RIFLE SHOOTING

Dominion, Volume 16, Issue 165, 31 March 1923, Page 16

RIFLE SHOOTING

NEWS FROM THE MOUNDS.

(By

“Aperture.”)

Local marksmen experienced another wild afternoon at Trentham last Saturday. A strong westerly prevailed, which fishtailed very rapidly, and the unlucky ones who let off at the wrong moment had outers in their scores. All the shooting was done at the short ranges. The Karori Club concluded its championship, and, as anticipated, it resulted in an easy win for Ching, who also won the Johnston Cup, Molesworth Aggregate, the third series, and Lhe Dewar Cup, making, in fact, an almost complete sweep of all he was eligible for. An exciting finish was witnessed for the position of runnerup, Butler and Caughley eventually cieing and having to shoot off, five shots at 500yds. Caughley started with a 4 and Butler with a 3. Caughley one up. The next shot Caughley caught the “bird” and Butler the inner —all square. For the third shot Caughley was fishtailed to an outer, and a moment later Butler pulled and got a similar hit on the other side of the target, whereat there was loud laughter and offers of a more or less encouraging nature from their assembled clubmates. The fourth shot saw Butler get a bull to Caughley’s inner, and as Butler finished with another bull he was unbeatable. Of the afternoon’s individual performances, Webb, Butler, and Stamp Taylor each 44 at 30Oyds., and Ching 45, and Webb, Caughley, and Butler each 44 at 500yds., were good scores under the conditions. ; The Suburbs Club had a 7-shot match over the short ranges, and the feature was Fellingham’s 94, which included a 34 a/t 300 and 500 yards. J L. Turner also got into the nineties, and it was excellent shooting, considering the gale that was blowing. There will be four meetings taking place this week-end, the various associations concerned being Otago, New Plymouth, Hawke's Bay, and Marlborough. Most of the Wellington support will go to Hawke’s Bay, but there will also oe one or two from the local dubs at New Plymouth. At Hawke’s Bay Karori will be the best represented Wellington club with twelve members. They should go close to winning the Collins Shield, and in individual matches also add to the already fine list of successes their members have attained this season. By the last mail from England Major Stamp Taylor, secretary of the Karori Club, received from Fulton a new anti-nickel bullet paste. Its “anti” properties are so grgat that it had eaten holes in the metal lids of the containers. The Major is nothing if not thorough so he tried an all night test on some bullfits, and in the morning the nickel coverings had vanished. It is a chemical composition, and has no effect on steel, hence it is harmless to the barrell. The annual home and home match between the various districts in New Zealand is to be fired shortly after Easter. The Wellington Rifle Cubs’ Union met on Wednesday night when steps were taken for the selection of the team to represent Wellington. This match has proved a very popular one, but the only drawback locally is the fact that having to shoot at Trentham is a decided handicap. Ong of the most, if not the most valuable trophy offered for competition under the old D.R.A., was the B.S.A. cup for the winner of the Bisley (long range aggregate). It is solid silver, and worth a great deal intrinsically apart from its sentimental value. This cup was won outright by H. V. Croxton (Karori), and nobody would have begrudged him permanent possession of this fine trophy. Croxton, however, has decided to offer this cup for competition under the N.R.A. for long range shooting, and also under certain other conditions, amongst which will probably be the proviso that it is to be known as the “Croxton” Cup. For this fine act of sportsmanship Croxton deserves the thanks of all followers of the pastime. The executive of the N.R.A. will undoubtedly be glad to receive his offer in the spirit in which it is made, and place the cup amongst the challenge trophies it already posseses.