SCHOOLBOY MARKSMEN.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 598, 28 August 1909, Page 6

SCHOOLBOY MARKSMEN.

| FIRING FOR THE ROBERTS TROPHY. I THE NEW ZEALAND SCORES. . Yesterday morning the eight boys ' who were-selected for the houour of representing New Zealand in the Imperial .rifle match for the ; Lord Roberts Trophy' (the conditions of which/ have: already been fully set out in The Dominion) fired/off at. J?olhil! Gully Rifle Range, and succeeded .in compiling the creditable aggregate score 0f'483 points. Colonel 'A. W. Robin, .C.8.; Chief of' the General Staff,' was present during the shootoff, and; afterwards complimented- the boys oil their shooting. . They , must not be discouraged, he urged, if, tbey should be beaten by .some other Itekm, but persevere with their marksmanship, and assist to raise and maintain the standard of shooting throughout the Dominion. ; Colonel Robin concluded by wishing tho boys ' a safe return to their homes. ,' Captain; S. -V. :Trask,-of tho. Headquarters .Staff, was. range.officer, arid Lieutenant Standish acted as trench officer. Top score was made by; Private J. C.-Williamson .(Wellington College); whose aggregate of 65 points included 32^.at 200 "yards and 33 at 500 yards. His.targets are appended:—

: Tho details of the scores arc as, follow - ■" j. V.:, : ' .200. 500. Tl. Pte.' J. :C.' Williamson, .Welling-. ton' College ... ■ y ... ■ ... ,32 ■33 6a, Corp. •H. C. Poison, Wellington .... College• ... .. ... • ... ... 30 34 64 Corp. H. G. Allen; King's Col- - lege,"Auckland ... . 32 31. .63 Corp.-J?. B. Combo 3, King's .Col- ■ logo,-. Auckland... . ; • 32 29 61 Pte./J. H. Williamson,, "Welling-, . ton Colloge . •••. 31 29 60 Sorgt. It. Alunn, Rangiora High • - ..School, Canterbury .-... ... 32 27 50 Pto: J. 'B. MiLean," Wellington . College 20 29 53 Pto. S:, G. M'Dougal, ; l)unedm .. High/School .... ... I.i 29, .24 .53 . Aggregate score- ' ... •" - 483Last year l tho Roberts Trophy was, won; by Natal; ..with an aggregate score':,of. 493 points. New Zealand made 431.. It will be noted that: the boys of .the, Dominion have considerably bettered . that,. score. by. their shoot -yesterday.!... •

Creditable . as their -score -was,; however, the boys went 10 'points better-the previous day-in a practioo match- at -similar: rangesagainst' an.- adult tteam >of riflemen'- consisting of , : scveral'\wellrkn6wn;, local;- marksmen, 'the. soores being ,as. follow':-—. ;/,-' ,

Riflemen .-^taff-Scrgt.-Maijor ' Rose ' (Cameron Highlanders), 69 (34—35) ; Rifleman G.' Halliday. (Karori); ;:,Pte.VW.' Cox (Victoria Rifles/, Auckland),' 66.' (33-r33) ; 'W. M. Jackson, jun. (Christchurch), 65 (32— 33)f'.A.; j. Jackison (Wellington, City, Rifles),. .65- (32—33) ; , Rifleman; J. ;Turner (Petone),' 63.(29f%34);;-P.te.; "W. -M.'/Jackson,i 'sen.i (Wellington,' City, Rifles);; 62; •Lieutenant' H.* Hawthorn (Civil,' Semce Riflfes), 1 60' (31—29); total, 517. . . v -; ! Boys';—Pte/ J; C.i Williamson^'6B ':(35V33); Pte;: J,"H. Williwrison, 61 ,(30-31) ;,Pte., J. ! :R.' M'Lean, : 55 (2S^r27): Corp. H.-C. l Poison,' 64 (31 —33); .- Re.'-M'lJougal, 60 (2.9-31),; Corp. P. R! 'Combes;'; 62 .'(33—29); i (Corp.' Allen; 62 ; Sergt Munn, 61 (32^29) J . The.boys were {coached. by. Major ■ Cresswell .(Commanding. ;No.jlßattalion. • Canterbury . Defence. .Cadets), ".'Captain LMathesOn,' (Wew lineton ' College: Cadets) Staff SergL-Major, -(DistnctiStaft),!and Privato W. Cos (Victoria Rifles,' Auckland), during the three daya prior to the final sTioot-off; -Tho South Island' membors; ! of : the team:.left for' homo last night; the northern members will return this morning by. tho; Main Trunk- express. . ■ v - ...