ON LONG RANGE

Evening Post, Volume CXXI, Issue 59, 10 March 1936, Page 11

ON LONG RANGE

CONDITIONS IDEAL

CONTEST FOR BELT.

SEYEEAL POSSIBLES

"Post" Reporter.)

THENTHAM,. This Day.

Conditions; were ideal for shooting on the Jong range in-the Belt series of the National Rifle Association's meeting here today, the light being good •and the air comparatively still. The heavy rain, that fell yesterday afternoon continued during the night, but cleared off in the early hours of the morning, and by the time the marksmen went down to the 800 yards range for the first practice of the Auckland Match the air was clear, although the sky Was overcast with light cloud. There was a light breeze from the south, but it was fairly constant, and did not trouble the seasoned shooters to any extent. For the long ranges the large bulls are being used, and these are preferred by many of the contestants to the "tin hats" used on the short ranges. Most of the marksmen considered that 48 and- upwards would be required to reach the prize-money after the 800 yards had been fired, as the standard of shooting was unusually high. At that range scores of. 48 and 49 were numerous, and there were no fewer than six possibles, two being made in succession in one squad. W. N. Masefleld, who was second in the Trentham Aggregate . and tied for second place, in the, Hawke's Bay Match yesterday, was unfortunate this morning, putting a bull into the next target. If he had not mistaken the target he would have scored a possible, as his other nine were all in, giving him 45. - •

The Taranaki Match; which is ten shots at 800 yards, and the Witcombe and Caldwell Match, ten shots at 900 yards, are also being fired today. The final of .the Service Match will be fired tomorrow morning, and the final fifty for the King's Prize will go down tomorrow afternoon as originally arranged. The completion of the Auckland, Taranaki, and Witcombe and Caldwell Matches today will find the final fifty for the' Championship Belt. The standard of shooting continued remarkably high at the 900 yards range, although the breeze became difficult for a time. The light improved a shade and towards noon became comparatively bright, while the air became much warmer. One or two contestants fell away badly at the longer range, but the majority were well up towards the. century, 47's arid 48's being fairly plentiful. H. A. R. Hunt (Suburbs) secured first prize money with 49, 50—99 and H. V. Croxton (Karori) took second place with 49, 50—99, Hunt having the lead on the count back. J. I. King (Karori) took third place with 50, 49— S9. 1 •: ',- ■..■'• ;•■■■. J. H. Kearney (Napier) made a possible at 900, but was two down at 800, sp|he finished with a 98. ,W. J, Green (Opawa) also put all ten shots into the bull's-eye, but he had not done particularly well at 800 yards: and was left well down the list for the match. Masefield would have been well up but for his unfortunate mistake at the first .range, as he placed nine2s'spand a 4: ■■ C. J. Nix (Featherston)-and E. H. Nicholl ■(Petone), who made: consecutive possibles in the same squad at 800. yards, also kept abreast at the longer range, both making 47, and totals of 97. AUCKLAND MATCH. (800 and 900 Yards, ten shots at each.) . , A Grade. £5.— H. R. Hunt (Suburbs), 99 £4.— H. V. Croxton (Karori) 99 • £3-each—J; I. King (Karori), 99; J. H; Kearney (Napier), 98. £2 each—C. H. Gower (Wanganui), 98; P. W.Congreve (Old Navals), 98; R. J. King (Opaki), 97; G. Rhodes .(Greytown), 97. £1 each—N. McWilliams (Invercargill), 97; A. H. O'Donnell (Petone), 97; F. H. Sharland (Nelson), 97; T. R. Tapley (Ohau), 97; R. H. Nicholl (Petona), 97; C. J. Nix (Featherston), 97; T. Wairburton (Petone), 97; F. Bowes (Auckland City), 96; H. W. Feast (Greytown), .96; P. Berry (Tararua), 96; W. Oakley (Christchurch), 96;' P. Churcher (Cheltenham), 96; H. C. Russell (Napier), 96;' E. M. Wrigley (Opaki), 96; Roy Donald (Featherston), 96; J. H. Manson (Napier), 96; M, Hugo (Old Navals), 96; F. Franklyn (Old Navals), 95; R. A. Nicholson (Napier), 95; A. Tombs (Blenheim), 95; A. R. Tantrum (Levin), 95; A. R. Wills (Invercargill), 95; E. R. Truman (Christchurch), 95; . T. H. R. Boon (Karori), 95; F. J. Jeune (Gfsbome), 95; F. N. Me Vicar (Waipukurau), 95; D. G. Wilton (Whangarei), 95; L. E. Blaithwaite (Okawa), 95; F. H. James (Napier), 95; J. Whiteman (Opaki), 95; S. McNab (Petone), 95; F. Mayhew (Cheltenham), 95; G. L. Ford (Wanganui), 95; O. B. Lozell (Tararua), 95. 10s Each.—H. Franklin (Karori), 95; F. Hobbs (New Plymouth), 95; H. Simmonds (Auckland), 94; C. A. Hadfield (Blenheim), 94; P. B. Goldfinch (Karori), 94; W. H. Webb (Blenheim), 94; H. Barlow (Linton), 94; J. E. Farley (Wanganui), 94; R. O. Bull (Qisborne); 94; S. G. Higgs (New Plymouth), 94; D. J. Guiney (Petone), 94; D. I. Grant (Oamaru), 94. Counted Out.—H. H. Mawley, C. Whiteman, D. S. McKenzie, T. Goodall. • B Grade. £3—W. Corlett (Blenheim), 97. '£2 Each.—W. Davies (Takapau), 96; G. T. B. Thomas (Old Navals), 96. £1 Each.—J. E. Pitt (Old Navals), 95; F. Hiscock (Christchurch), 94; J. F. McCarthy (Kaponga), 94; H. V. Donald (Opaki), 9~4; J. Johnstone (Gisborne), 94; A. J. Brown' (Ngatiawa), 94. 10s Each.—T. Smith (Culverden), 94; D. P. Donald (Opaki), 94; N. D. Stewart (Matamata), 93; G. T. Gardiner (Havelock), 93; D. Purvis (Upper Hutt), 92; J. Munro (Napier), 92. "Counted Out.—D. B. Thorby, D. Holland, S. H. Haraldson, K. McKenzie, C. M. Izett, M. Jones, A. W. Harris, A. F. Ritchie-Crawford.