Wind upset shooters in Canterbury title

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33804, 29 March 1975, Page 42

Wind upset shooters in Canterbury title

Ray Mitchell (Christchurch) and Laurie Moodie (Wanganui) had excellent rehearsals lor the New Zealand smallbore rifle shooting championships which start today at the Burnett range, McLeans Island, when they shared the Canterbury 50-metre title yesterday.

Both marksmen finished on 389 from a possible 400 — a modest winning score hut a fluctuating easterly wind made judgment rather difficult.

Mitchell, a national representative and a trialist for i the Commonwealth Games last year, won the New Zealand championship also at the Burnett range in 1973. He should again be a top contender for the title on Sunda”

The North Island representative Frank Lowe (Taranaki), was one point behind the joint winners. He, too, should fare well in the national events. Two North Island women shooters figured prominently in the A grade placings. Mrs Nancy Barlow (Hutt) was equal fourth with Vic Hume (Christchurch) and the 1972 Olympic Games representative Mike Watt (Auckland). One point behind that trio was Mrs June Watson (Wellington) and another Games trialist, Bob Travers, of Wa-

nganui. Roy Taylor, the Canterbury fullbore champion for three successive years, was one of four marksmen on 385. Most of the North Island marksmen used the Canterbury championship as a preliminary for the national competition and there were almost 100 entries Results were:—

A grade.—R. L. Mitchell (Christchurch) and L. Moodie (Wanganui), 389, (equal) 1; F. Lowe (Taranaki), .388, 3; Mrs N. Barlow (Hutt), V. Hume (Christchurch) and M. P. Watt (Wellington), 337, (equal) 4; Mrs J. Watson (Wellington) and R. Travers (Wanganui) 386, (equal) 7; R. Condliffe (Christchurch). W. J. Drayton (Christchurch), R. J. Queale (Invercargill) and R. E. Taylor (Christchurch), 385, (equal) 9.

B grade.—S. O’Donnell, 386, 1;

Mrs D. Holdaway and M. Fleming, 384, (equal) 2: Mrs D. Harris. 383, 4. C grade.—C. Oaten, 382, 1; R. Heaton, 373 2: Mrs D. Ballinger. 363, 3. D grade.—J. Wiseman, 377. 1; N. Pottinger, 375, 2; C. Muir. 373.