Rifle Shooting BRITONS AND AUSTRALIANS AT TRENTHAM NEXT MONTH

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28492, 23 January 1958, Page 5

Rifle Shooting BRITONS AND AUSTRALIANS AT TRENTHAM NEXT MONTH

(New Zealana Press Association)

WELLINGTON. January 22 An international flavour will be added to the National Rifle Association’s championship meeting at Trentham next month, with teams from Britain and Australia taking part.

There will be 12 members of the British team—an officially representative one—and with two exceptions they are serving or retired officers of the armed services. It is the first British team for many years to compete in New Zealand’s premier shooting match, and includes riflemen with formidable records in the sport. The team’s captain. Major N. W. McCaw won the Queen’s Prize at Bisley in 1953 Another member. Major A. T. K. Debenham, was second in the same event last year, while Lord Swansea, who is already in this country, was third last year After their visit to the Dominion, the British team will spend a month in Australia, competing at the Victorian and other State meetings. Australia will be represented at

Trentham on an unofficial basis by 17 riflemen selected from the various States. Some time during the Trentham meeting, an inter-Commonwealth 10-a-side teams’ match will be conduct-

ed at ranges of 300, 600, and 900 yards. The national event, with the three grades. A, B. and C. will begin on February 17 and end on February 21. It will be preceded this year by the Wellington District Rifle Association’s meeting on February 15. Members of the Australian contingent will have the opportunity to gain practice by entering this latter meeting because they arrive by air on February 12. The presence of crack shots from Britain and Australia should boost the number of entries this year. It is hoped that about 500 riflemen will take part. The most important trophy at stake, the Ballinger' Belt, is held at present by H. O. Judkins, of Te Awamutu. He will defend his tttl*.