N.R.A. MEETING

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 69, 23 March 1931, Page 11

N.R.A. MEETING

FINDING THE CHAMPION

: W. MTVEE PROMINENT ■ / ■.. ■ ■ ~- ■ ■ ■ (From"The Posts Special Reporter.) ■ - ■ TRENTHAM, This Day. . j Fickle Trcntham is thoroughly test- • ing riflemen attending the National Biflo Association meeting, the ideal J conditions 6 fthe first two days having given place to-day to less favourable i weather. The weather this morning ; was overcast, -with rain threatening, and there; was a heavy north-west | wind. ." ■ ■'• '■ ' • '■,•■■'■ ; : i , Excellent as the progress has been, I remaining matches will have to be ; shot without any hitch if the pro-1 . gramme is to be completed to-morrow, • afternoon. However, provided the ! weather holds, there is no, reason why ! the King's Prize match should not be ; flred according to schedule —at 3 p.m. i to-morrow; The outstanding feature of ■ Saturi day's- shooting was, the excellent, performance of W. M'iver (Petone). He won the Witcombc and Caldwell, with 07 out of 100j.the Imperial Aggregate; the Wellington, with 97 out of a possible of 100; andwas fourth, in the Marlborough with a score of 49, the possible being 50. There were five 49's in tho Marlborough. M'lver, on Saturday, thus won every match, with the exception of ouc. A prominent marksman, M'Tvcr was' a member of the New Zealand rifle team which visited Australia' recently, and finished third in the King's Prize last year, following P. Berry (Tararua) and W. N. Masefiold (Marlbt^ough). Wellington shots havo so far done very well at this year's meeting. . H. Boon (Karori) won the rapid piactiee in tho service shooting; F. W. Ching, L. A. Caldwell, and Boon (Karori) occupy -good positions in the Service Forty; tho Karori team (11. V. Croxton, 11. Boon, L. A. Caldwell, and F. W. Chiug) won the champion service team" match; W. H. Ballinger (Petone) was second in tho King and Henry match; Ballinger and Ching were second and third respectively in tho Imperial Aggregate; and Croxton filled second place in the Wellington match. Wellington riflemen have so far captured'tho bulk of the prizes. "Saturday saw tho. iirst two Belt' matches disposed of, and by the time to-day's matches havo been finished interest in the championship will have quickened. This morning, tho Canterbury (600 yds) and the'Taranaki (800 yds) (the latter being tho first leg of the Taranaki and Hawkes Bay matches, which are collectively known as the Taranaki match), wore fired. This afternoon the second leg of the Ilawkes Bay (900 yds) and the first leg of tho Otago (900 yds) aro to be fired. To-morrow will be an exceptionally busy day. The second leg of - tho .Otago (800 yds) will bo.fired, and that will complete the Belt series. The Service Forty will fire off tho Service Championship at 1 p.m., and at 3 p.m. the King's Fifty'will take tho mounds for the final match of the meeting. Colonel F.1 B. Crcswell, V.D., chief executive officer, arrived, from Christchurch yesterday. The secretary for the meeting is Deputy-President W. G. Fellingham (Suburbs Club). Captain B. J. D. Davis and his staff havo tho range., in splendid order, and the markers, under tho control of Lieut. J. ■R. Page, have given every satisfaction. The statistical staff, supplied by tho Defence Department, is in charge of SergtrMajor J. W. E. 'Hudson. The catering for the meeting is in the capable hands of Mrs. H. Telford. Lieut. E. B. V. Petrie has been responsible'for the. internal 'arrangements at the camiJ. - ■■• .