DOWN TO BUSINESS

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 100, 1 May 1925, Page 8

DOWN TO BUSINESS

NATIONAL RIFLE MEETING

OPENED IN FAVOURABLE

.WEATHER

GENTRIES EXCEED THREE:

HUNDRED,

jpKOM OffR..SPECIAL REPOKTEBi)

TRENTHAM, This Day.

Oininous-iooking" clouds greeted -rifleiien when they" awoke at ■ Trentham ■ this morning, and the'outlook for the opening' tjay ' of: the National Rifle Association's' Annual Meeting was far from bright. After, breakfast, however,, the sun prevailed,, and, apart from a fairly brisk ieft_wind, "whicH promised to cause competitiors some little concern, conditions were favourable when a start was .made .•with,the.serious .business of the meetJDg.

..All day yesterday trains from Wellington and from the ftorth brought riflemen to'Tr'entham;--and by this morning 310 competitors'had. handed,in their names.. In-addressing..competitors this, morning, the- Chief: -Executive Officer' (Colonel R. Hughes^"V.D'.("stated that the entries ha^i'e.xceeded their expectations, and that prize money would be paid out in full. Officials of the N.R.A. are naturally very pleased at the turn -which events have taken, and they"are looking forward" 1 with • confidence to a successful meeting. There certainly appears to be good ground for that confidence. Judgingir.b'y,.,','pr i es - e.nt;;;a,pp.e.arances J .' i the 1925. meeting should go down as-one of the most-successful in the history of the association. Several: smaller meetings during the past few weeks have had the effect of' putting riflemen-into form, and there should^be a stern struggle for that trophy of trophies—the Ballinger Belt. With tho. exception of Croxton . and Masefield, practically I,'all .'.the. crack shots of the Dominion are in camp, and the fqrnv which,they have at the South Island,and. Greytown meetings was .sufficient to indicate that good things may.be; expected of them during the present meeting. 1 >\ln ■ addition-to .;:the cracks, there I are many seasoned ; shots'' present, -and their experience should stand 'them in gobd'stead in the tests which are to_ be decided during the next week. Promising riflemen are also to be found in the. r'anks'c.f the B grade and' the tyxos, and on the whole competition should be very keen. All that is needed is good weather.. - ■"AN-IMPRESSIVE SCENE. Riflemen were astir at. an early hour thfs;'m"6*ningy'and at 8 O'clock they paraded at the squadding posts preparatory to _ commencing the service matches, which hold,.pride of place on to-day's programme; Her.c they Were briefly addressed by the Chief Executive Officer (Colonel Hughes);, There, was an im- " pressive 'scene-when, at the call of Colonel Hughes the competitors bared their heads , and stood in silence for. a- iew seconds,.as l ,a,.,mark of respect to; the late. Colonel, R. J./ Collins,',wwhoJfor'.;many years-flUed-Ahe office.of /president of-the! association,' and was one of the most ar-dent"-supporters, of the. 1 sport of rifle shooting in New Zealand.;. Colonel Collins was unable to.be present during the shooting at the -last•.•N.R.A. meeting but he attended the distribution of prizes and ■ delivered - a Epirited speech on that occasion. Riflemen' also carried a mo■tiQCof., sympathy, with, .the..relatives of. the-Prime -Minister., . ' On-behalf of the association, Colonel Hughes extended a welcome to the competitors. They all deplored; he said,;the epidemic which had resulted in the postponement of their meeting. That' postponement would mean that their shooting time would be limited, as they would have' to' cease firing ea<;h" day at 4.30 o'.qlock,. „Hflyfever, if they -all-played their part and obeyed " orders, they should .ber able- to get through before the bad weather set in. " I wish you the best-of-luck,' 1' said Colonel Hughes, in conclusion. " A fair fight, no favours and jnay,the,.best man -win." (Cheers ) Competitors then proceeded to r the" Collins and Somerville tanges, and by 8.30 o clock the first service match was under way.

.To-days programme' is a fairly 1 full One,-although the matches decided will not count..,for. the King's Fifty. The inorning is being devoted to eicrvice shooting, there . being four practices— l-apid at: 300: yards, snap-shooting at 300 yards, tile -shooting , at "300 yards j™^.'. ■moving-.- target shooting at 200 yards. The rifleman coming out of .thes.e ..four .practices wins the service championship and the Kynoch Cup; Last year this honour ■ wenij -to Captain H isimmonds,of Wanganui, who is an-ain competing.- A teams' match is also be. ]ng £9nd.ucted in connection with,the service shooting. In "'the service' matches' the wind':>;;by no means such a deciding factor as it is in the deliberative series, .as.Jthe ranges are short. Ever, th;e,long--ranges this morning the wind would.have,proved a difficulty, as gusts were-blowing-in air directions. If these: conditions i-prevail^ this afternoon,- when-the;Opening-Ma'tch (riot-counting ior the belt).-is decided), riflemen will have to keep theirs": wind-eye" .open- for pitfalls GOOD SHOOTING. There was good shooting in the service matches. The rapid practice was won by Rifleman J. L. Christenson, of Omana, who finished with a total of 46 out of the possible-S0;: Others who did well were Rifleman F. R. Chapman, of Wairoa, and Captain F. Bolton, of Masterton. Last year's service champion. Captain H. Simmonds, from Wanganui. secured a 37, but in subsequent practices made. up. .leeway, and was stated to-have-an- excellent chance of again annexing the championship.. In th e second practice, snap-shooting at 300 yards, J. Scott, of Petone, scored 44, and takes the prize of £4. H.Feast, of Greytown, scored 39, taking £3, and P.' C; Hamilton' (Wanganui); Captain •H, Simmonds^(Wanganui),.and J. Ball (Kaiapm) each secured 37, taking 265. In tfie'tljird practice, five shots' at tiles,' Feast' Knocked " all five ' down. So far; no other competitor has equalled this. ■ Results arc-as follow:— RAPID SHOOTING, 300 Yards.

'£4—J. L, Christenson (OmanaJ ... 46 £2 10s-^Efimii.":T. R. ■ Cbr.pman ■ • (Wairoa) .....::......^. 41 £2 10s-^Capt. F. Bolton (Masterton) 41

£1 each—Lieut. R-J.'gole'r (Marton) 7 40,-C.AL. Moss (Dunedin) 40, A. G. Devore (Akarana) 40, Deputy-President P...Jack. (Christchurch Railway) 40, W. K. Williams (Ohura) 39, President A. G. Robertson. (Hawera) 39, J: Bryden (Kaiapoj),,39, Sergt.-Major H. L. Frank (N.Y.P.S.) 38,;;R,.;H.: Nicholl (Petone) 38. ■■ -..■■>•.-. • . , a

13s ea,cli—Capt. H. Simmonds (Wanganui) 37, J. B: Baifstow' (Greytown) 37, L. HaT6"(old-Navals) 37 ■ ■

10s each.—L. P. AndeTson (Wanganui) 26, S.-M.J..S. Thomson (N.Y.P.S.) 36, S. M'lfab ...(Dannevirke) 36,,. D. P.oots (Patea):36, Zy H; Frayei" (Ivaitangata) 36/ C. -J-.M. •• Clark (Auckland) 35, ij. C. Carter (Linton)' 33,. E. J. ,Dudgeo/j (Nelson) 33, G. H. Doran (Oamaru) 33J W.. Gillies-.(Oamaru). 33,..C. J. -Nix (Featjiersfon); 33,■" Deputy-President J. C .Keelejyr.fCambddgej 52, Lieut; A.. J.,

.Green I.Westport) 32, 0. M. Ching (Karon). 33, President G. F. Joplin (Opo■tila) 32, Lieut. J. A. Munro (sth 0.M.R.) ■31, A. Swanson. (Karori) 31, R. E;; Hester (Suburbs) 31, H. A. Croinie (Ashburiton) 31, W. J. Gibson (Papakaio) 31, 6. Peterson (Renwick) 31, G. H. Taylor (New Plymouth) 31, W. J. Byford (Wairoa) 31, _P. M. M'Vicar (Waipukurau) Ox, H. hunt (Suburbs) 31, President H. H. Donald (Opaki) 31, Lieut. F. Sharland (Ranwick) 31, V. Tims (Christchurch Railway) 31. ■3s each—J. "Kyle (Linton) 30', 3? G. Gledhill (Eltham) 30, •T. Goodall (Suburbs) 30, G.R. Smith (Hawera) 30, E. F. Sandford (Christchurch) 30, R. Vennell (To Wharau) 30, D. M'Kenzie (Opaki) 30. SNAP-SHOOTING, 300. Yards. j ;£4—J ; Scott (Eetone) ....... 44 £3—H. W. Feast (Greytown) 39 J £1 6s eaca—P. C. Hamilton (Wanganui) 37, Capt. H.. Simmonds (Wanganui) 37, J. BaU (Kaiapoi) 37. £1- each—S. A.. Elliott (Akarana) 36, E. C. Russell (Eltham) 36, Corp. P. A; Hiscpck (Royal Marines) 35. 18s • each—President .W. H. Ballinger (Petone) 34, E. F. Sandford (Christcfcirch) 34, A. M'Kay (Opaki) 34, H. Reynolds (Christchurch) 34, T. Warburtcn (Petone) 34, A. G.'Devore (Akarana)

10s each—D. J. Guinoy (Petone) 31, L. Task (Linkwater) 31, G. H. Taylor (New Plymouth) 31, H. A. Ciomie (Ashburton) 31, S. M'Nab (Dannevirke) 31, M. P. Chapman (Wairoa) 31, F.. Yates (Napier 31, F. E. Franklyn (Old Navals) 31, W. J. Johnston (Christchuvch Railway) 30, Deputy-President A. R. Barker (Linkwater) 30, M. R. Davis (Kinohaku) 29, I. E-. Humphreys (Okawa) 29, E. J. Reston (Ahkarana) 29, Cadet R. H: Blackburn (Waitaki) 29, D.'Roots (Patea) 29, C. M. Moss (Dunedin) 29, H. T. Boon .(Karori) 29, President W. M. Luxford (Wanganui) 28, W. Winslade (To Kuiti) 27, R. -E. Hester (Suburbs) 27, A. C. •Maisey (Wairhea) 27, J. C. Feast (Greytown) 27, D..H. Clement (Ashburton) 27, A. Linton (Seddon) 27. G. Gardiner (Havelock) 27, L. G. Bcnton (Featherstov-) 26, A. V. Swanson (Karori) 26, F. A. Whiteman (Upper Hutt) 26. Capt. R. Simpson (Waikato) 26, C. M. Broughkm -(Rangitikei) 26, W. Sutherland (Goodwood) 26. ■

TILE COMPETITION, 200 YARDS. £3 10s—O. M. Ching (Karori) 25 £3 10s—J. C. Feast (Greytown) ...... 25

17s 6d each—R. 11. Nicholl (Petone) 20, J. H. Blackburn (Te Kuiti) 20, H. Wansbrough .(Wanganui) 20, L. Hare(Old Navals) 20, H. J. Boon (Karori) 20, W. J. Green (Okawa) 20, Lieut. F. J. Soler (Marton) 20, M. R, Davis (Kinohaku) 20, C. J. M. Clark (Anckland) 20, H. W. Feast (Greytown) 20, Captain F. Bolton (Masterton) 20, D. M'Kenzie (Opaki) 20, President J. G. Comes (Waihi) 20, M. P. Chapman (Wairoa) 20, X Feary (Tahaka).2O, A. W. Powell (Akarana) 20, T. Orr (Greytown) 20. 6s each—R. Willis (Kapontra) 15, G S. Webster YWaveriey). 15, J. W. Milroy (Waimea) .15, Deputy-President ■' C. H Baker (Whangarei) 15, A. V. Swanson (Karon) 15, Deputy-President P. Jack (ChristchurclL Railway) 15, Al S." T. Butler (KaTori) 15, A. M'Kay (Opaki) 15, F. R. Chapman (Wairoa) 15, S. M. H L Frank /N.Z.P.F.) 15, P. .C. Hamilton (Wanganui) 15, J. A. Blackwood (Timaru) 15; F. Kershaw. (Petone) 15, S' M'Nab', (Dannevirke) x 5," Captain H. Simmonds (Wanganui) 15, .C. Lovell (RenK lcli,); i- S- Higgs (New Plymouth) 15, G. E. Parker (University) 15, J I Morgan (Wanganui) 15, W, J. Gibson (Papakaio) 15, ,J. G. Turnbull (New Plymouth) 15, A. G. Roberston Hawera) 15,-E. T, Haldane (Waipukurau). 15, X M Kenzie (Featberston). 15, W J By ford (Wairoa) 15, W. R. Barrett /Christchurch Railways) 15,. F. Ching (Karori) 15 G. Boot (Frankton) 15, C. Corkill (Waipukurau) 15, F. M'Vicar (Waipukurau) 15, .Vice^President W. A. Thomson (Marsden) 15, H. Hunt. (Suburbs) 15 C^ M. Moss (Dunedin) 15, R. Tilsley (Akarana) 15, Vice-Presndent J. M'Mi'll Wairoa) 15 Deputy-President A. R. Barker (Linkwater) 15, F. B. Chittock (Timaru) 15, E. C- Russell (Nelson) 15 F G Franklyn (Old Navals) 15, G. E. Eddy (WajroaO 15 J C Carter (Linton) 15, J- Te Whaiti (Puhurangi) 15, A. J Smith (Napier) 15.' "•