SOUTH AFRICA WINS

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22336, 25 February 1938, Page 4

SOUTH AFRICA WINS

INTERNATIONAL RIFLE MATCH SUPERIORITY OVER LONG RANGES NEW ZEALAND BEATS BRITAIN FOR SECOND PLACE (press association telegram.) . TRENTHAM, February 24. South Africa had an easy victory In the international teams’ match with Great Britain and New Zealand, which was fired over four ranges at Trentham today. With an aggregate score of 1831, out of a possible 2000, its representatives won the match by a margin of 28 points. The New Zealand team finished second, with a score of 1803, and the British team was third, with 1801. Definite superiority over the long ranges gave the South Africans their victory. Although the New Zealand team had a comfortable lead after firing at the short range, it progressively lost ground as tne teams moved back for their shooting over the longer distances. The teams consisted of 10 men each The conditions of the match were lo rounds each, with two optional sighters at 300. 600. 800 and 900 yards. Two targets were allocated to each team. The South Africans adopted a differentprocedure from other teams, shooting in groups of four and two men firing alternatively at one target. The South Africans used a short rifle of light pattern, and most members of the British team used a specially bedded light barrel heavily cut down. A long barrel was used by most of the New Zealanders. The shooting conditions were tricky tor most of the day the sky wasovercest and dull, and a changeable light made sighting difficult. A fish-tail breeze blew from the rear. This was hard to follow and caused windage and elevation shots on many of the targets. South African Personnel Although the commander of the South African team, Colonel R. Bodley, basbeen shooting better than some member a of to selected team, he acted as their captain and coach, feeling that he couid be of more value to the team by serving inthat capacity. Colonel Bodley has been at Bislev several times, and in 1936 ished y third in the match for be British King’s Prize. Another memoer of die team. L I Johnson, of Durham was second in the King’s that fear The Governor General’s prize in the UiUon of Soutn Africa the equivalent of the King s Brize, has been won by Colonel Bodley eight U H?s’ son. Captain R. E. Bodley la also a member of the team. Captam Bodley is the present holder of the Governor General’s Prize of South Africa. other "c'S, "fS Sv^j'tavrwon minor championships. British Most of the members of the tsrui^u kTng’s h mrnd b red n af BLiey'anThavc^shot landH'orHEng^nd-^^h^co^mander.Cpnij mandor D S. Swanston, who is a retire naval officer, has obtained a placc Hundred nine tinws. Last year Sb\r P of Ze the an team. Birney ba s distinction of as saSi-ft.’rT.’SHa s srv Andrews. Referee of Two Sports Armv a sVlmol°o£^nsfruc S tion at Trentham. Cofonel Bodley had the assistance of Captain Bodley and Mr A. E Spr a dbury hn. C ?hc fatte? two shot for their side as well Commander Swanston was captam C Mtoe°Ulsted r wUb’coaching Messrs T. H.* R. Boon and H. H. Mawiey 3 A°n analysis s of^he*scoring sheets shows that New Zealand had a nine-point lcM after the 300 yards range, with a score ,of 471 over the s °u th fric |^® k 4B a 2 t - British team scored 456 Back at me middle distance range of 600 yarns, tne one t point. ri< Here New Zealand ™ofd South Africa 458. and the British team 453. This brought the score ! land for the two ranges up to 928. that of South Africa to 920, and Great Britain S score to 909. South Africa Taker Lead South Africa overhauled the New Zealand team at the 800 yards range. a «d foe shooting finished there, with a margin of iwn nnints in favour of the visitors, me range P score of the South Africans was 461 and that of the New Zealanders 451. At this distance the members of the British team did better than the New Zealand representatives, returning a score of 457. For the three ranges South Africa's score was 1381. New Zealand s 1379, and England’s 1366. South Africa further increased Usi lead at the 900 yards range, where it made a score of 450, to give it an aggregate_of 1831 for the four ranges. New Zealand scored 424 at the 900 yards and England 435 The only possibles of the day were secured by South Africans. M. Eksteen obtaining one at 300 yards and J. Hague another at 600 yards. Keen interest was taken in the contest, the visitors including the GovernorGeneral (Viscount Galway) and the Minister for Defence (the Hon. F. Jones). The Minister congratulated Colonel Boaley on the success of his team and cheers were given for the South Africans. Detailed results; —

South Africa 300 600 yds. yds A. E. Spradbury ..47 44 R. Cloete .. 45 45 J. Hague .. 47 50. R. E, Bodley .. 46 46 J. E. Johnson .. 45 43 L. Boxhall .. 43 43 K. E. Griffiths .. 47 48 C. H. Baxter .. 47 45 M. Eksteen .. 50 46 J. Bramley ..45 48 800 yds 47 44 49 49 42 47 49 46 45 43 900 yds. Ttl. 44 182 42 176 46 192 44 185 46 176 44 177 45 189 45 183 46 187 48 184 Team total .. 462 458 461 450 1831 ■ New Zealand F. N. McVicar .. 48 45 40 46 179 J. McKelvle .. 46 44 43 40 173 H. K. Smith 48 45 48 43 184 F. H. James 45 46 43 45 179 D. Roots 47 47 44 44 182 F. W. Bowes .. 48 45 46 42 181 W H. West 46 44 45 44 179 A. Ford 47 49 47 39 182 F. J. Soler 48 45 48 39 180 C. J. Nix ' .. 48 47 47 42 184 Team total 471 457 451 424 1803 Great Britain C. W. Seard 46 48 45 43 182 N. W. McCaw 47 42 45 43 177 C. L. Hall 47 46 47 46 186 R. D. Greig 44 43 47 42 186 R. A. Fulton 43 47 47 46 183 A. J. Andrews .. 46 43 46 47 182 C. K, Laban 47 47 44 40 178 D L. Bivney 44 43 44 44 175 P. R. T. Garnett 46 49 47 39 179 R. E. W. Johnson 46 45 45 47 183 Team total .. 456 453 457 435 1801