NATIONAL RIFLE MEETING

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 139, 7 March 1936, Page 11

NATIONAL RIFLE MEETING

Marksmen at Trentham BISLEY TIME-LIMIT IMPOSED Service Competitions Two hundred and fifty-four competitors, including two from Australia, are competing at the annual meeting of the National Rifle Association which opened at Trentham yesterday, when a three-range match and the compulsory service matches were fired in fine weather. This represents an increase of 54 competitors on last year, and is the best entry the association has had since 1930. Several changes have been made in the programme and conditions this year. One of the most important is the adoption of a time-limit of one minute per shot from the time the target is exposed, by the enforcement of which it is hoped to avoid delay at the firing points. The Governor-General, Viscount Galway, has accepted an invitation to attend the Anal match for the King's Prize next Wednesday and present the prizes and trophies won at the meeting Most of the rifle clubs in the Dominion are represented at the meeting. The competitors include last year’s champion, Rifleman F. Bowes, Auckland City, and ten former champions, some of whom have won the championship belt more than once. Of the exehampions the veteran is Rifleman R. J. King, Opaki. who was King's Prizeman 33 years ago. Australia is represented by Rifleman H. V. Bear, of the Launceston Rifle Club, Tasmania, and by Major P. J. Wain, of the Edgeeliffe Rifle Club, Sydney. Rifleman Bear, who has shot In every State in the Commonwealth, is over here on holiday, but found the opportunity to attend a championship rifle meeting and participate in his favourite sport too good to miss. He has five King’s badges to his credit, having finished third in the Queensland King’s, third in the Tasmanian King's on three occasions, and at one meeting shot into fifth place in the West Australian King's. Major Wain, an ex-New Zealander, and now a resident of Australia, has had pre-war experience of Trent ham. Colonel F. B. Creswell, V.D.. Christchurch, a life member of the association, and for many years its president, is a visitor at the meeting. Before leaving the squadding posts for the firing points on the Sommer, ville and Seddon ranges, competitors were welcomed by the president of the association, Captain A. F.' Ritchie Crawford, V.D., N.Z.51.C. He wished particularly to welcome those who were attending the meeting for the first time and their two visitors from Australia, and hoped all would enjoy themselves and shoot well. Changes in Service Series. Changes made iu the service series of matches involving the elimination of the tile competition and moving-target practice at 200 yards and the substitution of application and snapshooting practices at 500 yards were referred to by Captain Crawford. He had heard nothing, he said, but praise from marksmen for the innovation, which bad been introduced largely through the efforts of lie chief range officer, Captain R. J. D. Davis, and which had met with the approval of the Defence Department. According to the present rules the 1914 service rifle could not be used in . service matches, nnd that caused a considerab'e amount of Inconvenience to some of. the marksmen. The executive had decided to make representations to the department to have the rule amended. Nothing could be done so far as the present meeting was concerned, but it was hoped, to arrange matters so that the 1914 rifles could be used in the future. The time-limit on the mounds had always been a burning question with competitors. said Captain Crawford, and it had been decided to adopt the Bisley standard and allow one minute per shot from the .time the target was exposed. The rule would bo strictly enforced. For a first infringement competitors would be warned, and in the event of a second offence the shot would be disallowed. This limit was 15 seconds longer than that allowed in Australia, where the time ■' nit was 45 seconds. Grouping of Leaders. Last year the association passed a motion favouring a draw for targets.used iu the final match for the King's Prize, but if this were done instead of-grouping the leaders for *' ’ King’ in the centre of the range, as was done at Bisley, it would be impossible to broadcast the final. Various suggestions bad been made for overcoming the difficulty. One was that there should be a large blackboard to which the scores would be brought front the leading marksmen by runners, but in view of the large Crowd that was always behind the firing points for the final match that had been ruled out as impracticable. In these circumstances the executive had taken it upon itself to group the leaders as had been done in the past. The range was so well flagged th"t no marksmen would suffer any disadvantage, and by adopting the grouping system listeners throughout the Dominion would be able to follow (he final. Several years ago. due to the bad times, the association had reduced the number of marksmen entitled to. lire in the final matches for the King’s Prize a.id the Service Championship from 50 to 40, but the executive had decided to reinstate the King's Fifty and the Service Fifty. The final ten to secure places in the fifties, however, would not be able to participate in any extra prize money, cause the association did not have the money. The possibility, of an extra ten men being able to shoot into the final fifties should appeal to marksmen. Captain Crawford appealed for the cooperation of competitors. Ho appreciated the honour of being president, but ho and his executive realised they could do little without the. co-operation of. all competitors. If they had any suggestions to make he would "elcome tlrnm. “I want to see.” said Captain Crawford, ‘‘the National Rifle Association restored , to its pristine -irospcrity. Our entries are creeping up gradually, and I personally will not Le satisfied until we are back again somewhere near the old mark of between 400 and 500 mon.” (Applause.) Try-out over Short Ranges. Firing in the King and Henry Match, which required seven rounds at 300, 500, and 600 yards, monopolised the morning. This match does not count for the belt, but gives competitors the opportunity of a try-out at the short ranges over which 'hey will fire for the championship later in jjie meeting. With the sun behind the targets the first men to shoot encountered elevation troubles, but most of the shooting at the two short ranges was done under perfect conditions. Back at GOO yards a fresh breeze blew from the left, later swinging around to the left front. Four competitors finished with 102, but first place was filled by Rifleman A. H. O’Donnell, Petone, who collects £5. C. J. Nix, Featherston, took second prize of £4, and R.. H. Nicholl, Petone, and F. J. Jeune, Gisborne, £3 each. First place in the B grade was filled by Rifleman J. H. MacDonald. Alfredton, with 101. The original intention was to die all the practices in the service series of matches during the afternoon, but as the day advanced it was realised that this would be impossible. The onlv match

completed was the No. 2 Service Match, comprising application, snapshooting and rapid fire practices at 300 yards, the winner of which was D. S. McKenzie, Opaki. with 82 out of a possible 100. Second place was filled by A. G. Devore, Akarana,'with 81, and W. J. Burton, Okawa. finished third with Si. Shooting was completed iu the 300 yards snapshooting practice of the No. 3 Service Match, and the remaining two practices of this match, snapshooting and application at 500 yards, will be -fired this afternoon. After the completion of these practices the fifty highest scores will be compiled, and the marksmen obtaining thesg will constitute the Service Fifty, who will take part in the final match for the service championship on Wednesday morning. A start will be made this morning with the championship belt matches, when shooting will take place in the Canterbury Match and the Otago Match, each consisting of ten rounds at 300 yards. Detailed results are as follow: — KING AND HENRY MATCH (Seven rpunds at 300, 500 and COO yards.) A GRADE. £5 and Kinß<and Henry Trophy—A. 11. O’Donnell (Petone) 102 £4—R. H. Nicholl (Petone) 102 £3 each—R. H. Nicholl (Petone), 102; F. J. Jeune (Gisborne). 102. £2 each—W. Norris (Whangarel), 101; F T. White (Okawa), 101; J. E. Farley (Wanganui)' 101; I. U Ford (Wanganui), 101 £1 each—l. C. Carter (Petone), 101; D. Roots (Pateal. 100; D. J. Gulney (Petone;, 100: F. H. Sharland (Nelson), 100: D. P. Kcir (Christchurch), 100; Roy Donald (Featherston), 100; C. H. Gower (Wanganui >. 99; F. N. McVlcar (Waipukurau), 99; S. Roebuck (New Plymouth), 99; P. R. Catlev (Ohau), 90; N. MacWllliams (Invercargill), 99; D. McLeay (Te Kuiti). 99: H. W. Brookes (West Taierl), 98; A. R. Wills (Invercargill), 9S; W. E. Jones (Titnaru), 98; A. R. Elgar (New Plymouth), 98; T. H. R. Boon (Karori), 98: H. R. Smith (Masterton-Opaki). 9S; J. Norris (Whangatcl), 97: A. Thomson (Hautere), 97; H. H. King (Karori), 97; T. McNab (Petone), 97: H. Koppcrt (Oamaru), 97; G. Te Whaitl (Grcylown), 97; H. A. Lumsden (Hautere), 97: A. V. Barrow (Cheltenham), 97; W. N. Kummer (Opaki). 97; T. L. lllonifield (Auckland City), 97: C, M. Pickering (Opaki), 97; E. M. Wrigley (MastertonOpakl), 97: S. Mayhew (Cheltenham), 97, H A. Cronlie (Ashburton), 97: IV. 11. Ballinger (Petone), 971 10/- each—H. Barlow (Linton), 97; J. I. King (Karori). 97; L. G. Benton (Featherston), 97; H. W. Feast (Greytown), 97; K. C. Barbie (Petone). 97: F. Bowes (Auckland City). 97; C. A. Hadfield (Blenheim), 97; J. C. Feast (Greytown), 96; S. A. S. Elliott (Akarana), 96; R. C. Anderson (Invercargill), 96; F. J. Soler (Wanganui),96; T. Warburton (Petone). 96; A. T. Graham (West Taierl), 96; D. E. Wilton (Whnngarel), 96. Counted out—F. Bolton. W. Oakley, T Goodall. R. Shaw. U GRADE. £3 —J. 11. MacDonald (Alfredton) .... 101 £2 each—D. P Thorby (Bulls), 100; F. Hiscoek (Christchurch), 99. £1 each—o. B. Lozell (Tararua), 96; D. P. Donald (Masterton-Opaki), 96; T. Smith (Culverden), 96: W. T. G. Sutherland (Owen Junction), 96; D. Bollard (Kaponga), 96; H. V. Donald (MastertonOpaki), 96. 10/- each —J. F. Berry (New Plymouth), 96; K. McKenzie (Featherston), 96; J. Dick (Kaipararo), 95; F. Hlckinbotham (Christchurch), 95: N. W. Taylor (Waipukurau) l , I 95: T. Orr (Ashhurst), 95. Counted out—W. F. Cheeseman. D. Purvis. No. 2 SERVICE MATCH. (Five rounds application, five rounds snapshooting, ton rounds rapid .each at 300 yards.) £4—D. S. McKenzie (Opaki) 82 £3—A. G. Devore (Akarana) SI £2—W. J. Burton (Okawa) 81 £1 each-11. W. Feast (Greytown), 80; A. R. Tantrum (I.jviu), 80; H. Simmonds <Auckland), 79: D. Rankin (Karori), 78; W. N. Masefield (Blenheim), 78; F, Hiscock (Christchurch), 76; W. J. Mclver (Petone), 76; 11. King (Opaki), 76; I. L. Ford (Wanganui), 76; J. A. Munro (Mataura), 76; J. E. Farley (Wanganui), 75; D. F, Kcir (Christchurch), 75; C. 11. Gower (Wanganui), 74: S. C. Parkinson (Auckland City), 74; 11. Frankland (Karori), 74. 10/- each.—ll. K. Smith (Opaki). 73: 8. C. Higgins (Petone), 73; J. H. Kearney (Napier), 73; A. R. Symons (Okawa), 73; W. N. Kummer (Opaki). 72; R. E, Stuart (Cheltenham), 72; R. Donald (Featherston), 72; D. McLeay (Te Kuiti), 72; T. L. Blomfield (Auckland City), 72; F. Hfcklnbotham (Christchurch), 71; G. T. Gardiner (Havelock), 71; H. R. Hunt (Suburbs); C. J. M. Clark (Auckland City), 71; P. HCatlev lOhati), 70; A. V. Barrow (Cheltenham), 70: R. F. Wakefield (Akarana), 70. Counted out.—F. T. White, W. 11. West, •T. Herivel, H. V. Croxton.