Nelson shooter takes Canterbury title

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33694, 18 November 1974, Page 3

Nelson shooter takes Canterbury title

(By

R. L. SCHUMACHER)

A. A. Marshall served notice at the trials to select the two New Zealand Commonwealth Games fullbore representatives that he was a young marksman with a promising future.

Yesterday at the West Melton range the 28-year-old Nelson farmer confirmed that impression when he came from fourth on the final range to win his first Canterbury rifle-shoot-ing championship by a point. On the occasion of the Games trial it was a brilliant shoot by Marshall over the longest range (1000 yards) that enabled him to tie with

M. G. Gordon (Hastings) for second. But in the shoot-off Gordon gained the nomination by a point. It was the longest range again that enabled Marshall to assert his superiority. With six matches completed and only the 900-yard range remaining, two points separated the top six shooters. The Games smallbore representatives, J. A. Scott (Timaru) and I. R. Ballinger (Sydenham), and a Westport "isitor, M. C. Callaghan, had scored 295 from a possible 300. Marshall was alone on 294, and A. F. Paynter (Blenheim) and H. Barker (Sydenham) were one point behind. Barker slipped back with 44, and Paynter and Callaghan both had to settle for 46. Marshall and Scott were firing on the mound simultaneously with Ballinger to follow. Scott dropped from the reckoning when he lost five points in his initial four shots although, to his credit, his next six shots were bulls, including three centrals. Marshall had his sights set correctly from the outset. He 'accepted his two sighters — both bulls—as counting shots and placed six of his next eight in the centre. One of the last shooters to fire, Ballinger needed 48 to win his fifth Canterbury belt. 'But after starting with a bull 'he dropped five points in the next six shots (“the bulls-eye ■ is not big enough”) before finishing with three consecutive bulls. The easterly wind, which altered frequently in force, did not affect Marshall, who took no longer than usual to fire his 10 shots. “I kept on i the same setting all day; 1 was pleased with that 48,” ,he said. Asked if he would return for the South Island championship on December i2B, he said: “I would have to after that performance.” Callaghan, who lost the sight of his right eye 17 years ago, has not let that disability .interfere with his shooting. 'His left eye remained trained ■to the target and he drcjfcped

only nine points in 70 shots to finish second—one central bull ahead of V. A. Curtis (Christchurch). Curtis also performed superbly over 900 yards. His first nine shots entered the bull, but he was denied a possible 50 and second place with his final shot which was wide by no more than an inch. Scott and Ballinger both finished two points behind Marshall, with the South Island title-holder, C. Thom, in sixth place. The best aggregate yesterday was returned by A. G. Wallace (Blenheim), who dropped a point at each of the 600, 300 and 900 yard ranges. However, his Saturday scores had ruled him out of contention. B GRADE W. J. Whitham (Sydenham), fifth last year, won the B grade on a count-back from J. Miller (Tapanui), who held a clear lead after Saturday’s four matches. Results:— MATCH 1 200 yards A grade.—R. B. East (Syden-| ham), 50.8; M. C. Callaghan i (Westport), 50.7; E. Stacey (Bien-: heim), 50.6; A. A. Marshall! (Nelson), 50.5; G. B. Hunt (Ashburton), 50.5; E. Gilchrist l (Oatnaru), 50.5; M. Lattimore' (Ashburton), 50.5; J. E. Bishop. (Ashburton), 50.4; A. Nicholl (Sydenham;, 50.3; G. R. H. Smith (Malvern), 50.2; J. R. Keoghan (Westport), 50.2; A. G. Wallace (Blenheim). 50.1. B grade.—G. Colder (Oamaru), 50.8; R. E. Condliffe (Sydenham), 5b.4; J. Miller (Tapanui), 49.5; Mrs J. Robertson (Sydenham), 49.5; F. B Reeves (Sydenham), 49.3. C grade.—A. Burgess (Christ-' church), 49.5; S. Turner (Christchurch). 49.4; D. Horne (Oamaru), 49.4. MATCH 2 300 yards A grade.—P. R. Le Cren' (Sydenham), 50.6; G. R. Ballinger. I (Sydenham), 50.5; R. E. Taylor. '(Christchurch). 50.5; C. Thom: (Sydenham), 50.4; E. V. Neale (Kaituna), 50.4; T. Duncan' (Christchurch), 50.3. B grade.—D. Freeth (Kaituna), >50.8; MUler. 49.4; D Borrie ifOamarui. 49.1. C grade.—Burgess, 49.4; Horne. 148.5; R. F Leigh (Sydenham), 48.1. MATCH 3 500 yards ! A grade.—Stacey. 50.8; W. i Oakley (Malvern.. 50.6; J. C. (Cameron (Ashburton), 50.6; H.

Barker (Sydenham). 50.6; G. Smith, 50.6; V. A. Curtis (Christchurch), 50.5: I. R. Ballinger (Sydenham), 50.4; A. F. Paynter (Blenheim), 50.4; Le Cren, 50.4; P. Buckingham (Otago Univer-r sity), 50.2; Hunt, 50.1. B grade.—D. Rashlelgh j (Kaituna), 50.2; MUler. 49.5; M. B. I Fisher (Christchurch), 49.4; F. P. Andrews (Christchurch), 49.3; R. H Black (Timaru), 49.2. C grade.—Horne, 49.3; Burgess, 49.2; I. D. Hallum (Onslow), 49.2. MATCH 4 600 yards A grade.—J. A. Scott (Timaru), I 50.6: I. Ballinger. 50.3; A. Mar-! shall, 49.5; Callaghan, 49.5. B grade.—Mrs Robertson, 50.4;, Fisher, 49.4; MUler, 49.2. C grade.—Leigh, 48.2; N. Bishop (McKenzie). 47.3: D. C. ; Lusk (Ashburton), 46.4; Burgess, j 46.3. FIRST-DAY AGGREGATE A grade.—Scott, 197.22; Cal-; , laghan, 197.19; I. Ballinger, 1 197.18; A. Marshall. 197.16; Le; = Cren, 197.14; Stacey, 196.19;! , Bishop. 196.16; Paynter, 196.15; ' Barken 196.13; Keoghan, 195.16. . 1 B grade.—MUler, 196.16; ; Andrews, 194.11; Mrs Robertson, . 193.18; Fisher, 193.11. C grade.—Burgess. 193.14;: 1 Horne, 191.14; Leigh, 189.9; | Bishop, 189.9. 1 MATCH 6 600 yards , A grade.—B. A. C. Hoban; * (Walau), 50.4; Oakley, 50.4; Cal-i , laghan, 50.3; Thom. 49.7; Bal- 1 - linger, 49.5; Scott. 49.5; Paynter,' 49.5; G. Smith. 49.5. ‘ B grade—W. J. Whitham 5 (Sydenhami. 49.4; Calder, 49.3; I Fisher, 48.4; Miller, 48.4. > C grade.—J. Harwood (Kaituna) 47.3; Horne. 47.3; N. Melton (Mac- ’ kenzle), 47.2. MATCH 7 300 yards A grade.—Le Cren, 50.7; L. C. Smith (Malvern), 50.5; K. Smith! (Timaru). 50.4; J. C. Biggs (Otago' University), 50.3; J. P. MarshaUl S (Malvern), 50.3. 1 B grade.—Andrews. 49.6; 1 Miller. 49.4; Reeves. 49.1. 1 C grade.—Lusk, 49.5; Bishop, | S 49.4; Leigh, 49.3. MATCH I ♦OO yards A grade.—Wallace. 49.4: Curtis, ,49.2; Thom, 48.5; A Marshall,' (. 48.4; Bishop, 48.3. a B grade.—V. Percy (Kiwi), 47.4; i-; Whitham, 47.2; Mrs Robertson, 1146.2. i-i C grade.—Melton. 49.4; Leigh, t!46.5; Bishop. 44.2; Mrs M. Posa e (Christchurch), 44.2. SECOND-DAY AGGREGATE , A grade.—W’allace. 147.13; „ Curtis, 147.9; Thom, 146 18; A., “ Marshall, 145.16; W. Oakley (Mal-l vem), 145.11; Buckingham, , 145.8. ' B grade.—Whitham, 144.12; Mrs, >! Robertson, 141.7; Reeves, 140.6;: ’ Black. 139.8; MiUer, 139.8. ’ C grade.—Melton, 140.6; Leigh, ’ 139.8; Bishop, 138.8; Horne, 138.6., - CHAMPIONSHIP A grade.—A. Marshall, 342.32,! e I; Callaghan, 341.27, 2; Curtis,! 341.26, 3; Scott, 340.38. 4; I. Ballinger, 340.30. 5; Thom, 339.32, 6; I Stacey, 339.31, 7; Oakley, 339.31; 18; Le Cren. 339.27, 9; Paynter,, r 339.26, 10. r B grade.—Whitham, 335.28, 1; (1 MUler, 335.24, 2; Mrs Robertson, e 334.25. 3; Andrews, 332.20. 4. n 1 C grade.—Horne, 329.90. 1; Leigh, 328.17, 2; Bishop. 327.17, 3; ), Burgess, 325.20 . 4. TEAM SHOOT , Champion match.—Sydenham ['No 1, 586.43. 1; Sydenham No. 12, 580.39. 2; Blenheim, 577.42, 3. Ashburton trophy.—Blenheim. '577.43. 1; Malvern. 574.35, 2; ; 'Sydenham No. 1. 572.54 . 3. ’ : President's shield —Sydenham t ,No. ITTy