RIFLE SHOOTING. RIFLE SHOOTING

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 304, 17 September 1908, Page 4

RIFLE SHOOTING. RIFLE SHOOTING

f EMPIRE POSTAL MATCH. \ WELLINGTON SCORES. J The annual rifle match between representaj tivo teams from tho staffs of the postal de--3 partments in various parts of the British 1 Empire was fired yesterday. This match - was first fired in September, 1906, when '. teams from London, Sydney, Melbourne, and ( Wellington took part, Melbourne finishing oil : top with a score of 891, Sydney, London, and ! Wellington coming next in that order. In | September, 1907, tho above teams also competed, finishing in the following order:—Sydney, 900; Melbourne, 890; Wellington, 838; ; and . London, 836. I This year, although nothing certain will i be known until the cabled results como through—about mid-day to-day—it was anticipated that .the list of competing teams would have been increased to mile —Wellington, . Melbourne, Adelaide, Sydney, London, Cape Colony, Natal, Transvaal, and Canada. The Wellington men fired at Polhill Gully yesterday under most unfavourable conditions. Tho light was poor, and a steady drizzle of' rain,, with perhaps one or two breaks, fell upon tbo marksmen, and tho drops splashed about tho rifle barrels, -making good sighting a matter ,of great, difficulty. ' The team was as follows :— Lieutenant Collins, Lieutenant Bolton, Ser- ! geant Gilbert, Sergeant Eagles, Lanee-Sor- , geant Williamson, Corporal H. D...Smith, Privates Jones, Churches, Hamilton, and W. A. ■ Smith—ten men, selected from the Wellington Post and Telegraph Rifles. Captain O. Harcourt Turner wiis rangeofficer, and Staff Sergeant-Major Rose, of the District Staff, superintended in the trench. Captain Harton, officer command-, ing the Post and Telegraph Rifles, also as-, sisted. ' The conditions were:—Seven shots aild two sighters at 200, 500, and 600 yards fange,' Bisley targets. • Top score was made by Private Jones, .33 — 29—26—88; a similar score was made by Private-Hamilton, but his score at COO yards', was 3 points below that of Jones. He, however,' distinguished himself by making the only possible of the day, at 500 yards range. His'target is appended. Tho details of. theshooting are as under:— 200 500 600 yds. yds yds. Tl.' Pte. Jones 33 29 26 88 Pte. Hamilton 30 35 23 88 : Sergt. Gilbert 29 27 27 .83 Pte. Churches 28 32 22 82' Pte. W. A. Smith 30 28 21 79 Ljeut. Collins ...' 27 27 .24 78 Lieut. Bolton 31 .25 22 78 Lce.-Sgt.' Williamson 29 25 23 77 Corpl. H. D. Smith 25 29 19 .73 Sergt. Eagles ... 28 .21 20 .69 Aggregates 290 278 227 795

Hamilton's " Possible." *45-5555555-35. *Tho first two are sighters. Elevation, 12 deg.; windage, nil.