N.Z.’s TOP SHOOT

Press, Issue 30996, 28 February 1966, Page 14

N.Z.’s TOP SHOOT

Australian Victory (N.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON. A 39-year-old South Australian, J. Caspers, who shoots kangaroos as a hobby, won the 1966 Queen's Prize-New Zealand’s top rifle shooting honour —at Trentham on Saturday. Caspers finished the five days of shooting with a total of 525 points out of a possible of 550. He was one point ahead of a former Queens winner, N. C. Petersen (Levin), who was a similar margin ahead of A. Churcher (Cheltenham). Although Caspers recorded only 38 out of a possible 50 on the final range on Saturday, it was enough for victory because all marksmen fell from grace iri conditions that were the toughest for many years. Casper’s victory was a triumph for his consistent ac curacy during a week of firstclass shooting.

Saturday s testing conditions were further illustrated by the fact that not one possible was recorded, a remarkable feature after the outstanding number that have been returned during the first four days.

He is the ninety-second winner of the championship and the third Australian. The last overseas competitor to win was S. Kanaar (New South Wales) in 1949.

The leading 10 were:

525: J. Caspers (South Australia), 38 out of 50 on the final range.

524: N. Petersen (Levin), 34 523: A. Churcher (Chelten ham), 44.

522: T. N. Sutherland (Master-ton-Opaki), 43: B. K. Whiteman (Upper Hutt), 43.

520: A. Sowenby (Karori), 47; C. Thom (Sydenham), 41; R. A F. Martin (Karori). 41.

519: W. J. Burton (Gisborne) 36; M. Gordon (Okawa), .36.