Man-And-Wife Combination Pre-Eminent In Rifle Sport

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30553, 23 September 1964, Page 15

Man-And-Wife Combination Pre-Eminent In Rifle Sport

A COMMON interest in rifle shooting has allowed Mr and Mrs R. E. Taylor to build up a collection of impressive trophies and titles from the sport. In their home in Innes road the family has more than 130 miniatures and many medals. At a conservative estimate the

family has won nearly 200 trophies, many of which did not have miniatures. Mr Taylor feels that a family should have a common interest in a sport and, in addition to his wife, two of the children are keen shooters. In one season all five members of the family took part.

Mr Taylor first competed in 1927, although he admits to have shot rabbits before participating competitively. His wife began shooting indoors in 1936 and five years ago entered the more vigorous outdoor section of the sport. Few sportsmen can claim to have represented the South Island and New Zealand for 15 successive years, but Mr Taylor has built up this impressive record. Mrs Taylor has also shot in inter-island smallbore fixtures and 1964 was her fifth successive encounter against the North Island. Probably Mr Taylor’s most impressive prize is the Christchurch Rifle Club’s championship shield and his pride in being the present holder is understandable. He has won the large shield, competed for by about 30 shooters over 16 week-ends, five times since 1953 and three times in the last four years. Other trophies he won this season include the Nelson B grade championship (Hunter Shield), the Llewellyn Shield for the team shoot held by the Marlborough Rifle Club and the Nelson district team championship shield. Until 1963, when he was runner-up, Mr Taylor had won the club championship for 18 successive years. He was runner-up again this year. He has twice been the New Zealand smallbore champion.

Beginning with the Canterbury women's championship in 1948, Mrs Taylor has also built up an impressive record. She considers that 1959 was her best yea;’ when she won the women’s aggregate in the club’s miniature rifle championship. Since transferring to outdoor shooting in addition to her indoor interest, Mrs Taylor has won several challenge cups. This season she has won the Canterbury women’s championship and was runner-up in the Nelson Rifle Association’s championship. Last year Mrs Taylor was the South Island B grade champion at Dunedin and won the second day aggregate for both A and B grades. Her only regret is that more women do not take part in the sport. Since 1949 Mr Taylor has shot for the British Smallbore Association Cup and, with his wife, was a member of the Christchurch team that last year won the Empire Cities Badge, competed for by the cities of the Commonwealth. This was the seventh successive win by the Christchurch team. The season never ends for the Taylor family for the indoor and outdoor seasons overlap. Invariably the major topic in the Taylor home containing the dozens of trophies, shields, badges and the two pet cats is rifle shooting.