Shoot-out on the Burnett range

Press, 22 February 1978, Page 20

Shoot-out on the Burnett range

The New Zealand smallbore rifle shooters must have had mixed feelings when the second and last national trial to decide the country’s two representatives at the Commonwealth Games this year ended recently.

The trials served further notice that lan Ballinger is still far and away New Zealand’s best smallbore exponent. The Canterbury sports goods dealer finished 30 points clear and •guaranteed himself a second crack at a Commonwealth medal But in the nightmare finish for the selectors.

three marksmen tied for second place — an incredible situation considering 480 shots had been fired — and, to complicate matters even more, all were being freely tipped as possible Games candidates. The three men involved — Jack Scott n"imaru) Brian Lacey (Levin), and Leon Griebel (Blenheim) — were all members of last year’s New Zealand Dewar Cup team. Each had the experience and credentials to warrant inclusion.

Scott was along the bay with Ballinger at the Christchurch Commonwealth Games four years ago and has been prominently placed in national championships and national trials. He had some outstanding match scores in the South Island trials before the final 12 New Zealand trialists were named.

The quietly-spoken Lacey, a veteran in the smallbore sport, put New Zealand on the international shooting map when he claimed the silver medal at the 1966 Commonwealth Games. He is a regular and successful competitor at national championships, winning the title in 1972. Aged 56, Lacey was reserve for the 1 9 7 4 Commonwealth Games team.

Several knowledgeable people in the sport who remained at the Burnett range to await the announcement of the team predicted that Griebel might get the nomination. Their prophesy was

By

BOB SCHUMACHER

based on the outstanding form displayed by the Marlborough marksman at the 1977 national championships in Christchurch. After years of trying he won his first national title — the 50m championship — and then finished third in the New Zealand 50yd and 100 yd championship. He was only a reserve for the 10-man New Zealand Canadian English international postal team, but shot 590 for the fourth top score. Griebel improved his chances with a brilliant 597 in the first match at Christchurch. It was easily the beKt score at the Christchurch trial and equal to the scores of Ballinger and Lacey who achieved their excellent totals in the more favourable conditions at Wanganui. Understandably, the selectors were forced to deliberate a lot longer than they might have expected and might have wished. For the shooting trio involved the atmosphere was just as intense. Ballinger, of course, was the first name announced when the convener of the selectors (Mr N. Sterricker) named the team. The second choice was Lacey, and he was visibly moved and admitted that he was “overcome” with his selection. If slightly over simplifying the situation, the heart of the matter rested with the final match of 60 shots. All the shooters were

fatigued when it came to this match, and that was to be expected. The fluctuating strength of the wind had been a constant problem. High scoring was not easy and the marksmen had spent five hours or more in prone positions along the bay that weekend. A reasonable score by

any of the three shooters in that last match might well have stamped their passport to Edmonton. But all were found wanting in that final trying period of two hours. Lacey did best — he dropped 21 points; Griebel was down 24 and Scott, 25. So New Zealand will be represented by two of the Commonwealth’s more seasoned international

competitors — possibly the two most experienced smallbore shooters at the Games. Both have the temperament and expertise to return with a medal. For Scott and Griebel, there is some consolation. They have been selected with Ballinger and Lacey to represent New Zealand at the world championships in Seoul, South Korea, later this year.