RIFLE-SHOOTING

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 105, 28 January 1931, Page 16

RIFLE-SHOOTING

Wellington Meeting

WAIRARAPA PROMINENT

(By ‘

"Pullthrough.”)

Apart from a mild but variable wind, which blew for the greater part of the day, and the bad light at the commencement of the meeting, little fault could be found with the shooting conditions for the annual matches of the ’Wellington Kifle Association at Trentham on Saturday. Despite the attractive prize money offered disappointing entries were received, and the CO competitors who took part represented a decrease of 23 on the number competing at the meeting held a year ago. Previous to 1929 the association held its annual shoot on New Year’s Day, but last year a change was made to Anniversary Day. That change was all for the good, and the 1929 fixture was one of the most successful yet held by the association. It was somewhat regrettable that the support received twelve months ago was not repeated again this year. The ranks of .riflemen, however, are made up for the most part by working men or business men in a small way, and no doubt the prevailing hard times and economic depression were the chief factors in keeping so many of them away from the range. Wairarapa turned up in full force, and well over fifty per cent, of those on the mounds came from clubs in that district. The Wellington meeting has always been well supported by Wairarapa riflemen, but apart from that the large muster present at Trentham last Thursday speaks volumes for the progress the sport is making in that district. Barely have these keen rifle enthusiasts from the Wairarapa carried away the same proportion of prize money as they did this year. The champion came from the Featherston Club in the well-known marksman, C. J. Nix, who finished with an aggregate of 229 out of a possible 250. In addition to the championship, the Service, Midfield Aggregate, Karori, Suburbs, Optional Aggregate. Old Navals. and the Long Range Aggregate were all won by Wairarapa marksmen. The teams’ match for best scores at ranges of 500, 600, and 800 yards was won by Karori.

Difficult 300 Yards; Readers other than riflemen who follow shooting reports are often at a loss to understand why 300 yards is described as a difficult range. Naturally, anyone not conversant with the sport, would conclude that 300 yards, being the shortest range fired, would be the easiest. The difference in the size of the bull’s-eye at the different ranges makes the 300 yards the most difficult. At 300 yards the gize of the bullseye is nine inches, while at 500 yards it is 18 inches, although the distance is. not twice as great. To the reader who wishes to’ realise the skill and steadiness required to get bull’s-eyes at 300 yards, it is only necessary to take up a small dinner plate and ask what size it would appear at a distance of 300 yards. Then a rifle weighing 9}lb. has to be held absolutely steady, and the vagaries of a changing wind and, light have to be mastered.

Victorian Meeting. . To encourage.. more competitors, the Victorian Rifle Association, following the example set in 1924, has again decided to offer the largest prize, in the Empire tq the winner of the King’s Prize at the next annual matches at Williamstown. The winner of the King’s will receive £lOO from the association, and a further special prize of £250, providing he uses a Mues rifle or barrel. The rifle or barrel must he registered with J. Mues before the match, who will have a special armourer’s tent on the range during the progress of the matches. The matches will be fired ■on the Williamstown ranges from March 6 to March 14, inclusive, and during the week no fewer than 2250 cash prizes will he distributed, amounting to £3250. As well as the King’s Prize, the winner of thd David Syme grand aggregate, comprising the matches fired on the first two days of' the meeting, will also receive £lOO. The association is certain that with the «o-operation of riflemen in the Commonwealth the meeting will be a greater suc«ss than that of 1924, when competitors were attracted from all over V Australia. Victorian country riflemen will receive free railway passes provided they shoot in one complete series of matches. In addition to the usual concession of onc-zhird on the inter-State railway fares, the Victorian Rifle Association has also decided to refund each inter-State competitor who enters for the full A series of matches an additional £l.