RIFLE SHOOTING QUEEN’S PRIZE SERIES

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27592, 24 February 1955, Page 14

RIFLE SHOOTING QUEEN’S PRIZE SERIES

D. J. CAUGHLEY LEADS QUALIFIERS

B GRADE AGGREGATE TO A. M. BATE (New Zealand Press Association)

* TRENTHAM CAMP, Feb. 23. For the first time for more than 50 years a serving member of the New Zealand Regular Forces, Flight Sergeant D. J. Caughley (R.N.Z.A.F., Woodbourne), is likely toswin the Ballinger Belt and the Queen’s Prize at the national rifle championships. He leads the field for the final shoot by four points. In a day of extremely difficult wind, the 39-year-old Air Force engine instructor shdt with remarkable consistency to finish four points ahead of T. S. Prichard (Karori) and J. W. Johnson (Featherstson). Next, a point away, is the veteran Blenheim rifleman and five times Ballinger Belt winner, W. N. Masefield.

Caughley won the Nelson championship this season. He has twice previously qualified for the final 50 at Trentham. The trying conditions caused several prominent competitors to lose points. Towards the end of the day J. W. Curtin (Opaki), who had been one of the three co-leaders after the second day, and was right on the heels of Caughley after this morning, fell back to fifth equal. Prichard, a 42-vear-old engineer, who has been a regular competitor at Trentham since the war, and finished fourth in 1950, has been a model of consistency. Johnson was runner-up for the Ballinger Belt in 1947.

The match that has had the most pronounced effect on the championship was the Westland match at 900 yards in the morning. It caused an almost wholesale recasting of the first .12 positions. Curtin gave one of the best performances of the championship with his 48 in .this match. The wind varied from three to 10 degrees left. Caughley scored 44, and at that stage he led Curtin by two points. Prichard moved up into third place, three points behind • Curtin. Masefield was next, a point away, with Johnson and I. G. Campbell (Akarana). Among those in the. leading group to fail badly at this range were W. Norris (Auckland), F. H. Sharland (Nelson). H. V. Donald (Opaki). R. R. Kearney (Tararua), R. B. Wood (Invercargill), C. M. Pickering (Opaki), and A. R. Tantrum (Nelson). A. M. Bate (Upper Hutt), who won the B grade aggregate with 455, finished in the first 10 for the Queen’s Prize final. In 1951 he was in the final 50. An eye injury then kept him, out of the sport till this year. Bate finished two points ahead of J. Q. Donald (Featherston) for the B grade aggregate. Donald shot particularly well in the later matches to move well up in the final 50. >

Queen’s Fifty The following qualified for the Queen’s 50:—D. J. Caughley (R.N.Z.A.F.), 462; T. S. Prichard (Karori), 456; J. W. Johnson (Featherston), 458; W. N. Masefield (Blenheim), 457; A. M. Bate (Upper Hutt), 456; H. Kittow (Waipukurau), 456; J. W. Curtin (Opaki), 455; R. A. Wilson (Opaki), 455; R. H. Nicholl (Petone), 454; J. Q. Donald (Featherston), 453; E. A. Ballinger (Onslow), 453; I. G. Campbell (Akarana), 453; N. C. Petersen (Tararua), 453; R. A. Jones (Ashhurst), 453; M. H. Judkins (Opaki), 452; H. O. Judkins (Whatawhata),- 451; S. L. Luxford (Okawa), 451; R. B. Wood (InvercargiW). 451; R. S. Torrie (Akarana), 451; H. V. Donald (Opaki), 451; J. T. Petersen (Tararua)., 451; S. E. Foot (Whangarei), 450; M. G. Gordon (Okawa). 450; S. L. Lumsden (Levin), 450; F. J. Jeune (Gisborne), 450; F. Soler (Wanganui). 449; W. H. Nickless (Petone), 499; W. Norris (Auckland), 499; F. Casey (Petone), 448; V. H. Childe (R.N.Z.A.F.). 448; I. R. Ballinger (Sydenham), 448; H. J. Brehaut (Okawa), 448; R. J. Cammock (Waipukurau), 447; F. H. Sharland (Nelson). 447; C. J. Nix (Featherston), 447; R. R. Kearney (Tararua), 447; F. R. Lewis (Linton), 447; R. H. Whiteman (Upper Hutt), 447; C. M. Pickering (Opaki), 447; J. Bouzaid (Opaki), 447; R. J. Bowie (Upper Hutt). 447; G. A. Nicholl (Sydenham), 447; D. C. Amos (Old Navals), 446; R. M. Cunningham (R.N.Z.A.F.), 446; B. J. Perry (Okawa), 446. Ten with 445 will shoot off for the last four places.

Results:--WESTLAND MATCH (10 Shots at 900 Yards) A Grade £7: J. W. Curtin (Opaki), 48. £5: J. White (Sydenham), 47. £3: G. E. Lusk (Ashburton), 47. £2: J. T. Petersen (Tararua), 47. B Grade £5: J. Q. Donald (Featheidton). 47. £4: W. J. Chaney (Silverstream College). 45. A. J. Armstrong (New Plymouth),

C Grade £4: B. A. Higgins (Army), 44. £3: J. M. Bluck (Whangarei), 44. £2: J. R. Hewitt (Banks. Peninsula 43. SOUTHLAND MATCH (10 Shots at 800 Yards) A Grade £7: E. A. Bullmore (Wairoa), 49. £4 each: A. R. Tantrum (Nelson) and R. R. Kearney (Tararua), 49. £2: N, Davidson (Christchurch), 48. B Grade £5: A. M. Bate (Upper Hutt), 48. £4: D. C. Amos (Old Navals), 48. £2: H. C. Rasmussen? (Tararua), 48. C Grade £4: D. Bellert (Rotorua), 48. £3: M. W; Davies (Takapau), 47. £2: E. J. Bennett (Waipukurau), 47. HAWKE’S BAY MATCH (10 Shots at 600 Yards) A Grade £7: H. V. Donald (Opaki). 48. £5: H. Kitto (Waipukurau), 47. £3: B. J. Perry (Akawa), 47. £2: L. G. Fenwick (Upper Hutt), 46. B. Grade £5: J. H. Kearney (Napier), 46. £4: J. C. Gaelic (Old Navals), 46. £2: K. Fleming (Army), 46. * C Grade £4: W. H. Mitchell (Whangarei), 46. £3: E. J. Bennett (Waipukurau), 45. £2: F. M. Sheddan (Army). OTAGO MATCH (10 Shots at 300 Yards) A Grade £6 each: S. M. Meads (Rangiwabia) and R. W. Wilton (Opaki), 50. £3: F. R. Lewis (Linton), 49. £1 10s each: T. S. Prichard (Karori) aqd A. H. Russell (Opaki), 40.

B Grade £5: A. Cowley 49. £4: W. R. Barrett (Sydenham), 49. £1 10s each: K. McDowall (Old Navals) and I. V. Newton (Ashhurst), 49.

C Grade £4: J. A. Millar (Petone), 4«. £3: B. J. Metcalf (Navy), 47. £2: H. J. C. Rutherford (Ashhurst), 47.