BIG EVENTS

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 36, 11 February 1926, Page 7

BIG EVENTS

—♦ IN THE RIFLE WORLD NATIONAL AND ARMY MEETINGS AT TBENTHAM NEST MONTH. Trentham will once again be the Mecca of riflemen next month. Prospective competitors are already keenly discussing the prospects of the two big fixtures —the Army and National Meetings—and they are also seizing every opportunity of "getting their eye in" with a view to lifting some of the big prizes that are offering. With the Ballinger Belt as the tempting bait, marksmen from all over New Zealand will concentrate on Trentham for the National Meeting, and the hills at the back of the well-known ranges will once again submit to their annual diet of lead. The Army Meeting will come first. It is due to commence on Tuesday, 9th March, and if the weather is kind— kinder than it was two years ago, for instance—the meeting should conclude on the following Friday. Compared with the National Bifle Association, the Army Association is but an infant, but it has shown that it is a lusty infant, already steady on its feet, and looking with confidence to the future. The Army Association was born in 1922, and it conducted its first meeting in 1923. That meeting was a complete success, and it gave the newly formed association a good start in life. The next meeting took place in the following year, and once again success was achieved. Competitors were numerous, the shooting was of a high standard, and the behaviour of the men and boys in camp was excellent; If the behaviour of the weather had been anything like as good as that of the competitors, there wonld not have been the slightest cause for complaint. However, after all, the competitors were shooting under service conditions; conditions, in fact, with which 1 one would have to contend in the front line of battle, and in such conditions a little rain was neither here nor there. Last year it was not found possible to hold the meeting on account of the infantile paralysis epidemic, but this year, judging by present indications, the Army Association should add another successful meeting to its record. It is anticipated that entries will again be numerous, and with an attractive programme of matches arranged there should be some excellent shooting. AS OH THE BATTLEFIELD. The conditions governing shooting at the Army and National Meetings are very different, although both have but the one objective—the improvement of rifle shooting as a means of Empire -defence. The Army Association,' according to the official programme which has been issued, was formed With the object of promoting interest in weapon training for service purposes by means of individual and collective competitions, framed as far as possible to induce practice in methods which will lead to increased efficiency on the battlefield. As the objective implies, shooting at the Army Meeting is carried out strict- N ly under service conditions. Competitors are required to carry out their practices as if they were on the field of battle, with the enemy ahead of them in place of targets. It is strenuous work, but it is excellent training for sterner tasks which might, or might not, be ahead of the trainees in the future. It must be understood—rand it is generally understood—that the competitions have not been devised with a view to making those who take part keen for war, but, rather, with the object of making them prepared for the eventualities of war. NEED TOR "SLICKNESS." The man in the front trench in time of war must possess two outstanding qualities—alacrity and accuracy. He must be ready at a minute's notice to spring to the attack, and once on the attack to waste as little ammunition as possible. In the matches arranged for the Army Meeting opportunity is given to the competitor to acquire both these qualities. Here is one instance: In match No. 1 (the Army championship) competitors are required to fire four practices—rapid firing (at 300 yards), snap-shooting in the open (at 300 yards), deliberate shooting (at 600 yards), and fire with movement (at 600 to 100 yards). In the rapid practice ten rounds are served out to each competitor, and these must be kept in the pouch, cartridge-carrier, or bandolier until the 'target appears. Until the target is hoisted the chamber and magazine of the rifle are to be empty. The target is exposed once—fora brief-40 seconds, and unfired rounds are forfeited. If competitors are to achieve good results under such conditions they must be "slick," to say the least of it. In^ the snap-shooting the target is exposed ten times for three seconds each time, and each exposure is made at a different pbint on a front of 20 feet for each target. Again there is need for "sliekness." Deliberate shooting does not present so many difficulties, but the trial of the competitor commences in earnest again in the fire with movement. The competitors have to advance from the 600 yards mark to the 100 yards mark, firing at set intervals at targets which are hoisted for 45 seconds from the time the advance commences. Competitors shoot in the prone position at 500, 400, and 300 yards, in a kneeling position at 200 yards, and in a standing position at 100 yards. In this case fitness as well as slieknees comes into the picture. Such is the nature of the majority of the matches at the Army Meeting. In addition, there are competitions with the Lewis, Viekers, and Hotehkiss guns, and at next month's meeting night firing will be introduced. THE NATIONAL MEETING, With the exception of the service matches on the first day, shooting at the National Meeting is of a more leisurely description than at the Army Meeting, but skill and shrewd judgment must be brought into play in order that successes might be gained. There is a time-limit, of course, but even so the competitors are allowed ample time in which to get their shots off, and most of them make full use of their allowance, for with the Ballinger Belt as the prize eaxe must be exercised with every shot. The vagaries of the wind must be watched and watched very carefully, for at Trentham as at no other rifle range in the Dominion the winds are fitful to a degree. Time-limits allowed are as foilowi— Ten-shot match: Eleven minutes at 300 yards, thirteen minutes at 500 and 600 yards, fifteen minutes at 800 and 900 yards, and sixteen minutes at 1000 yards. Seven-shot match: Nine minutes at 300 yards, eleven minutes at 500 and 600 yards. In a*, competition in wtdeh there is a time-limit, range officers may grant an extension if time is occupied in the making of a challenge against score signals. The programme for the National Meeting next month is on the lines at ':hai for last year's meeting. The first day will be occupied with the service matches,> which are compulsory for all competitors at the meeting, and probably the whole or part of the Opening Match (which does not count for the Ballinger Shield) will be decided. With the Opening Match completed, a start will be made with the belt matched, wnieh wiH boas iofiow;—MarOmtosgh

Match (300 "and 500 yards), Auckland Match (300 and 600 yards), Wellington Match (500 and 600 yards), Canterbury Match (600 yards), Otago Match (800 and 900 yards), Hawkej, Bay Match (900 yards), Taranaki Match (800 yards), and the King's Prize Match (900 yards). All points scored in these matches count for the Ballinger Belt. In addition there are several extra matches and teams matches. Indications are that record entries will be received this year, and the meeting promises to be 'one of the most successful in the history of, the association.