NATIONAL MARKSMEN

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 136, 4 March 1936, Page 15

NATIONAL MARKSMEN

Annual Rifle Meeting To Open on Friday GOOD ENTRY ANTICIPATED Good support lias been accorded this year's meeting of the National Rille Association, which will open at Trentham on Friday and conclude on March 11 with the final for the King's Prize —the blue riband of New Zealand marksmanship. To-morrow the range will be available for practice over all ranges from 200 to 900 yards. Up to yesterday 150 entries had been received from competitors, of whom GO intend to live in the camp. There is always a substantial last-minute entry for the meeting, and it is anticipated that well over 200 marksmen will be taking part this year. Last year’s winner of the rille champion belt. Rifleman F. Bowes, Auckland City, will lie defending his title, and ox-champions competing will include Captain W, N. Masefield, Captain 11. Simmonds, Lieutenant W, Duncan, and Riflemen 11. H. Nicholl, 11. V, Croxton, W. J. Mclver, P. Berry, D. Roots, F. 11. James, A. L. Caldwell and 11. J. King. There will bo one woman competitor, Mrs. Teddy Hill, from Wanganui, and Australia will be represented by Rifleman 11. V. Bear, Tasmania, and by Major P. Wain, Sydney. The president of the National Rifle Association, Captain Ritchie Crawford. V.D., N.Z.M.C., Invercargill, ami Colonel F. B. Cresswell, V.D., Christchurch, will be present. Captain R. JD. Davis. N.Z.S.C., G.H.Q., will be chief range officer, and he will be assisted on the range by Staff Sergeant-Major O’Sullivan. Staff Sergeant-Major J. King will again be in charge of the butts.

Many of those veterans who have been familiar figures at national meetings for many years past will attend the meeting, including Riflemen 11. E. Humphries (Hastings), F. J. Silvias (Picton) and W. M. Luxford (Wanganui).

The meeting will open on Friday morning with the King and Henry Match, fired over ranges of 300, 500 and GOO yards. The afternoon of that day will be devoted to the services matches, and after these the way will be clear for a start with the championship belt matches.