RIFLE SHOOTING AT TRENTHAM

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22335, 24 February 1938, Page 16

RIFLE SHOOTING AT TRENTHAM

OVERSEAS MARKSMEN COMPETE GOOD PERFORMANCE BY SOUTH AFRICANS INTERNATIONAL MATCH TO-DAY (PBESS ASSOCIATION TBLIOEAM.) TRENTHAM, February 23. The first appearance ever made in New Zealand by representative marksmen from Great Britain and South Africa was at Trentham to-day, when members of visiting teams from the two countries competed at the annual meeting of the Wairarapa Rifle Association. They are to take part in an international teams’ match with New Zealand to-morrow. The South Africans made a particularly good showing, and their names figured prominently in the prize lists. Members of the British team also acquitted themselves well, but several of them failed to reproduce the form they recently displayed in Australia. South Africa provided the winner of the Wairarapa championship in C. H. ) Baxter, who is a member of the Pietermaritzburg Rifle Club. In the four onerange matches comprising the championship series, he dropped only three points with his 28 rounds. The runner-up for the championship was P. R. T. Garnett, of the British team, who was one point behind Baxter, with 136 out of a possible ;340. Baxter received the congratulations of competitors on his success, and was . warmly applauded as a bulls-eye was signalled from the butts to give him the championship with an aggregate score of 137.

Ever since its first meeting, more than 40 years ago. the Wairarapa Association has always fired its competitions at Papawai. but this year’s meeting was held at Trentham, to attract competition from the i visiting teams. By adopting this course, ■the executive of the association also provided the visitors with an opportunity to gain experience of Trentham conditions and to try out their rifles over the ranges they will fire in the international contest to-morrow. Twenty-five targets were required to accommodate the record entry of 223 competitors. There are 13 men in each of tiie visiting teams. The British team is In charge of Commander D. S. Swanston, and Colonel R. Bodley is commander of the South African team. In addition to these overseas visitors, India is repre- . sented at the meeting by Major P. S. Bapty, formerly of the Indian Army. The British team also includes D. L. Birney. who won the King’s Prize at Bisley last year. The meeting was attended by strong contingents from Wellington and Wairarapa rifle clubs, as well as marksmen from other parts of the Dominion, who will be taking part in the national rifle meeting, which will begin on Friday. The South Africans will be taking part In the national meeting, and. judging by their performance to-day. they are expected to provide some strong competition. As the members of the British team are sailing for England by the Akaroa early in the week, they will not be able to attend that meeting. The matches were fired in brilliant sunshine. A slight drift from the right rear disturbed the aim of some marksmen. and others met elevation troubles. The visitors had little difficulty in mastering the conditions, and the shooting was of a generally high standard. Results:— Service Match (seven rounds rapid and seven rounds snap-shooting, each at 300 yards)—£3; L. Boxhall (South Africa), 62 points. £2; J. -R. Keoghan (Westport), 62 points. £1 each: H. T. R. Boon (Karon). 61 points; E. A. Spradbury (South Africa), 60 points; R. Congreve (Old Navals). M. C. Ekstein (South Africa), 58 feints each: E. A. Johns (Auckland City), 7 points; R. H. Nicholls (Petone), D. F. Perrin (Auckland City), P. R. Cleote (South Africa), 56 points each; Roy Donald (Featherston), 55 points; J. McKelvie (Karori), 54 points. Twenty received 10s each, and 20 5s each. Bidwlll Match (seven rounds at 300 yards)—£l 10s each; L. Hare (Karori), L. J. Milne (England), P. R. Cleote (South Africa). C. J. Nix (Featherston). C. H. Baxter (South Africa), M. Jones (Wanganui), 35 points each. £1 each: H. R. Hunt (Suburbs). F. H. James (Napier). D. Hoots (Patea), P. R. T. Garnett (England), E. J. C. Reston (Akarana), 34 points each. Twenty-four received 10s each, six 5s each, and five 2s each. First place in the B grade was filled by A. Falconer (Mataura) and R. B. McKenzie (Rangitlkel), who received £1 10s each. Wellington Match (seven rounds at 600 yards)—£3: C. H. Baxter (South Africa). 35 points. £1 6s 8d each; R. D. Greig (England). H. K. Smith (Opaki), R. B. Gray (Okato), 34 points each. £1 each: H. Harries (Christchurch), C. Falconer (Balclutha), J. McKelvie (Karori), N. McCaw (England), R. E. W. Johnsen (England). J. Paterson (Wanganui), R. R. D. Rolaton (Levin), Roy Donald (Featherston), 34 points each. Twenty-three took 10s each, five 8s each, four 5s each, and three 3s 4d each. The B grade was won by D. F. Perrin (Auckland City). Second place was taken by C. W. Eden (Wairau Valley). Buchanan Match (seven rounds at 800 yards)—£l 13s 4d each: P. R. J. Garnett (England), W. J. Hague (South Africa), 36 points each; R. Wakefield (Ashhurst), W. C. Gibb (South Africa), 35 points each. £1 each: T. Gruar (Petone), H. T. Boon (Karori), E. M. Castles (Waikopiro), J. Huston (Patea), J. Burnett (Gore), F. N. McVlcar (Walpukurau), H. A. Lumsden IHautere), 34 points each. Four received 12s 6d each. 19 10s each, five Ss each, five Ss each, and three 3s 4d each. R. R. D. Rolston (Levin) and R. B. McKenzie (Rangitlkel) tied for first place in the B grade, each registering the possible. Dominion Match (seven shots at 900 yards)—£2 10s each: A. H. O’Donnell (Petone), S. O. Hay (Christchurch), 35 points each. £1 each: C. H. Baxter (South Africa), P. R. T. Garnett (England). F. H. James (Napier), H. Harries (Christchurch), A. J. Andrews (England), iP. C. Hodge (Christchurch), S. Clark (Wairoa), J. W. Hague (South Africa), A. E. F. Whittington (England), R. A. Fulton (England), 34 points each. Twenty-five received 10s each, three 6s 8d each, and six 5s each. The B grade was won by J. Bishop (Hautere), with a possible. He takes the prize of £2. Championship Grand Aggregate for the highest aggregate scores in the Bidwlll Match, the Wellington Match, the Buchanan Match, and the Dominion Match—£s and trophy valued at £3, C. H. Baxter (South Africa), 137 points; £4. P. R. T. Garnett (England), 136 points: £2 and Bidwlll Memorial Challenge Belt and Shield. F. H. James (Napier). 134 points; £2 each. J. W. Hague (South Africa), 134 points: H Harries (Christchurch), 133 points. The challenge belt cannot be taken out of the Dominion and was therefore won by James'/fes the New Zealand competitor with the highest aggregate score in the champldttshlp series. B Grade Aggregate for highest aggregate scores in the championship series of matches—£3 and Walden Challenge Cup. H. R. Feast (Greytown), 133 points; £2, G. Wilson (Invercargill). 131 points; £1 each, C. Falconer (Balclutha), 131 points; R. B. McKenzie (Rangitlkel), 131 points; D. J. ,Flynn (Greytown), 131 points. • *.•

NEW ZEALAND TEAM SELECTED

CHRISTCHURCH MAN CHOSEN AS EMERGENCY 'C7BSOS ASSOCIATION TILEORAU.) TRENTHAM. February 23. Members of the New Zealand rifle team to compete against Great Britain and South Africa In the international teams match to-morrow were selected at Trentham to-night. ... Captain W. N. Masefield (Blenheim) will act as captain and coach of the team, and the other coaches will be Messrs T. H. R. Boon (Karori) and H. H. Mawley (Onakil. Members of the team will be: F. W. JBowes (Auckland City). A. Ford (Invertargill). F. James (Napier). J. McKelvie (Karori). F. N. Me Vicar (Waipukurau), C. J. Nix (Featherston). D. Roots (Patea), F. J. Soler (Wanganui), H. K. Smith (Ooakl). and W. H. West (Blenheim). Emergencies will be A. H. O’Donnell (Petone) and H. Harries (Christchurch).