VICTORIAN RIFLE MEETING

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 136, 5 March 1929, Page 11

VICTORIAN RIFLE MEETING

BIG MATCHES COMMENCE NEW ZEALANDERS IN THE LIMELIGHT (Australian Press Association.) (Rec. March 4, 8.5 p.m.) Melbourne, March 4. The Williamstown range to-day presents a war-time appearance, _ where there are numerous tents and bivouacs of competitors in the Victorian Rifle Association’s meeting who have been practising for the past week for the big events which began to-day, leading ; up to the opening stages of the King’s Prize on Wednesday, which reaches its final phase on Friday. The Merrett’s Teams Match, the principle objective of.the New Zealand and inter-State teams, will be fired on Thursday. Among the notable marksmen entered is F. Harrison, the official coach of the last Bisley team, and one of the most interesting personalities of Australian rifle shooting. Conditions at the start of to-day’s shooting were fair, but a mirage caused trouble later. .. ?■ MAGNIFICENT PERFORMANCE BY JAMES SEVENTEEN CONSECUTIVE BULLS . (Rec. March 5, 12.10 a.m.) Melbourne, March 4. Six hundred marksmen have entered for the various • ev.nts : nr Williams--town. The New Zealanders are well, having been restricted to light practice during the hot weather, and today’s fine we: ter —ith a strong right cool wind was a welcome relief to the men from the Dominion. James, of Napier, won the first match, the Frank Stuart, ten shots at three hundred yards, taking £lO, with the possible. Continuing, he registered seventeen consecutive bulls —a m 'gnificent performance. He was warmly - congratulated by the .Australians. Otlier prize-winners, were; Soler, bp;- ; Iver, with scores of 48, £2 each; Kerr” (47), Masefield-(46), J. Feast (45), each £l. The remaining New Zealand----scores were: Piper, Hood, and Sim--monds (45 each), Nix (43), Paterson, Bolton, Boon and H. Feast (41), Swanson (40), Whiteman (39), Root, Orr (38). • " After lunch the wind increased in strength, making holding difficult for the rest of the day. , . . . In the Swallow and Ariel match, ten shots at 500 yards. Paterson -(49) — won £2 10s. The followir took £1 each: James (48). Mclver. H. Feast, Whiteman. Swanson. Simmonds (each 47), Root (46). Counted out were Soler, Boon and Bolton (46). James is: leading in the aggregate. Captain Marshall is delighted with the team’s performance. - .