NATIONAL RIFLE MEETING

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22338, 28 February 1938, Page 7

NATIONAL RIFLE MEETING

SERVICE TITLE WON BY AUCKLANDER SOUTH AFRICANS IN NEXT FOUR PLACES FINE PERFORMANCE BY YOUNG I MARKSMAN AT TRENTHAM ■X. (PEBSS ASSOCIATION TXLIGEAM,) WELLINGTON, February 27. By a margin of 13 points, D. F. Perrin, of the Auckland City Rifle Club, won the service championship at the national | rifle meeting at Trentham yesterday. He had an aggregate of 273 out of a possible j 300, and to drop only 27 points with the I 60 rounds he fired in the championship series was a fine performance for a tyro, particularly In view of the rough weather. throughout the day. Perrin becomes I holder of the Ross Carbine champion belt \ and he also receives the gold medal of the • National Rifle Association. The South African, R. E. Bodley, was runner-up for the championship with 260, and third, fourth, and fifth places were filled bv his fellow-countrymen, P. R. Cloete, L. Serfontein, and C. H. Baxter. Service matches are compulsory for all competitors. The use . of a single-arm sling was permitted by the Army Department for the first time this year. This is in conformity with the practice now followed at Bisley. Although most marksmen fitted the sling as an aid to shooting, there were several who preferred to shoot without it. particularly in rapidfire competitions. Four matches were fired in the service series. Three of them comprised application, rapid fire, and snapshooting practices at 300 and 500 yards, and the 50 : marksmen .with thfi.highest aggregate scores in these qualified for a place in the service 50 to fire 10 rounds application at 600 yards for the service championship. The scores made by these competitors in their three matches were carried forward and added to the scores made at 600 yards, the marksman with the highest aggregate score for all matches winning the championship. Poor Visibility Although conditions were far from pleasant on the range, they provided a real service test. All the matches were fired in a thick drizzling rain, and throughout the day visibility was poor. Accurate sighting was far from easy in I the murky weather, for at times there was almost a curtain of haze in front of the targets. The detection of the disc in the snapshooting competitions was particularly difficult. Wind effects were negligible. The South Africans were in great form and no fewer than 11 out of the 13 members of their team obtained places in the service 50 to fire for the championship and eight of these participated in the prize money, for two of the matches were also won by South Africans. The first place in the 50 was filled by Perrin, whose 227 out of a possible 250 represented a 10 point lead. With this comfortable margin, his success was practically assured, but he went on to improve his position further by making 46 with his final 10 rounds. Cloete was second in the 50 with 217, and another South African, R. E. Bodley. third with 215. Cloete could not do better than 42 in the final match, and with a 45 Bodley moved up to second place in the championship. Although Perrin has had previous experience of Trentham, having fired musketry courses there as a former member of the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy, this is his first appearance at a national rifle meeting. Perrin spent 17 years in the Navy, serving both in Home waters and on the New Zealand station. His New Zealand service extended over nine years. He retired from the Navy about three vears ago, and is now custodian of the National Bank at Auckland. He has shot in ships' teams matches, but his win yesterday was his first rifle shooting success. Twenty teams competed in the champion service teams' match, which was fired concurrently with the service matches. The first and second places were filled by two teams entered by the South Africans. The Results SERVICE CHAMPIONSHIP (all scores in Service Matches) Ross Carbine Champion Belt, National Rifle Association gold medal, and £5: D.F. Perrin (Auckland City), 273 points. National Rifle Association silver medal and £3: R. E. Bodley (South Africa), 260 points. - ■ , National Rifle Association bronze medal and £2: P. R. Cloete (South Africa), 259 n each: L. Serfontein (South Africa) 257 points, C. H. Baxter (South Africa 257 points, D. Roots (Patea) 255 points, J. H. Kearney (Napier) 252 points, M. Eksteen (South Africa) 252 points, M. Holland (Ashburton) 250 points, D. P. Donald (Opaki) 248 points. , ■ 10s each: H. Simmonds (Auckland City) 246 points. H. V. Croxton (Karori) 244 points, J. E. Johnson (South Africa) 243 points. A. E. Spradbury (South Africa) 243 points, Roy Donald (Featherston) 242 points W.-J. Burton (Okawa) 242 points, P. Coote (Nelson College) 241 points, A. V. Barrow (Cheltenham) 239 points, R.H. Nicholl (Petone) 238 points, R. Bodley (South Africa) 238 points, J. Person Wanganui) 238 points. R. F. Wakefield (Ashhurst) 238 points, R. Bramley (South Africa" 236 points, W. N. Masefield (Blenheim) 235 points, T. McNab (Petone) 23= ooints G. G. Kelly (Karori) 235 points. out: J. H. Macdonald fAlfredtoThe following were the 50 marksmen to secure places in the service 50. D. F. Perrin(Auckland City) 227 points P. B. Cloete South Africa) 217, R. E •Bodley (South Africa) 215, D. Roots (Patea) 212, C. H. Baxter (South Africa) 211, J. ti.

Kearney (Napier) 210, D. P- ° 0 (Opaki) 210, L. Serfontein (South Africa) 209: M. Eksteen (South Africa) 208 M. Holland (Ashburton) 207, H. Smrnonds (Auckland City) 203, A. E. Spradbury (South Africa) 203, A. V. Barrow (Cheltenham) 203, Roy Donald (Featherston) 200, J. Paterson (Wanganui) 197, J- £• Johnson (South Africa) 197. H. V. Crox ton (Karori) 197, R. Bodley (South Africa) 197, W. J. Burton .(Okawa) W-„f.- KKelly (Karori) 195, T. McNab (Petone) 195. P. Coote (Nelson CoUege) 194. J. H. McDonald (Alfredton) 194 E. M. Wngley (Opaki) 193, R. H. Nicholl &eto™>J£: R. F. Wakefield (Ashhurst) 193, L. Boxhall (South Africa) 193. H. H. Mauley (Opaki) 191, R. Bramley (South Africa) 190, S. A. 5..-Elliott W. Sandford (Wairoa) 189. J. H. WiUiam son (Cheltenham) 18£ F. J. Spier (Wanga nui) 188, R. Ellis. (Takapau) 187, W N. Masefield (Blenheim) 187, R. C. Bu|«u (Auckland City) 187, H. A. Lurnsden F Keir (Christchurch) 182. J. a." 11 . nouse (Korere) 182, G. Te Whaiti (Grey S IV2 F Hiscock (Christchurch) 181. A. R. Symons (Okawa) 181. No. 1 SERVICE MATCH (Five rounds application and lOraaaOß snapshooting, each at 300 yards.) £4: L. Serfontein (South Africa;. P °£4f' W. N. Masefield (Blenheim). 69 P °£2?' J. E. Johnson (South Africa). 69 P °£l S each- St F. Wakefield (Ashhurst), ?SStl; H* Simmonds (Auckland City , 66 points; D. F. Perrm (Auckland City), eo pomts P. R. Cloete (South Africa) 66 points A. Falconer (Mataura) 66 points. M. Eksteen (South Africa), 66 points, A. V. Barrow (Cheltenham). 65 points.D. Roots (Patea), 65 points; H. (Tautere) 65 points; H. A. Cromie (Asn Sn) 65 pomts; Edmonds (Alfredton), 65 points. Sixteen received 10s each. . -,„•* No. 2 SERVICE MATCH (Ten rounds rapid and 10 rounds snapshooting, each at 300 yards.) £4: P. R. Cloete (South Africa), 90 P °£3 t f , A. E. Spradbury (South Africa) 89 £ P ° J. S 'H. Kearney (Napier), 88 points £1 each: Roy Donald (Featherston), 87 points; R. E. Bodley (South Africa), 85 points; A. V. Barrow (Cheltenham).. 83 points D. P. Donald (Opaki), 82. points: M. Eksteen (South Africa), 80 points: W. J. Burton (Okawa), 80 pomts; C. H. Baxter (South Africa), 78 points; T. McNab (Petone), 78 points; P. Coote (Nelson College), 77 points; D. Roots (Patea), 77 points; M. Holland (Ashburton), 76 points, G. Te Whaiti (Greytown), 72 points; J. H. Macdonald (Alfredton), 71 points; A. H. O'Donnell (Petone), 71 points. Srxten received 10s each. No. 3 SERVICE MATCH (Five rounds application and 10 rounds snapshooting, each at 500 yards.) £4: S. O. Hay (Sydenham), 71 points. £3: J. E. Johnson (South Africa), 71 points. , . £2: F. Hiscock (Christchurch), 70 points. £1 each: D. Roots (Patea), 70 points; R. J. King (Opaki), 70 points; W, G. Gibb (South Africa), 69 points; M. Holland (Ashburton), 69 points; T. Goodall (Suburbs), 69 points; A. C. Edmonds (Alfredton), 69 points; J. Johnson (Featherston), 68 points; E. M. Wrigley (Opaki), 68 points; D. F. Perrin (Auckland), 68 points; D. P. Donald (Opaki), 68 points; H. J. Brehaut (Okaura), 68 points; C. W. Turner (Ashhurst), 67 points; L. Serfontein (South Africa), 67 points: D. E. Wilton (Whangarei), 67 points; F, Hickenbotham (Christchurch). 66 points. Sixteen received IDs each. CHAMPION SERVICE TEAMS' MATCH (Teams of five men for highest scores in service matches.) Sir John Logan Campbell shield and £5: East Rand, South Africa (R. Bodley, R. E. Bodley, A. E. Spradbury, J. W. Hague, M. Eksteen). 988 points. £3 15s: Durban and Coast, South Africa (C. H. Baxter. Griffiths, L. Boxhall, J. E. Johnson. W. Gibb), 953 points. £1 ss: Auckland City No. 1 (C. J. M. Clark. H. Simmonds, D. F. Perrin, A. G. Devore, R. C. Russell), 928 points. £1 ss: Wanganui (H. Hughes, F. J. Soler, J. Paterson, I. Ford, M. Jones), 923 points. £1 ss: Opaki No. 1 (H. King. E. M. Wrigley, H. K. Smith, D. S. McKenzie, R. J. King), 886 points.

TROPHIES NOT TO LEAVE COUNTRY

PROBLEM RAISED BY ENTRY OF SOUTH AFRICANS (PSESS ASSOCIATION TELEGBAM.) WELLINGTON, February 27. The position of members of the visiting South African rifle shooting team who won challenge trophies at the national rifle meeting now taking place at Trentham was discussed at an executive meeting of the National Rifle Association today. At the conclusion of the meeting, the chairman (Mr W. Mcßaln) announced that in the event of the South Africans winning trophies their names would be engraved on them but that they could not be taken out of the country. Such trophies would be retained in possession of the association. Winners of medals and similar individual trophies would, of course, retain them, just as any other competitor. Should a South African win the Ballinger Belt, his name would be engraved on it, along with that of the New Zealander who gained next highest place in the championship. In such circumstances the belt would be held by the New Zealander. NATIONAL ASSOCIATION'S CONSTITUTION CHANGE IN ELECTIVE SYSTEM ADOPTED CraZBS ASSOCIATION TZLXSBAH.) TRENTHAM, February 26. An alteration to the constitution of the National Rifle Association to provide for the election of members of the executive by their respective districts, instead of at the annual general meeting, was made at the annual meeting of the association at Trentham last night. This alteration will not become operative until next year. It was decided to hold an interprovincial teams match at Trentham next year on the day before the opening of the national meeting, the match to be fired by teams of 10 men over 300, 600, 800, and 900 yards. The executive was asked to .review the size of the rifle districts in New Zealand, some of which were considered too large. Last year's officers.and members of the executive were all re-elected.

NOTES AND COMMENTS j [By BTJLLSEYE] Fixtures March s—Christchurch Defence Club's fourth two-range competition (300 and 500 yards), at Redcliffs. March s—Sydenham Defence Club's ninth competition (300 and 500 yards), at Redcliffs. March 12—Christchurch Defence Club s fifth two-range competition (500 and 600 yards), at Tai Tapu. April 15-18—Otago Rifle Associations Easter championship meeting, at Dunedin. The New South Wales Meeting Two factors contributed greatly to the remarkable success of the sesquicentenary matches of the National Rifle Association of New South Wales, held recently at the Anzac range, Liverpool, Sydney. One was the wonderful staff work of the organisation, and the other was the weather. Honours for the week must be given to the Queenslanders, although in some instances New Zealand marksmen did well. Not only did V. Butsworth, the young shot from the Kingaroy district, win the coveted King's Prize, but C. J. C. Gall (Blackball, Queensland) was third and R. Parker (Boyneside, Queensland) was fourth. Victoria, through G. W. Letts, a newspaper proprietor from Donald, gained second honours in the King's, and the consistent Percy Pavey (Caulfield) was fifth. Gall was second in the first stage with 104 points, J. J. Gadden (Brisbane) was third in the "Grace Brothers" in the second stage, at 600 yards, and won the second stage—the Mick Simmons —after a tie with W. H. Cutler (Concord, New South Wales), each with a double possible over 600 and 700 yards; W. L. Hogarth (Cambooya) and A. Smith (Herbert River) were first and second in the Sydney match, at 800 yards, in the third stage; Buttsworth was second to Letts in the King's third stage, after a tie, each with 148 points; R. Parker was second in the Woolcott-Forbes aggregate after a tie with D. Roberts (New South Wales) and M. Menghini (Western Australia). Not since the days of George Bradley, Harry Motton, W. Soden, and George Shaw, has Queensland done so well.

The King's Prize Winner V. R. Buttsworth, the Queensland farmer who won the King's Prize at the big Sydney meeting, is not altogether an unknown marksman. Three years ago he won the Weinholt Aggregate of the Queensland Rifle Association. Apart from this major success, Buttsworth has been more than usually successful in district union and local rifle club competitions, and his win in the "Kings" therefore was no great surprise to those knowing his past performances. Empire Trophy Match Great Britain won the Empire Trophy at the Anzac range, Sydney, from Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. Australia led by two points at the end of the first stage, but over the longer ranges the British team showed its superiority. This is the first time Australia has lost the trophy in Australia Last July Australia was successful at BisIcy with 2222 points. When shooting began there was a dull but clear light, and dark clouds obscured the sky. The weather was typically English, and the British team made the most of it. After the match the various teams assembled on the mounds, and the chief executive officer, Sir Charles Merrett, presented the trophy to the British team. Sir Charles said that the success of the British team was a triumph for youth. It was the youngest team on the range, and had won the trophy with 38 points more than the Australian team recorded which won the trophy at Bisley last year. Following are the scores.— Great Britain Ist 800 900 1000

Walrarapa Meeting The annual championship meeting of the Wairarapa Rifle Association, held at Trentham last Wednesday, was a success in every way. Twenty-five targets were required to accommodate a record entry of 223 competitors, included in which were the members of the British and South African teams which took part in the Dig Sydney meeting. The matches were fired in brilliant sunshine. A slight drift from the right rear disturbed the aim of some marksmen, and others met with elevation trouble. The visitors had little difficulty in mastering the conditions, South Africa supplying the winner in C. H. Baxter, of the Pietermaritzburg Rifle Club, and Great Britain the runner-up in P. R. T. Garnett. who finished one point behind Baxter. F. H. James (Napier) was the leading New Zealand marksman.

Canterbury and West Coast marksmen who showed up well in the prize lists were J. R. Keoghan (Westport), H. Harries (Christchurch), S. O. Hay (Sydenham), and F. Hodge (Sydenham). Keoghan was second in the Service Match to L. Boxhall (South Africa) with a score of 62 points. Harries Scored 34 out of the possible 35 In the Wellington Match at 600 yards, and also gained fifth place an the championship aggregate. In the Dominion Maftch (seven shots at 900 yards), S. O. Haj4 (Sydenham), with a possible, tied for firk place with A. H. O'Donnell (Petone). I Harries (Christchurch) and Hodge (Sydenham) both scored 34 in this match. National Rifle Association

The National Rifle Association's annual prize meeting opened at Trentham on Friday. Although the weather was threatening, particularly in the early morning, the day remained fine throughout. There was a strong breeze, which swung from right to left and marksmen caught by sudden wind changes had low scores. These conditions prevailed for most of the day. The morning light was perfect, but in the afternoon visibility was not quite so good. The opening match was won by T. Goodall (Suburbs), who scored 103 out of a possible 105. E. Eksteen (Souih Africa) with 102 points was second, and D. Roots with 101 points third. The only district marksmen to gain prominent positions were J. R. Keoghan (Westport), who scored 100, and F. Hodge (Sydenham), who scored 98 in the B grade section.

The Canterbury Match (10 shots at SOO and 500 yards) was won by R. Congreve (Old Navals), who scored 99 points. L. Serfontein (South Africa), with 97 points, was second, and J. I. King (Karori), 97 points, third. Jottings R. H. Nicholl, of the Petone Defence Rifle Club, -was the only member of the New Zealand team to gain a place in the King's final 50 at the big Sydney meeting. Nicholl scored 339 and occupied thirty-ninth place. Cash prizes for the National Rifle Association's meeting have been increased by £6O to £1169. South Africa won the international teams' match fired at Trentham on Thursday by the substantial margin of 28 points. Teams consisted of 10 men, the conditions being 10 shots at 300, 600. 800, and 900 yards. Scores were:—South Africa 1831, New Zealand 1803, Great Britain 180T

Scores of the Leaders o to to a -^ •d n o ■9 >> 3 m a © © Q r-i N tO co H V. R. Buttsworth (Queensld.) 103 199 49 50 49 347 G. W. Letts (Victoria) 100 197 48 50 50 345 C. J. Gall (Queensld.) 104 200 48 48 49 345 R. Parker (Queensld.) 101 198 49 48 49 344 P. A. Pavey (Victoria) 103 200 49 48 47 344 J. G. Ritchie (N.S.W.) 100 197 49 47 50 343 W. J. Mclver (N.S.W.) 101 199 49 47 48 343 A. E. Aikenhead I (Victoria) 100 197 50 49 47 343 L. A. Pemberton (N.S.W.) 101 197 48 49 48 342 J. J. Cadden (Brisbane) 98 198 49 47 48 342

stage, yds yds :yds ; Tl. Ag. R. D. Greig 146 48 47 45 140 286 Lieutenant Widdrington 137 48 49 50 147 284 Captain Johnson 140 49 48 47 144 284 Major Andrews 142 4D 47 46 142 284 L. E. Hoddle .. 146 47 48 43 138 284 Dr. C. W. Seward 142 50 46 45 141 283 N. W. McCaw .. 141 50 44 44 138 279 P. R. T. Garnett 132 47 47 49 143 275 2260 Australia M. Menghini .. 139 48 50 47 145 284 C. E. Armstrong 143 49 48 43 140 283 H. James 141 48 45 46 139 280 P. A. Pavey 143 47 44 46 137 280 N. G. Bryant .. 141 46 48 43 137 278 A. R. Aikenhead 142 47 44 42 133 275 C. J. Gall 141 50 48 45 133 274 A. B. Potts 138 47 48 40, 135 273 2237 New Zealand F. Bowes . • 144 47 49 45 141 285 W. H. West 136 49 49 48 146 282 J. Farley F. J. Soler 137 139 49 48 49 48 47 45 145 141 282 280 R. H. Nicholl .. 141 49 46 44 139 280 E. M. Wrigley .. F. Jeune H. V. Croxton .. 143 141 140 44 46 44 48 45 42 44 45 40 136 z"<» 136 277 126 266 2226 South Africa M. C. Eksteen 140 48 47 48 143 283 C. H. Baxter .. 146 49 45 42 136 '282 A. E. Spradbury P. R. Cloete .. K. E. Griffiths .. 142 143 139 50 47 48 45 48 47 44 43 43 45 40 139 138 138 140 129 281 281 277 274 268 134 139 49 48 46 41 r! E. Bodley .. 136 49 39 38 126 262 2208