FOR THE BELT

Evening Post, Issue 60, 11 March 1936, Page 16

FOR THE BELT

MASEFIELD IN LEAD

FINAL FIFTY FOUND

MATCHES FINISHED

("Post" Reporter.)

TRENTHAM, March 10.

| Glorious weather conditions prevailed on the ranges this afternoon when the final matches of the National Rifle Association's meeting were decided at the long ranges. The final fifty to shoot for the King's Prize tomorrow afternoon were found late in the afternoon and show a high standard of shooting, the scores ranging from 426 down to 411. The possible was 45U. Captain W. N. Masefield (Blenheim) secured first place with a margin of two points in spite of his bad luck during the morning when he put one of ten bull's-eyes into the next target through the end target being down when he sighted. Rifleman J. E. Farley (Wanganui) made second place with 424, and Rifleman D. £. Wilton (Whangarei) was third with 422. ' Captain Masefield is a consistent and capable marksman, little likely to be affected by nerves or the presence of the crowd that will gather for the final, and' with a two-point lead he will be hard to beat. He has already won the coveted Belt on two occasions, first in 1914 and again in 1929. He has been prominent at shooting matches in New Zealand for many years, and has also shot in Australia and at Bisley. Apart from yesterday afternoon, when the heavy rain spoilt a numbar of good averages, the weather for tha meeting has been wellnigh perfect, today being one of the Best, as the light was excellent during the morning. The sky cleared at, noon, and the afternoon shooting had 'to be done in a rather bright light with a trace of mirage on the ranges. However, conditions were much more comfortable on the mounds as the ground dried rapidly and the air was comfortably warm. The wind puzzled some of the marksmen at times by changing to a certain extent, but it was never difficult, and Captain Masefield proved that good shooting was quite possible when he placed a clean ijun of bulls in the last 900 yards match. STANDARDS COMPARED. The standard of shooting as compared with that of last year is interesting. On that occasion only forty were selected to fire in the final, and Rifleman A. R. .Wills (Invercargill) topped the score with 421, five points behind the top score this year. The fortieth man scored 403, while the fortieth man this year made 413, or ten points better. On this year's scoring the seventh man placed last year would not have found a place today if only forty were chosen. The amount of variation between the scores has also been reduced. Last year there were 18 points between the first and fortieth man, but this year there are only 13 points, and only 15 between the first man and the fiftieth. The Taranaki Match, of ten shots at 800 yards, was fired after lunch, and then the Witcombe and Caldwell Match, ten shots at 900 yards, was flred. These two matches completed the Championship Belt series and also decided the ownership of several trophies. The Australian Aggregate was settled by the completion of the Auckland Match in the morning, and the Grand Aggregate was decided by all of the matches fired, including the King and Henry and Service Matches. The Bisley Aggregate was decided by the three final matches, and the Imperial Aggregate was decided on the scores in the Otago, Hawke's Bay, Taranaki, and Witcombe and Caldwell Matches. THE KING'S FIFTY. The following marksmen will flro in the 'final for tho King's Prize:— W. N. Masefield (Blenheim) 420 J. E. Farley (Wanganui) 424 D. E. Wilton (Whangarei) 422 F. Hiscock (Christchurch) 422 F. H. James (Napier) 421 A. H. O'Donnell (Petone) 421 P. R. Catley (Ohau) 420 1 J. I. King (Karori) 420 \ R. H. Nicholl (Petone) 420 Z E. M. Wrigley (Opakl) 410 J W. J. Mclver (Petoue) 418 i H. V. Croxton (Karori) 41S < N. Mao Williams (Invercargill) 417 , R. C. Russell (Auckland) 417 t F. J. Jcune (Gishorne) 117 [ D. S. McKenzie (Opakl) 41<> : E. B. Truman (Cliristchurch) 41G. W. J. Burton (Okawa) 41G J. C. Feasf (Creytown) 410 . A. W. Harris (Auckland) ~11 fi W. H. West (Blenheim) 41« T. H. R. Boon (Karori) 410 H. R. Hunt (Suburbs) 415 T. Warburton (Petone) 4in F. Bowes (Auckland) 415 P. Churcher (Cheltenham) 413 D. Hollard (Kaponga) 41H W. McChesney (TnvercarglU). 415 F. H. Sharland (Nelson) 411 ( C. J. Nix (Featherston) 414 I W. Corlett (Blenheim) 411 W. Oakley (Christchurch) 414 , P. B. Goldfinch (Karori) 411 / H. I'rankland (Karori) 411 1 M. Jones (Wanganui) 413 I T. Goodall (Suburbs) 413 r C. Whiteman (Upper Hutt) US i H. H. Mawley (Opaki) 413 c G. Rhodes (Greytown) 413 " C. H. Gower (Wanganui) 413 \ S. H. Haraldson (Napier) 413 t S. Roebuck (New Plymouth) 413 g J.. H. Manssin (Napier) 412 H. -A. Cromie (Ashburton) ............. 412 t F.;Hickinbotham:(Christchurch) 412 ,L R. C. Barkle (Petone) 412 i 0. P. Donald (OpaW) 412 I N. D. Stewart (Matamata) 4U J S. C. Parkinson (Auckland) 411 J. Norris (Whangarei) 411 r J. F.. McCarthy (Kaponga) 411 J. Munro ■ (Napier) 411 \ P. W.; Congreve (Old Xarals) 411 t W. E. Jones (Timaru) 411 r 1. L. Ford (Wanganui) 411 A The last eight competitors will flro oil one compulsory sighter and three shots at !100 yards \ to determine the last three places lv the King's p Fifty. - \ AUSTRALIAN AGGREGATE. s (For the highest aggregate score in the Can- r, terbury, Wellington, and Auckland matches.) r &1 and Miniature Cup.—3 . I. King (Karori). I: 241. £5.—L. E. Bniithwaito (Okawa), 239. „ £4.—C. H. Gowcr (Wanganui), 238. ° v£3 each.—F. Bowes (Auckland City), 235; ? W. 3. Mclver (Petone), 238. ■■ I £2 each.—F. H. Sharland (Nelson). 237; E. a R. Truman (Christchurch), 236; A. H. O'Don- r nell (Petone), 236; T. H. It. Boon (Karori). c °£1 each.—N: D. Stewart (Matamata), 236; £ It. V. Croxton (Karori),,23s; P. W. Con- t grere (Old JN'avals), 235; F. Hiscock (Christ- a church), 235; It. H. Nicholl (Petone), 235; D. a K. Wilton (Whangarei), '233; F. H. James _ (Napier), 235; J. E. Farley (Wanganui), 235; '.. P. B. Goldfinch (Karori), 235; Roy Donald l(Featherston). 235; C. Whiteman (Upper Hutt), a 235; H. R. nunt (Suburbs), 234; P. Churcher (Cheltenham), 234; C. J. Nix (Featherston), 1 234; T. Warburton (Petone), 234; G. It. Catley (Ohau), 234; J. H. Manssin (Napier), 234: r. L. Ford (Wanganui), 234; 11. C. Ilussell (Auckland City), 234; S. Roebucic (New Plymouth), 234; W. Corlelt (Blenheim), 233; W. X. Mascfleld (Blenheim), 233; E. M. Wrigley (Opaki). 233; 11. Frankland (Karori). 233: L. I G. Benton (Featherston), 233. Counted Out.—A. U, Elgar. M. Jones, P. Hlckinbotham. In addition to the 'prize-money and miniature cup, the winner hoids tho White Horse J. Challenge Cup for one year. t. | BISLEY AGGREGATE. . £ (For highest scores in the Auckland Match, _ • Taranaki Match, and.Witcombe and Caldwell " Match.) c Oroxton Cup and £5.— H. V. Croxton (Ka- V rorl), 196. ' g £4.—P. R. Catley (Ohau), 394. 2 £3.— H. K. Hunt (Suburbs), 103. j £2 each'.—E. H. Nicholl (Petoue), 193: N. ? Macwllllams (Invercargill), 192. v £1 oach.—W. Oakley (Christchurch), 192; t. G. B. Thomas (Old Navais), 191; D. K. Wil- C ton (Wliangarel), 191; C. J. Nix (Featherston). j| 191; T. Warburtou (Petone), 191; J. F. McCarthy (Kaponga), IS9; N. D. Stewart (Matamata). 189: D. Roots (Patea), 189; J. I. King (Karori), 189: AY. X. Masfleld (Blenheim). ISQ 10s each.—ll. Frankland (Kurori), IS9; IIC. Russell (Auckland City), IS9; R. A. Nicholson (Napier), 188; J. Whiteman (Opakl), 188; s F. N. McVlcar (Watpukurau), 188; A. H. O'Don- T nell (Petone), 18S; F. Franklyn (Old Navals), J--188; R. J. King (Opaki), ISS: H. V. Donald C (Opaki), 188. ~ " Counted Out.—C. H. Gower, J. H. Kearney, li. M. Wrigley, P. W. Congreve. , 8 GRADE AGGREGATE. *' (For all scores in tho Belt, Matches except tho final ten shots.) P '.Barton-Challenge Cup,: Gold Modal presented c

by McKcuztti, 'l'hurutoii, Cooper, Limited, ana £5.— F. Hiscock (Christdiurch), 422.

£.').—A. W. Harris (Auckland City), 41(1. £U each.—U. Hollard (Kaponga), 410; P. Churcher (Cheltenham), 415.

Si I cacli. —\V. CorleU (Bleiihelml, ill; G. Rhodes ((Jreytmvn), .113; S. 11. Uanildson (Napier), 413; SI. Jouos (Wungannl), -UJ; IJ. I. Donald (Opakl), 112; J. 11. Maiissln (Napier), 112; V. Hlcklubolham (Christciiurdi), 112: .1. F. Jli-C'anhy (ICnpongii), 411; X. D. Stewart (.Matamata), 111; .1. Miinro (Napier). Ill; ,1. Xorrls (Whangarei), -111; G. 1. li. Thomas (Old Navals), 410; A. U. Ford (Cisborne), 410. Counted Out.—.M. ■.!. McCarthy. TARANAKI MATCH. (Ten shots at 800 yards.) £S each (all equal),—W. Oakley (Christchurch), DO; V. J. Soler (Want-amll). CO; W. McChesuey (Inveroart'ill), 50; U. Te Whaitl (Urcytuwn). 50; IJ. E. Wilton (Wliangurul), 50; X J. M. Clark (Auckland City). 50: P. It. Catley (Obau), 50. fi2.— (}. T. I). Thomas (Old Navals), 49. £1 each.—Tuke Whitemau (Upper lXult), 49; C. J. Nix (Featherston), '!!); I. h. I'ord (Wangnnul), 49; J. C. Feast (Greytown), 49; T. Wtttburlou (I'etone), 49; D. Hoots (Patea), 49; W. T. G. Sutherland (Owen Junction). 49; it. C. Russell (Auckland City), 49; J. McKenzie (Opaki), 49; H. Frankland (Karori), 4S; It. 11. Nicholl (I'etone), 49; SI. J. McCarthy (Sydenham), 4!l; J. Norrls (Whangarei), 49; N. D. Stewart (.Matamata), 40: It. A. Wilton (OuakJ). IS; ti. Khodea (Greytown), 4S; T. H. It. lioon (Karori), 48; H. 11. Mawley (Opaki), 48; 11 V. Donald (Opaki), 48; R. Vennell (To Wliar.'iii), 48; P. Bnlton (Opakl). 48; A. A. Ford (luvercurglll), 48; .1. I. I'etersen (Tararua). JS; U. G. Devnro (Auckland City). 48; D. S. McKcnzio (Opakl), 4S; .1. McKelvle (Karori). •IS;,H. W. Feast (Greytown). 48; 11. Barlow (Llnton), 48; A. Ford (Gisborne), 48; F. Franklyn (Old Xavals). 4S; 11. Whiteman (Upper Hutt), 4S; M. S. D. Monk (Old Navals). 18; W. J. Burton (Okawa), 48: J. H. Kearney (Napier), 48. 10s each.—W. H. West (Blenheim), 48; W. H. Ballinger (Petone), 48; J.C. Carter (Petone), 48; P. T. While (Okawa), 48; F. C. Hokb (New Plymouth), 48; W. .1. Green (Okawa), -IS; J. 11. Blackburn (To Kulll), 47; K. C. iMarkle (Petone), 47: S. Pruden (New Plymouth), 47: W. Johnson (Featherston), 47; J. A. "Johnstono (Upper Hutt). 47; 11. Slimnonds (Auckland), 47; \V. J. Mclver (Petone), 47; W, N. Masefleid (Blenheim), 47. Counted Out.—ll. V. Croxton, K. M. Wrlßley. P. \V. Congreve, H. Macwllllnnis. E. R. Truman. L. E. Braithwaite, G. R. Smith, H. H. Uimsden. J. Bryden, A. R. ElKar. B GRADE. £3.-1). P. Thorby (Bulls). 50. £1 13s 4d each.—F. H. Monk (Hautere), 49; W. Corlott (Blenheim), 4!); H. W. Harris (Auckland City), 49. £1 cadi.—,l. I. Parcell (Wakatipu). 48; D. Murray (Cliristchurch), -18; M. Jones (Wanganui) 48; A. Thomson (Hautere). 4S: D. P. Donald (Opaki), 47. ' 10s each.—C. M. Issett (Kaponga), 47: is. H. Haralrison (Napier), 47; AY. F. Cheeseman (Blenheim), 47: J. Munro (Napier). 4i ; J. v. Jones-Parry (Akarana), 40. ... Counted Out.—D. Purvis, F. Hicklnbotham, A. E. Simmonds, L. T. McNatty, S. C. Smith,.! J. Berry, A. F. R. Crawford. J. .L. McCarthy,: J. Bell. S. McNabb, J. Brown. I