RIFLE CHAMPION HONOURED.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 769, 18 March 1910, Page 9

RIFLE CHAMPION HONOURED.

WOODVILLE'S SHOOTING RECORD. About a dozen ex-residents of Woodville gathered on Wednesday to congratulate Rifleman George Halliday on winning the New Zealand championship at Trontham.'- '.'.■;- Captain (i. 'i'. Hall said that those present' felt'some pride' in the fact that Mr. Halliday had carried off the most coveted ' honour' in' shooting circles in the Dominion. Mr.;:Halliday had been associated with Woodville for a- great part of his 'oarlier career, and his victory reflected to ' a certain extent on the town" where .'he' acquired his liking for rifle shooting. His success was the result of constant application. 1 ' Mr. Halliday had always done his utmost to assist shooting, and as a - member of the Karori Rifle,. Club had been largely instrumental in reforms, and'in tho amalgamation of .these : . clubs-with the defence forces. They congratulated' hini .'on the ninnner in' which he had won- the trophy. Woodville had always been noted for its excellence 1 ih-rifie shooting. Its rifle club'had won the Teams' match at Hillsborough with, he believed, a score never topped in; New'Zealand,.'and only onto topped: in the world. Captain Nelson, a ■fonner: New Zealand champion, was a Woodville man. Tho Woodville Rifle's had annexed the Coleman Shield, and .in other years put up a good fight for it,, and tho town had perhaps the finest cadets' shooting team in the Dominion. . Messrs. W. Nicholson, D. M'Kehzie, and other speakers, added their congratulations. It was recalled that there .were tour Woodville men in the New Zealand team which won the Kolapore Cup. . The champion's health was drunk with acclamation. ' ■' .■

Rifleman Halliday, in ■ returning thanks, said, he might have been nervous' or.excited'in the match if he.had been leading, but he had been 'in a position .which savod :him worry, while leaving him with a-yery.few-points to'.'catch, up. .He had not ;beon bom in Woodville,' but lived there a good while, and learned .there to' appreciate, .shooting. ' He used, .to ; bes "on'.the "limit" there 'with', the old Hinder, and "then- couldn't go near it," He gathered, wrinkles from .old Woodville shots—J. Chicken, Lovcday, and others. "Probably better shots never ousted in the colony—solid and steady shots. He had.no success, however, in .Woodville, and practically learned all his ; shooting in the .Karori Rifle Clnb. Ho was very pleased to meet so many old Woodville faces. • ■ Tho toast of "Old Woodville" was then honoured. '-.'■•