BELT PROSPECTS

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 55, 7 March 1939, Page 13

BELT PROSPECTS

AT- EONG :MNGES -

SHOOTIiNG AT TRENTHAM

HIGH SCORING'

The high scoring that has characterised, the competition for the King's Prize at Trentham was continued when the second stage of the National Rifle Association's meeting—the long,range matches—commenced this morn-' ing. The leading marksman, B. Masefield' (Nelsori-Marlborough Mounted Rifles*''-'went-"back "two points in the early stages' of the shoot at the 800 yards range; his "47 being bettered by two'pbints by his father^ Captain W. N. Masefield (Blenheim),'who was four points behind on the short-range scores. A. H: O'TDonnell (Petone), who was thi'ee points behind, made 48, and most of. the other . leading marksmen; shot well. F. Bowes (Auckland City), who. was, oiie point behind the leader, drew level'with 48 points.

The sky was'slightly overcast this morning," but- visibility was- good. There was a.-breeze from the left when the first, marksmen-went .down on.the mound, and this* freshened until the fags were nearly extended: However, apart from'a tendency to rise and fall, the wind did not cause -much trouble. The popular ■president of the association,^'Captain Al F. Ritchie,- V-D., N.Z.M.C.,. showed "the younger marksmen how to score'by making the first 49, to the delight of' everyone on the range. '••> ■-'■■•• ■ ■■'■•■■■ ■ ■' ' ■' • ■ ' VISITING (RIFLEMAN. As the first • marksmen went down, Sir Lionel Fletcher,, a member of the executive of ;the National Rifle Association - (England). visited- the ranges ;to convey ,-tfee good •wishes, of the English association to ;the JNew1 Zealand body. He expressedthe opinion that the NewZealanders were; unfortunate ia having to' .travel from long distances to attend their meeting, tout that they had splendid, ranges : and : good light for shooting at .Trentham. .- '.--,. Riflemen were deserving .of, every consideration by the' defence authorities, Sir Lionel said, because a man who ■ could -shoei, well was, of. value in warfare" no matter what his age might be. The;.rifle. w'as'not a "museum piece,-" as some..people claimed. Aeroplanes could, rriake things very uiic.Qmf ortable in modern warfare,:%it' neitheraeroplanes nor battleships could occupy a country, ..Wars must be;won eventually by the men' with TiiAes1 arid "bayonets. Men/of" 60, or .even 70,' could guard bridges and other points if they could use small arms, md: by keeping' themselves fit for that they'were helping in defence. It .Was also argued that that the use of the rifle made; :a young man "bloody minded," but 4h'at; was all nonsense: Rifle shooting was splendid ,trailing ' in ■■keeping -one's temper. ...,.,-••■ . Sir "Lionel can. .'speak' -with some authority*dti rifle ''shooting as •he is. a marksman of . considerable ability and has also- tak'eri. a: prominent, part on the admirijs'trptty'e side. : He; has been associated wit^h p*s'National'¥®B.e'>AssociatkiE^'jSn^fid),;^- mMyffyfdrQ'atid has' fieeh; a "iriem'b'er -of ' ;fhe; cbußcil of .the association for twenty years:' He has reacjiesd-.th^ final', fqr° the r King's Prize^qn six occasions, tod won;a silver medajTTn the\ competition' of'lß9B. 'He has § isO, represerit'ed;England ori::fourteen occasions in national matches, and takes: -an active. • interest; in ; other organisations 'promoting the use of smalT.'arms: ~. :' .. /'; f -"' ' %op-ATF& -MATCHES^ ■. ■, Tiie Auckland Match- was-fired '■'. this morning at 800 and 900; yards, and the Taranaki Match at 800 yards and the' Southland Match at 900 yards are being fired this -afternoon. .The; scores, from these matches constitute the long-range j resultsj ■ and when they are. added to the short-range scores .the aggregates will .supply,-the jfinal' fifty for the : King's Prize. The standard of, shooting "has been so good'that it -is probable that a number may. have to shoot off for. the last places.-in.the fifty. ..'■..,. The, Champion. ; Team,,, Match, for which--.entries - close at :2- p.m., today, will be .fired tomorrow .morning,, and the tKing'svFinat will be, fired in the early .afternoon..- =His, .Excellency, the Governor-General 4Lprd will present the prizes,.-, and, the; Minister of Defence .(the Hpnw ,?F.,Jones) will attend.' If ttie gopd> weather conditions cpntinue;;there'shpuld:-be- an unusually interesting:'finish- to, the; competition. , %.. MASEFIELD,'.AGAIN LEADS. When.ihe-' Wellington-Match was con•luded 8.-.Mas£field ■ again ■ took a one-joint.lead-withr47i 47—94, :his aggregate oeing 382.:.'F.-.;Bowes-,drqpped back to 380 with a score of 93 in the match, A. R. Symons (Ashhurst) wound up from-' seventh place to second with a 35 that made his aggregate 381. The match was won by, H. K. Smith (Mas-terton-Opaki) with 95. . >. ' Although there- were several cards with 95 or over in. the match a number of those who did well at 800. yards had difficulty in keeping up at: 900, a heat mirage and shifting *. cloud shadows giving trouble. ;- Results:— -'■ ■'; ■ ■ --■■ ■. j AUCKLAND MATCH. [■ (10 shojs at 800 and 900 yards.) A.GRADE.' £5_H. K. Smith (Masterton-Opaki), 96 - . - .•■•■■ ■■- -• :• -•■■•! £4. h. A. Duckett-(Alfredton), 95. £3 each.-—A. R- Symons (Ashhurst),1 95: R. A. Jones (Ashhurst), 95. £2 each.—R. F. Nieholls (Petone), 95; S. C. Higgins (Petone), 94;. 8. Masefield • (Nelson-Marlborough..- Mounted Rifles), .94; TL Mawley (MastertonOpaki), 94. ■:-':■:■• ■ . £1 each.-rJ. Munro (Napier), 93; H. R. Feast <Greytown), 93; J. E. Farley (Wangan.ui), 93; R; Catley (Nelson), 93; F. Bowes": (Auckland) City), 93; H. Cromie. (Ashburton), 93; W. Johnson (Featherston), 93; V. E. Donald (Master ton-Opaki), 93; W. N. Masefield (Blenheim), 93. • ■ • AUCKLAND ■' MATCH. (Ten rounds at each' 800 and 900 yards.) . . ■'. A GRADE. £5.— H. K. Smith (MastertonOpaki) .■.....;.....:....... 96 £4.— R. A. Jones (Ashhurst) ... 95 £3 Each.—H. A. Duckett (Alfreds ton), R. S. Nicholl (Petone), 95 each. £2 Each.—A. R. Symons (Ashhurst), 95; B. Masefield.(Nelson), H. H. Maw-; ley (Masterton-Opaki), ■• F. J. Jeune (Gisborne), 94 each.

£1 Each.—J.Munro (Napier), H. R. Feast (Greytowri), j. F. Parley (Wanganui), F. Bowes (Auckland City), H. Cromie (Ashburton*, W. Johnson (Featherston), V. E. Donald (Master-ton-Opaki); W: N. Masefjeld (Blenheim), 93 each; R. Donald (Featherston), F. Porter (Ashburtorr); J. W. Curtin (Masterton-Opaki), R. F. Wakefield (Akarana). R. A. Sangster (Poko), A. H. Q'Donnell (Petone), D. Roots (Patea). A F Rf Crawford (Invercargill>, G. W." Weeds (N.Z.A.0.C.), 92 each; A. W. Harris' (Auckland City), F. F. Farmei H. R. Hunt (Suburb's). F!" N. Monk (Old Navals), F. J;- Soler (Wangahui), D. F. Keir I (Cln-istchurch), R. C. Russell' (Auck-,1 land City), C J. Nix (Featherston), E.j

R. Truman (Christchurch), S. L. Lumsden (Levin), T. McNab (Petone), W. S. C. Bowman (Kaitaia), H. Koppert (Oamaru), H. Richmond (Oldfield, Victoria), W. Norris (Kaitaia), A. S. Berry (Dannevirke), 91 each; J. Sigvertsen (Tararua), 90.

10s Each.—C. J. M. Clark (Auckjland City), A. G. Robertson (Auckland !City),R. O. Bull (Gisborne), J. H. Mac Donald (Alfredton), J. A. Munro (Mataura), N. Jones (Wanganui), D. P. Donald (Masterton-Opaki), 90 each; P. W. Congreve (Old Navals), J. R. Keoghari, (Westport), I. L. Ford (Wanganui), W. McGhesney (Invercargill), N. MeWilliams (Invercargill), A. J. Brown <Hautere), J. C. Ashman (Petone), R. A. Kingsbury (Christchurch). H. Harries (Christchurch), J. O'Donnell (Reporoa), J. Burnett (Gore). F. C. Franklyn (Old Navals), H. V. Cruxton (Karori), J. Bryden (Kaiapoi), L. E. Wilkinson (Suburbs), G. Crimp (Christchurch), H. Judkins' (Auckland |City). - • Counted out: H. A. Lumsden. [ B GRADE. £3—S. C. Higgins .(Petone), 94. £2 each.—R. Catley (Nelson), 93; R. A. Wilton (Masterton-Opaki), 92. £1 each—J. Robinson (New -Plymouth), A. V. G. Wilson (Old Navals), C. E. Sigvertsen (Tararua), A. H. Russell (Kaponga), 90 each; F. C. Hodge (Sydenham), J. Hastie (Poparangi), H. Meads (Rangitikei), W. R. Buchanan (Auckland City), 89 each. 10s each—J. Day (Tararua), 89; M. O'Grady (Old Navals), J. B. Doake (Invercargill), C. Milroy (Suburbs), V". E. Soloman (Petone), F. P. Norton (Gore), T H. P. Davey (Christchurch), A. V. Barrow (Cheltenham), H. R. Keene (Karori), J. H. Aston (Kaitaia), W. H. Davies (Takapau), H. W. Mackenzie (Wakatipu), 88 each; J. B. Searle (Ashhurst). C. W. Hendricksen (New Plymouth), 87 each. Counted out: G. Day, J. Huston.