RIFLE SHOOTING

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 112, 14 May 1930, Page 11

RIFLE SHOOTING

TJIE KING'S TEOPKY

DOMINION'S BIG ENTRY

(From "The Post's" Representative.) LONDON, 4th April. " The National Rifle Association has issued a report summarising the results of His Majesty the King's Trophy and the Imperial Challenge Shields Competitions for the whole Empire. Both the National Rifle Association and Colonel Ffennell (says the report) desire to express their, grateful thanks to the War Office, the General Staff, India, and to the Defence Departments of the Dominions for the assistance they have so kindly given in the conduct;of these competitions; they are further^ greatly indebted to the Donlinion Defence Departments for their most kind and invaluable co-operation in checking, .compiling, and publishing local results. ■ "-.,.■■ New Zealand slrbws the most remarkable increase in numbers of nearly 8500; her total, 13,147, is the largest number from one Dominion which has even 4aken part in these competitions;. Canada, with an increase of 9^o competitors, continues to make excellent progress, aiub-a welcome revival of interest is also noted in Rhodesia and India. , Great Britain unfortunately has to. record5 a large decrease of nearly 700, following upon one of 900 dining the previous year. . South Africa's falling off (500), in ,view, of the Union's fine efforts for the past two years is less serious, but Australia's figures are in.:, creasingly disappointing.. ■ . It is interesting to ,note that the two Dominions with the smallest white populations, South Africa and New, Zealand, together furnish- considerably more than half of the^ total entries, 25,000. . ENCOURAGING IMPROVEMENT. .Further, commenting on the results, the writer of the report (Major, G. E. Etches) Bays:— ■: "' New Zealand's team, with an average of 66.49, shows a most encouraging improvement of 5.6 points per boy. ' When the same energy and encouragement which has produced such a phenomenal increase ■' iri her numbers in a single year hhs had time to operate upon the instruction of bo many thousands o£ newcomers, greatly increased efficiency is to' be confidently anticipated. . ■ -"'■■' '.' In comparing, the results of both Great Britain and New Zealand with those of other Dominions, it must' be .borne in mind that from. 50 ,to 70 per cent, of the boys in the first-named countries are not provided with the specially' accurate ■ miniature rifles and ammunition almost entirely used elsewhere. '•'; ■ . For the third year it is much regretted that Australia's ; diminishing numbers do not enable her to furnish a team of 3000 for H.M. the King's Trophy, due, it is understood, to the suspension of the compulsory clauses of the Defence Act and a reversion to voluntary enlistment. '<• It is hoped under the new system to secure increased support next year. , The average number of points made per boy 'in the various countries iwas: South Africa, 83.201; Canada, 80.258; Great Bri- < tain, 69.45; New Zealand, 6(3.491. MEDALS OF HONOUR. With the approved oE His Majesty the King the National Kifle Association presents' Medals of Honour to all individuals who make scores of outstanding merit in this match, irrespective of whether the unit for which they shoot is successful in winning a place in its national team or not. Medals in silver, for all who score 100 or 99 points and in bronze for all who score 98 or 97 points have been won-by the various countries and Dominions as under:— ■ Silver. Bronze. Canada 72 172 Australia 1 15 South Africa 25 78 Great Britain 7 22-. New Zealand ....:...... \..12 '■ ' India ;.. .1 7 In his conclusions Major Etches says: "The magnificent effort made by New Zealand, resulting in an increase of over • 8000 competitors, cannot be expected to show, very fruitful results in one year. . At the same time, it is extremely gratifying to note that New Zealand's National team' average has improved by ever five points. The number of units which attained mass efficiency or gained places in Honours Lists itf necessary, small in proportion to suoti a' large ««uH su(H«*Jy in'a-wsed entry. A nation «f marksn.an' cannot be created in' a'single season, but as experience is gained and instruction systematically continued, greatly improved results must quickly follow." ■ , • i