Non-stop firing

Press, 10 March 1987, Page 31

Non-stop firing

Smallbore rifle shooting is a sport which can be pursued all year round. In the winter season, from April to October, smallbore exponents revert to indoors for practices and competitions. The summer season ranges from October to March and shooting takes place at the McLeans Island outdoor range. Most clubs affiliated with the Christchurch Smallbore Rifle Association hold their practice evenings on Monday, the exceptions being the University of Canterbury (Friday evening) and Air Weapons (Tuesday evening). The week-ends are primarily reserved for championship and representative competitions. First on the list is the West Coast championship at Reefton on April 25 and the New Zealand national indoor championship ends the pro-

gramme on October 3. Dates of other important championships which can be expected to lure a good group of top south Island marksmen are:— May 2: Ashburton; May 9 Marlborough; June 6: Ashley; June 12 and 13: Canterbury; June 14: Waimate; June 19 and 20: South Island at Oamaru; June 27: Ellesmere; July 11: North Canterbury at Scargill; August 29: Nelson. The inter-island match, which is held annually over Queen’s birthday week-end, will be contested at Waitara this year. Christchurch, a comfortable winner of the Andrew S. Fulkner Shield match competition from 18 other associations at its home club last year, will travel to Balclutha to defend the trophy this season. It is an annual event held among all the South Island associations.