Canty marksmen trialists

Press, 7 December 1985, Page 80

Canty marksmen trialists

Canterbury’s leading fullbore marksmen, John Whiteman and Geoff Smith, have been named in the national trial squad from which two nominations to attend next year’s Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh will be selected. Whiteman competed in the last Commonwealth Games, three years ago at Brisbane, while Smith has long been one of New Zealand’s leading exponents of the 7.62 calibre class. e Two trials will be held, the first at Trentham on January 13-14, immediately after the national championships. The date and venue for the second trial have yet

to be finalised. On January 13, the squad of 12 will compete over 300, 500 and 600 yards, in two seven-shot matches. The next day, they will go through two 15-shot matches at 900 and 1000 yards. The convener of the national selection panel, Mr Ben Hoban, of Culverden, said yesterday that the top two competitors in the trials would not gain automatic nomination for Edinburgh. Form at the national championships will also be taken into consideration. The trialists include representatives at the 1974 and 1978 Commonwealth Games as well, Frank God-

frey and John Hastie respectively. The Ballinger Belt titleholder — awarded to the national champion — Chester Burt, of Ashurst, is sure to be a leading contender for nomination. The trialists are: C. H. Burt (Ashurst), M. R. Catley (Dannevirke), M. J. Collings (Karori), M. W. Godfrey (Napier City), G. A. Halberg (Napier City), J. Hastie (Okawa), J. N. McLaren (Masterton-Opaki), K. T. Meade (Petone), P. M. Newman (Upper Hutt), G. R. H. Smith (Malvern), T. N. Sutherland (Wanganui) and J. R. Whiteman (Sydenham). Emergency: D. N. Whiteman (Upper Hutt).