N.Z. TRAP SHOOTING

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28567, 22 April 1958, Page 14

N.Z. TRAP SHOOTING

B. G. Begg Wins Single Rise

(New Zealand Press Association) TIMARU, April 21. Two years ago B. G. Begg, of Kirwee, performed the unusual feat of winning a national double rise championship twice in succession. Today at the Timaru Gun Club's grounds he realised the ambition of every trap shooter in the country by taking the major honours in the leading championship of the year—the New Zealand single -rise championship. Conditions were good, but as the match progressed the northwest wind grew violent, rising to gale force by the time the shoot-off for the championship took place. The entry of 219 was the biggest in the 50-year history of the championship. The previous highest was 197. After the first round In today’s match had been shot 20 competitors had scores of 25 to their credit. Five of these shooters sustained their form and produced possibles of 50. The shoot-off for major honours proved a grand tussle. It was contested under the first mis S-out principle and continued to the thirteenth target. S. G. Holmes (Methven) recorded the best effort of his career to take second place. Today’s championship completed the matches for the A. N. Turner memorial trophy which is awarded annually to the highest scorer over the three main championships. B. G. Begg and J. Newton Thomae (Melbourne) both registered 122 points out of a possible 130. After a short shoot-off Newton Thomas added another award to his list of achievements, wich cinclude successes in 107 major championships. He is the present holder of the Australain double barrell Championship. Other good scores in the aggregate today were registered by T. A. Everet (Christchurch), D. G. Wareham 121; C. Hartley (Morrinsville) 120, T W. Elliott (Balclutha), J. C. Streeter (Amberley). B. W. Williams 119; R. James (Auckland), A. J. C. Donald (Otahuti) 118, R. G. Allan (Southbridge), J. McKenzie (Seward Downs), Allan Brown (Lauder), S. R. Marston (Christchurch) 117. Results:— New Zealand Single Rise Championship, 50 targets (219 entries).—B. W. Williams (Hastings), D. G. Wareham (Blenheim), B. G. Begg (Kirwee), W. R. Counsell (Taihape) and S. G. Holmes (Methven) broke possibles. The shoot-off resulted: Wareham (third target), Williams (eighth), Counsell (ninth), Holmes (thirteenth), leaving Begg the winner.