$l000 trophies and prizes for competitors

Press, 26 April 1984, Page 29

$l000 trophies and prizes for competitors

RIGHT: The Reefton Community Centre, at the comer of Shiel and Smith streets, where the first annual West Coast Small Bore Association championship will be held tomorrow and on Saturday.

FAR RIGHT: The centre’s new rifle range with eight mounds, which is considered to by Reefton club members to be one of the best in the South Island.

The first annual West Coast Small Bore Association championship, which will be held at the Reefton Community Centre tomorrow and on Saturday, has a fine range of trophies and prizes for competitors in all grades. The cups and trophies have been donated by West Coast businesses in support of the initiative taken by the W.C.S.B.A. in staging this competition. As well as a trophy to be held for a year by the winner in each of the five gradings (Mastergrade, A, B, C and D) and a trophy for best over-all regardless of age, there will be a prize to be retained by the winner. The other prizes include one for the best local junior shooter and one for the top

local body shooter. The total value of the prizes and trophies is expected to be about $lOOO. The Reefton club has just completed a new range with eight mounds, which is considered one of the best in the South Island, in the local community hall. (For the non-shooter, this means eight people can shoot at once). Accommodation for the shooters and their equipment during the contests will be provided within the theatre adjacent to the community centre. Tea, coffee, soup, sandwiches and biscuits will be available within the complex; and local hotels, restaurants and dairies will provide food and accommodation for visitors wishing

to stay overnight and sample the West Coast hospitality. Many competitors from all over the South Island have already indicated their intention to compete in Reefton, notably including lan Pottinger, Pauline Burgess, Leon and Noeline Gribbel and Doris Holdaway. While the competition will be fierce in the master, A and B grades, it is expected that there will be many competitors in all grades wishing to make their mark early in the season. A good score in this early competition will provide a good start for any graded competitor for the many competitions on the circuit during the season.

For many local shooters, this will be their first competition, so some surprises are likely in the results. Marksman badges will be awarded for competitors attaining the following scores for their grade: Master, 198; A, 194; B, 190; C, 186; D, 182 for the first two of three cards shot. West Coast shooters have always been well represented in competitions held throughout New Zealand and particularly in the South Island.

While many West Coast

shooters are still far from achieving their full potential due to their newness to the sport, gratifying results have been achieved in competition during the last season — with Robert Ward achieving membership of the South Island team, Noel Farrel first for New Zealand in D grade, lan Campbell third for New Zealand C grade, and Tony Dense a very close fourth. Shooting will take place between 7 and 8 p.m. tomorrow, and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday.