STRUGGLE BEGINS

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 67, 19 March 1924, Page 6

STRUGGLE BEGINS

BELT SHOOTING AT

TRENTHAM

GETTING DOWN TO BUSINESS

FIRING IN MARYBOROUGH

MATCH.

(PROM Otiß OWN REPORTER..!

TRENTHAM,. This Day

The struggle for tlie Ballinger Belt, has commenced in earnest, and every shot- fired at Trentham tliis morning had a special significance. Yesterday's matches, although of importance to a .curtain extent, served rather as a preliminary to the more serious business oi Hhe meeting. Riflemen were early astir ito-day, and the first Belt competition, .the Maryborough Match, was started at ■"8 o'clock. The weather was again favourable for riflemen, even more favourtable than yesterday, a s an absence of 'bright sunshine did away with the glaro sometimes troubles a marksman. Risibility was excellent, and a slight V'-left" wind, blowing almost diagonally /across the ranges, did not trouble the ■competitors, many of whom did not find, at necessary to put on any windage at rail. The breeze freshened a little to-j-wards 9 o'clock, but even then it was iby no means difficult to contend with. .Although the skies had clouded over this •jaiorning, the weather prospects were still "bright, there being no indication of any ■likelihood of rain.

The matches set down for to-day were 4he Marlborough Match, the Canterbury Match, and the Auckland Match. The Marlborough Match includes two practices, ten shots at the 300 and 500 yards distances. There is only one practice in'the Canterbury Match, ten shots at i-600 yards, and in the Auckland Match there are two practices, ten shots at each 300 and 600 yards. An extra match, for the purpose of filling in time for competitors who have finished shooting in the main competitions, will also be fired this afternoon, the conditions being ten shots at 900 yards. If all these events are. put through by this evening very good progress will have been made, and officials of the National Bine Association will be pleased with themselves. The first practice in the Marlborough Match this morning was at 300 yards, and at this distance some excellent results were obtained, indicating that the high standard of shooting that obtained yesterday has not slackened off at all.

The first of the Belt series of matches ■nas concluded this morning, M/ C. Canning of the Okawa Club, finishing up ;wiriner with the fine t:>tal of 99, one short of the possible aggregate for the two practices. Connor, who was shooting'remarkably well, gained the possible at 300 yards, and just fell short of the possible at 500 yards by one point. The second place was filled by F. Whiteman, Avho shoots with the Upper Hutt Club. His total was 98, including a possible at the- shorter range. Four men, A. W. M-Pherson. J. C. Carter (Liuton), J. B. Bairstow (Greytown), F. 11. James (Napier), each secured 97, but none of them "was just one- short in , one or other oi the practices. Included amongst others who secured possibles were.H. A. Croinie (Kakara), who was one, of, the few. to get every shot-on to the bull at the 500 mark—a very creditable performance—H. Simmonds (Wanganui), ;iufl H. Harris. (Christchureh), who achieved the performance at the 300----yard mark. Simmonds and Harris, ■ however, did not maintain good form in the 500 yards practice, and had to content themselves with a 46 each. Generally speaking, the standard of shooting was very high, a fact that was contributed to ■very largely by the excellent shooting conditions which prevailed at the ranges. 'Ihe wind, which threatened to increase considerably about 9 o'clock, quietened down again after an hour or so, and did .not seriously trouble marksmen. At times there were tricky patches to contend with, especially at the longer 'distance, but generally conditions were entirely favourable.

Another step towards the Ballinger Belt was made by riflemen in .the Canterbury Match, which wa's the only other fixture this morning. Once again there was some good shooting, although many' of those who found a place in the Marl■borough Match were nut successful in getting into the prize money in the Canterbury Match. The winner turned up in L. A. Caldwell, of the Karori Club, who was the only competitor to gain the possible. F. H. James, of Napier, who filled second place with 48, gave evidence of his consistency, as he was also prominent in the previous match. The longer distance (500 yard-,), seemed to ! trouble some of the cracks, and the wind presented more difficulties than was the case over 300 yards. On his performance in the Canterbury Match. James goes to the top as far as the Belt aggregate is concerned, but, oE course, at this early stage of the meeting tao much notice cannot be taken of that fact. Another Karori man. W. K. Osborne, headed the B grade prize list with 46.

Eesults are as follow:— Marlbarough Match (points to count for Belt); ten shots at each, 300 and 500 yards.

A Grade. £5—M. C. Connor (Okawa) 99 E. Whiteman (Upper Hutt) ... 98 £3—A. W. M'Pherson (Tapanui) ... 97 £2—J. C. Carter (Linton) 97 £2—J. C. Burstow (Greytown) 97 £I—E. H. James (Napier), 97; H A. Cromie (Rakaia), 96; R. J. King (Opaki), 96;' G. Hood (Opaki), 96; D Roots (Patea), 96 ;W. K. Osborne (Karori) 96 ; H. B. Croxton (Karoi), 95; Dr. Reekie (Kaitangata), 96; T. Orr (Greytown), 96; C. T. Nix (Featherston), 96; A J. Peterson (Suburbs), 96; H. Simmonds (Wanganui), 96; H. Harris (Christ-' church), 96; W. J. Swaystand (Napier), S5; H. C. Trotman (Greytown) 95- F Elliott (Akarana), 95; R. C. Barkle (Akaraua), 95; V. Jones (Kimbolton), So; G. L. Evans (Christehurch), 95,- H. ■ Nielson' (Napier), 95; P. J. Nicholls (Greytown), 95; E. C. Russell (Stoke) 35; A. R. Barker (Linwater), 95. B Grade.£2—_§. F. M rLean (Suburbs) .' 97 £I—W. Heney (Kaipai), 94 ; J. A. Blackwood (Tunaru), 94; G 'II ' Cross (ffawera), 94; L. C. Hamsoii (Hawera , 94. . " 10s—F. J. Filvius (Kiwi), 94; W. J. Keel. (Greymouth), 94; F. C. Houg (Linton). 94; H. Head (Kaitaia) 94- A. G. Robertson, 93; P. J. Tobin (Whansarei).- 93,-T. Whitman (Hutt), 92- R. Bremen. 92: J. F Hallogiin 92 • T \. Marrett (NIP.), 92. ' ' ' Tyros. £I—J. R. Yeandle (Ash.), 94; J. M'Callum (East Coast), 94; E J "Centfer (Frankton), 94; L. S. Hare' (Welliagtori), 94; E. R. Lewis (Palmerston North). 94 10s—H. B. Balfour (Greytown), 93: J. Bills (Christchurch), 95;" C. Cork hill (Waipukurau), 93: G. Te Whniti (Tuhirangi), 93; A. E. Hughes (Aharana), 92; R, G. Barlow (Karori). 92: W. Holijajad .(Ashburficm], .92; &, _;S. JJobliii,

(Opitiki), 9l : _ ingley (Opaki) 91: 0, P. George (\>, v Plymouth), 90.

Canterbury Match (points to count for tlio Belt). Ten shots at 600 yards. A Grade.

£5—L. A. Caldwell (Karori) 50 £4—F. H. James (Napior) 43 £3 —F. 0. Standicige (Old Navals) 47 £2—G. L. Evans (Christ-church) ... 47 £2—E. S. King (Waugauui) 47 £I—J. W. Paynter (Blenheim) 47, L. S. Hare (Wellington) 47, S. Elliott (.Akarana) 47, F. J. Soler (Wanganui) 46, ■J. It. Cheeseman (Tua-Marina) 46, I'\ Yates (.Napier) 46, F. A. Keane (Hamilton) 46. 11. T. Boon (Karori) 46. W H West (Okawa) 46, \V. N. Mosefiekl (Kekerangu) 45, L. C. Harrison (Hawera) 45, "G. E. Pearson (Dargaville) 45, J. A. Bhickwood (Timaru) 45, J. Ball (Kaiapoi) 45, J". Smart (Suburbs) 45, H. A. Cromie (Rakaia) 45, P. C. Hamilton (Wanganui) 45, J. G. Turnbull (Utiku) 44, 11. C. Trotman (Greytown) 44. X, C. Barkle (Akarana) 44, j". Kylo (Linton) 44, G. Robertson (Christchurch) 44, J. L. Christenson (Dargaville) 44. B Grade. £2^-W. K. Osborne (Karori) 46 £I—J. E. M'Lachlan (Frankton) 44, T. Erickson (Kaiapoi) 44, J. M'Kay (Greymouth) 44, J. 0. Foasfc (Greytown) 44. 10s—E. S. Kear (Ashburton) 44, D. Rait (Gisborne) 43, P. Peterson (Hawera) 44, J.» Paterson (Wanganui) 43, G. S. Taylor (Karori) 42, .P: J. Nicholls (Greytown) 42, S. F. M'Lean (Suburbs) -42, P. Munro (Utiku)" 42, F. Whiteman (Upper Hut-t) 41, L. R, M'Kclvio (Ruugitikei) 41. Tyros. £I—o. G. Miller (Dunedin) 44, W. 31' Bain (Old Navals) 44, M. Lawson (Patea) 44, D: C-alder (Patea) 44, G. E. Hubbard (Inangahua) 44. 10s—C. D. Arnold (New Plymouth) 44, F. Hood (Featherston) 43, J. Walters (Mawheraiti) 43, B. Holmes (Wanganui) 43, C. Brodker (Kaituna) 43, K. Anderson (Kaituna) 43, J. Burnett (Papanui) 42, S. S. Napier (Alfredton) 42, 1.--H. Frazer (Kaitangata) , 42, C. Corkhill (Waitukurau) 42.