GOOD SHOOTING

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 67, 19 March 1924, Page 12

GOOD SHOOTING

BIG SCORES AT TRENTHAM

THE OPENING MATCH

CENTURIES TO FOUR MARKSMEN.

(.FROM OUR OWN REPORTER.)

TRENTHAM, This Day.

A high standard was reached riflemen competing at the 1924 meeting of the National Rifle Association of New Zealand at Trentham yesterday, and it augurs well for future events at the historic Belt meeting, which may well be termed New Zealand's Bisley. Fine ■ weather, a light wind, and good visibility made conditions very favourable for competitors, and in many cases good cards were returned to the statistical office. Arrangements yesterday were ably carried out by all concerned, and this fact enabled the first day's programme, a fairly comprehensive one, to be put through in good time. The morning was devoted to shooting under service conditions, and the results of these matches were published in "The Post" last evening. Consistent shootins in all four practices enabled Captain H. Simmonds, the Wanganui crack marksman, to draw first blood as far as troDhies were concerned, his performances earning for him the right to hold the Kynoch Cup for one year. Captain Simmonds started off well by winning the first two matches, rapid shooting and snapshooting, these two making his total 82.- In his next practice, the tile competition, he was not so successful, his score of ten failing to give him a place in the prize list, but in the final match (moving target) he was again well up with 24. This made his aggregate 116 (eight points ahead of F. J. Soler, of Wanganui, who finished up second with a total of 108. Soler was third in the first match, fifth in the second, and eleventh in the fourth. He also gained a place in the prize list in the third match, but was 10 points behind tbe leading man. In securing an aggregate of 106, the Petone man, E. H. Nicholl, also registered a good performance, and gained third place. It was announced late yesterday that the name of C. J. Nix, of Featherston, whose aggregate was 91, should have been included in the list of prize-winners in the Service Championship, in place of H. Hams, o£ Waihi. In the tile compeSition an excellent performance was put up by a tyro, V. Jones, of Kimbolton, who headed the list with a total of 25— the possible score. He did not figure in the other matches, however, and was not prominent in the championship. The Service Teams' Match was won with considerable ease by Wanganui, whose team included H. Simmonds and F. J. Soler, who filled first and second places respectively in the aggregate. Their points altogether were 416, 46 ' points ahead of Petone, who were second, and 54 points ahead of . Opaki, who filled third place. The nineteen teams competing in the match were selected before the first match commenced in the morning, and the points scored by th» members of the various teams in the Service Championship were added together.

THE OPENING MATCH. The Opening Match, the first of the championship series, but the points for which do not count for the actual Belt aggregate, was won by W. H. West, late of Blenheim, who registered the fine total of 102. There was some remarkably fine shooting in the match, and possibles (35) were by no means infrequent. As one prominent marksman put it: "Such totals have not been.made at Trentham for many a day." West secured a possible at the 500 yards distance, he was one shy at 600 yards, and two shy at 300 yards. The second man, F. H. James, gained a possible at 300. yards and a 34 at 600 yards. J. G. Carter, who was not prominent in the Service shooting, came to light in the Opening Match, and his fine total of 100, giving him third place, included a 35 at 500. Had he repeated the performance at 300 yards he would have won the match by one.point. The only possible at 600 went to the credit of T. Warburton, of Petone, and others in the A grade to secure possibles were E. A. Ballinger (500 yards), W. Kirk (300 yards), 1?. Hood (500 yards), J. A. M>.inro (300 yards), and L. G. Loveday (300 yards). Performances in the B grade were generally below those in the A grade, although the top man, H. Frankland, of Karori, did well in scoring 99. The x highest scorers in the tyro section were P. Robertson, of Christchurch, and H. A. Cromie, of Eakaia, both of whom registered 96.

EFFICIENT OFFICIALS. Everything at the ranges went smoothly all day, a state of affairs reflecting great credit on those in charge. Colonel F. B. Cresswell, of Christchurch, carried out the duties of chief range officer with marked efficiency, and he had associated with him Majors J. G. M'Naught, V. Dunne, S. G. Sandle, Captains B. B. Parkinson, B. Eenkin, Lieuts. A. J. King, P. de la M. Barcham, W. L. Gibson, and S.S.M. Colough. S.S.M. Kidman achieved excellent results as officer in-chargo of the markers, all of whom carried out their work efficiently. Apart from the ranges other camp duties were also capably carried out. The statistical office, under the care of Captain G. C. Felton, did good work in getting out and posting results, and Secretary W. G. Fellingham did much to help matters along. President H. T. Marshall, chairman of the executive, although himself a competitor, and a very successful one at that, as far as the service matches were concerned, found time to do much useful work. The association officers expressed themselves as being greatly indebted to Major P. B. Henderson, M.C., who has clone his utmost towards ensuring the comfort of riflemen; to Major F. B. Martin, the entertainment officer- and to Mr. F. E. Chappell, the V.M.C.A. secretary.

If the weather holds good, the presentation of prizes will take place at Trentham on Saturday afternoon, and .invitations to be present have been forwarded to the Minister of Defence (Hon. Sir R Heaton Rhodes), Lady Rhodes (who has been requested to present the various trophies), and to the General Offices Commanding the New Zealand Forces (Geu,erai Sir Edward Chaytor), and the members of his staff.

Results of matches completed yesterday afternoon are as follow : CHAMPION SERVICE MATCH. Scores made in matches one to four to count. Teams of five, to be nominated before first service match commences. Winning team to hold Sir John Logan Campbell Shield for ono year. Wangiimii (H. Simmonds, W. Hudson, K. & King, H. Hughes, and F; J. Soler), 416 points ... l Petone (F. W. Warburton, E. Ballinger, E. H. Nicholl, H.- Feast, and J. O. Donnell), 370 points 9 Opaki (R, J. King, G. Hood, H. H i Mauley, H. H. Donald, and F 1 Boßcn), 362 points „,. 3 [ Sixteen othev teams also competed.

°W* IKC c MATCH (not counting for the Jielt). Seven shots at 300, 500, and 600 yards. A Grade. £3—W. West, Okawa .~ ... 102 ?, ?" H- James» Napier .' 100 id—-J. C. Carter, Linton 100 |2-w. s. Miiis, Kiwi ...;;;. 100 ±-2—l. Warburton, Petone 99 £I—J. Te Whaiti, Grey town," 99; H. llarris, Christchurch, 99; T A Marett, New Plymouth, 98; T. Goodall, Suburbs, a»; W. Duncan, Westport, 98: P. Munro, Utiku, 98; H. Cuthbertson, Kiwi, 98; H. Reynolds, Christchurch, 98; H. V. Croxton, Karon. 98; H. Simmonds, Wanganm, 98: E. A. Ballinger, Petone, 98; \\. Kirk, Tapanui, 98; F. Hood, Featherston, 97; W. K. Orsborne, Karori, ?t'/" n Mv"r °. Bunedin, 97; E. E. Hester, Suburbs, 97: W. J. Green, Okawa, 97; J. Ball, Kaiapoi, 97; L. G. Loveday, Linton, 97; A. J. Green, Westport 97; W. -H. Ballinsjer, Petone, 97; H. R, Hunt, Suburbs, 97; U. C. Connor, Okawa, 97. B Grade. £2—H- Frankland, Karori 99 mt-l C- Feasfc> Oreytown, 96; T. ! Whiteman, Upper Hutt. 96; G. H. Cross, Hawera, 96; R. C. H. Taylor, New Plymouth, 95. 10s—R. Sneddon, Old Navals, 95; G. \ E. Pearson Dargaville, 95; C. J. Hoi.; ! ' °o P,ofcll^' 955' -C- Gawith, Gladstone, 94; W. J. Feast, Greytown, 94 j O. J. iiarJson, Dargaville, 9i; G. H Dorm, Oamaru, 94; W. Hudson, WaqfT'w J^ B- BaJnstow. Greyfown, 93; G. Waddmgton, Methven, 93. Tyros. oi£t?—nu • ?° bert; Soli. Working Men's Club,_ Christchurch, 96; H. A. Cromie, Rakaia, 96; 0. P. George, New PlyS° Uu ' 95>\t^- C- Ha™s°n> Hawera, 93; H. Hams, Waihi, 93. 10s—Dr. Reekie, Kaitangata, 93; C. D. Arnold, New Plymouth, 92; G Petersen, Renwick, 92; H. R, Boyce, Blenheim, 92; G. F. Joblin, Opotiki, 92; F. Brydon Renwick, 92; W. M. Holland, Ashburton 92; 0. G. Miller, Dunedin ?i«V-" H-w r? seT' Kaitansata, 91; F. N. M Vicar, Waipukurau, 91? ;