SHOOTING

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 193, 10 May 1924, Page 18

SHOOTING

At the time of writing there does not appear to be much prospect of a New Zealand team going to Bisley, as the majority of those approached by the N.R.A. executive have replied stating their inability to go under the conditions. Men like Masefield, Croxton, West, and L. Loveday have definitely announced that they cannot see their way clear to go, and if flteam docs eventually get away it will be inferior in strength to what should represent the Dominion. It is a pity that the project was not mooted some ‘ time ago when there would have been a good chance of sending the best team available. Notice extending only to about three weeks is not sufficient in the average case to either obtain the necessary leave, or the equally, n not more, important, ready cash. Seeing that New Zealand will be represented at the Olympic Games by Miss Shand in swimming and Purdy in boxing, and that this is Empire year at Home, a great opportunity for New Zealand at Bisley has unfortunately been missed. Some day, perhaps, there will go home to Bisley a team from these shores fully equipped and outfitted to the last detail. Not until then will New Zealand have been represented on the famous ranges by a team which can be said, m all respects to have been placed on an equal footing with the British teams, _or those from other parts of the Empire. It is pleasing to local riflemen, particularly those who worked hard, to make last Saturday’s match against the visiting squadron a success, to hoar the warm expressions of appreciation that have come from the naval men. They have said, and that sincerely, that they have had during their world tour several similar matches, but not one which they enjoyed so fhorouchlv as 'th© outing had at Trentham last Saturday. The weather was not by any means what.it could have been. From the local point of view it was decidedly rough but the visitors entered whole-heartedly into the spirit of the gathering, and the result was a very pleasant day s snort. Major Taylor and his comm ttee are to be congratulated upon the way in which the affair was managed. The visitors were greatly pleased with their greenstone tikis, and the gold medals were much prized by the win,ie, Hie New South Wales Association is pushing ahead with the preparations for its next annual prize meeting. Ihe dates have been fixed from October II to 17. The programme shows very few alterations from last year, and the prize-money compares very favourably with the last meeting, the total amount being £5BlO, as against £0250. . It is understood that the reduction is due to the increased cost of overhead expenses, -which must be very heavy on account of the range being so far from Sydney, and the amount of camping, and other arrangements that are necessary owing to this unfortunate drawback. The association deserves great credit for the way it has revived its meetings since the war. The total entries for the last meeting were i3l, which is only about 25 below the 1 913 event, when shooting was at its -.omth prior to the war. The following is the result of the Okawa Club’s competitions for the Lowry Belt championship and trophies: Rflmn. G. Tong wins the bolt and Mr. B. McCormick’s trophy ; Rflmn. N-. Mackcrsey, the runner-up, trophy valued at £1 Is., and cup, also trophy for best score with handicap in A class; Rflnin. J- Heighway, with the best score in the B class, wins the Campbell Cup and Mr. Grenside’s trophy; Rflinn. I. J- Mackersey, runner-up, takes the club trophy. Prizes for best range scores were won by Rflinn. 11. C. Jones, Rflnin. J. Heighway, Rflmn. G. Tong, Pres. L. Brathwaite, and Rflmn. N. MaokarMy.