, 900, and 1000 yards on the second day. In 1924 a time limit was imposed, and still holds. It is one hour at 300 and 500 yards; one hour and 10 • minutes at 000 yards: one hour and 20 minutes at 800 yards; one hour and 30 minutes at OQO yards; and one hour and 45 minutes at 1000 yards. iTwo targets are allotted to each team, and each man fires at each range, two sighters and 10 rounds to count. The times allowed will be seen to be sufficient, and even a little generous in view of the importance, of the match. In the Kolopore Cup match, also shot for by teams of eight, the time limit is one hour at each range, but only one sighting shot is allowed. This probably means a saving of 10 minutes at each range. Up to now the winners have been either the Commonwealth or Great Britain, each country having held it four times. In 1907 New Zealand was only 49 points behind Australia, the winners. In 1910 Canada was 72 points behind Great Britain, Australia being in third place. In the nine matches so far shot, Australia has been in nine, Great Britain in eight, Canada in five, India and New Zealand in four, and South Africa and Singapore each in one. The Empire match is recognised as the most important team event in the Empire, and will undoubtedly provide a stirring contest at Sydney next month.

300yds. 500yds. Hep. Tl w Tritt .. 47 53 2 102 R. Kilday .. 43 52 7 102 P. Morgan .. 47 52 2 101 P. Riches .. 45 51 5 101 H. Barker .. 47 52 1 100 J. McCarthy .. 46 51 1 98 V. Brown .. 44 48 6 98 S. O. Hay .. 44 52 1 97 W Barrett .. 47 49 scr 96 A. Webb .. 44 48 4 96

3 ■o >> ■a ■3 1 •a a O . a 2 a a 5 «' a, <o a n a nj C .£2 $ c 03 c a n 73 4J r° R. Weston 24 23 27 26 23 29 10 162 E. Truman 23 24 27 22 23 31 3 153 M. Judkins 22 19 23 21 23 33 10 151 D. Baker 22 19 25 18 21 33 12 150 D. Keir 18 24 24 26 25 31 scr 148 S. Nelson 24 16 26 8 21 30 14 139 F. Hiscock 23 21 26 20 22 25 scr 137 F. Judkins 22 20 29 4 19 26 14 134 H. Jones 19 12 20 16 20 26 12 125 R. Rundle 19 19 16 26 14 22 5 121 A. Washbourne 19, 11, 17, 14, 23. 23. 12— 119; H. Harries 23. 17. 20 >, 9. 22, 17, 10—118; G. Crimp 22, 17 . 25 , 0, 21. 28. 3— 116: A. Bruning 20, 17. 22. ! 9. 22, 22, scr— 112; C. Malzard 17, 16. 8, 4, 17, : 24, 15—98: W. Hamilton 15, 15. 1 9, 0. 21. 27, 5—92; J . Biggs 13, 15, 12, 8. 8. 9, , 20—85.