BELT SERIES

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 5, 9 March 1937, Page 11

BELT SERIES

PRIZES INCREASED

LONG RANGES TODAY

IN DULL LIGHT

(From "The Post's Special Reporter.) TRENTHAM, This Day. Interest was keen on the ranges this morning when the marksmen attending the National Rifle Association's annual meeting went down to fire the Belt matches at the long i-anges, the association Having decided to increase the prize money for the meeting by £45. This decision was made because of the increased entries, and as it restores the ICing's fifty to its former position an additional ten marksmen wili win prizes in the final. In addition, seventy 10s prizes have been added to the aggregates. This morning, when firing commenced in the Auckland Match, the sky was overcast and threatening, the poor light increasing the task of the marksmen from both the 800 and 900 yards ranges, where the reduced bull's-eye already tended to lower the scores of former years. The 2ft 6in bull looked small in comparison with the 3ft bull- that has been used in the past, but as the new size conforms to Bisley conditions the riflemen consider that its introduction is proper. Some argued that the smaller black circle showed up better because of the increased white around it, but the scoring showed that it was easier to drop shots or have them swung out by the wind, which was blowing fairly steadily from the rightrear. However, the leading marksmen showed that they could master the poor conditions and the smaller target, three possibles and a good number of 49's being put on at 800 yards. Two of the possibles were put on by the first detail when the light was very indifferent. Later the wind increased in force but the light improved, and by 10 a.m. the targets showed up clearly. The possibles were made by the Kings Prize holder (W. N. Masefield, Blenheim), D. P. Donald (Opaki), and H. L. Mason (Christchurch). The extra 100 yards of the second practice brought scores down, but the work of the leading marksmen was good. H. V. Croxton and W. N. Masefield took first and second places respectively with 95 each. Masefield made 50-45, and Croxton 49-46, the latter winning first place with his better score on the longer range. ■ There were some drastic changes in the' position for- the Belt. Masefield moved from sixth place to first, and Croxton came from eight to second. C. J. Nix (Featherston), who was in the lead, made 88 and dropped back to third place. The last of the Belt series, two . single-range matches, 800 yds and 900 yds, are being fired this afternoon in a high wind and dull light. At the conclusion of these, the King's Fifty will be found for the final shoot-off tomorrow. Results of this morning's match are as follows:— £5—H. V. Croxton (Karori) 95 £4_-W, N. Masefield (Blenheim) 95 ' £3 each—-E. M. Castles (Waikapiro), S. Lumsden (Levin) 93 each. £2 each —A. G. Devore (Auckland City), D. S. McKenzie (Opaki), F, H. James (Napier), 92 each; J. S. Fletcher (Dannevirke) 91. £1 each. —W. Congreve (Old Navals), W. Oakley (Christchurch), H. A. 'Crbmie '(A'shburtoii),-' J.dVitetta (Nelson), D.. J. Guiney (Petone), H. Hughes (Wanganui), J. McKelvie (Karori), 91 eacn;.W. Duncan (Westport), P. B. Goldfinch (Karori). J. I. King (Karori), E. M. Wrigley (Opaki), A. H. O'Donnell (Petone), M. Jones (Wanganui), H. Frankland (Karori), R. H. Nichpll (Petone), 90 each; L. Palmer (Otorohanga),- D. E. Wilson (Whangarei), F. Bowes (Auckland City), T. Goodall'(Suburbs), A. A. Ford (Invercargill), J. C. Feast (Greytown), B. Masefield (Christ's College), J. Tansley (Invercargill), 89 each; W. Norris (Whangarei), H. H. Mawley (Opaki), C J. Nix1 (Featherston), J. H. Kearney (Napier), J. Burnett (Gore), H. Harries (Christchurch), N. Perkins (Westport), D. P. Donald (Opaki), 88 each; H R Feast (Greytown), F. J. Waterworth (Old Navals), H. G. Day (Nelson), 87 each. 10s each.—F. H. Sharland (Nelson), R Congreve (Old Navals), J. Patterson (Wanganui), W. N. Kummer (OpakiV S. C. Parkinson (Auckland City), L. Fellingham (Suburbs), D. F. Keir (Christchurch), E. R. Truman (Christchurch), H. L. Mason (Christchurch), 87 eachr A. R.Algar (New Plymouth), N. Macwilliams , (Invercargill), F. T. White (Okawa), H. R. Hunt (Suburbs); R. C. Russell (Auckland City), 86 each. > Counted out: F. J. Soler, W. A. Kenning, F. S. Hood, E. J. C. Eeston, A. Tombs, J. C. Ashman. B GRADE. £3—J. A. Munro (Mataura) .... 92 £2 each.—A. Thompson (Hautere), J. R. Draffin (Akarana), 89 each. £ 1 each —W. E. Jordan (Greytown), F. Pinney' (Greytown), Ai J. Brown (Hautere), D. Banks (Kimbolton), 87 each; T. Smith (Culverden), W. A. Whyte (Paparangi), 86 each. 10s each.-C. Humphrey (Okato) A. J. Pietersen (Auckland City), 86 each R V. Gray (Okato), M. P. Chapman (Wairoa), W. Downs (Suburbs), J. t-. Castle (Waikopiro), Breach ■ . Counted out: A. Cook, A. G. Wilson, R. Benton, R. A. Jones, D. J. Lynn. ADDITIONAL. PRIZES. Trenlham Aggregate, for scores in short-range matches:— • 10s each-J. C. Feast (Greytown), 232- D. E. Wilton (Whangarei), 281, N Macwilliams (Invercargill), 281; K. McKenzie (Featherston), 281; F. Hiscock (Christchurch), 281; W. Duncan (Westport), 281; H. R. Hunt (Suburbs), 281- F. B. Goldfinch (Karori), 281; G. P Crimp (Christchurch), 280; R. Ellis (Takapau), 280; A. A. Ford (Invercargill), 280; S. A. S. Elliott (Akarana), 280; F. H. Monk (Kautere), 280; G A. Wahlers (Wangaratta, Victoria), 280- F. T. White (Okawa), 280; J.. I. King (Karori), 280; F. P. Dickinson (Mangaweka), 279; R. E. Stuart (Cheltenham), 279; F. Bolton (Opaki), 279; R. Congreve (Old Navals), 279. Counted out: J. D. Christian, H. A. Lumsden, H. C. Percy, A. R. Symons, F. C. Hodge^ ;