ARMY RIFLE CHAMPIONSHIPS

Evening Star, Issue 19197, 13 March 1926, Page 3

ARMY RIFLE CHAMPIONSHIPS

RIOS'S MEDALLIST FOUND STAFF-SERGEANT THOMSON [Per United Press Association.] TEENTHAM, March 12. The King’s Modal Match this morning completed the Army rifle meeting of 192(3, ami the new medallist appeared in the person of Staff-sergeant J. S. Thomson, of Palmerston North. .He was not allowed to attain the honor without strong opposition, he weather was excellent for the earlier of the four practices lived, but a high, hi listen.- wind rather militated against good work at the long range. Thomson scored ?« Tollows4-i at BOOyds rapid shooting, do at .llKHds snap shooting. 37 at bOOyds deliberate, 42 in fire with movement at bOOyds to :300vds: total, 157. Sergeant Howard, of the Royal Marines, tied with Thomson, getting 40, 42 37, 38—157, but Thomson s fourth practice score, was tho best, and he won the match. _ Howard was ineligible to take the King’s Medal, which is confined to purely New Zealand Territorials, forces and staff. Two others, M'Callum and Kearney, topped 150, and hall a dozen others made 140 or ov«i The Minister of Defence (the Hon. F. J. Rolleston). with Major-general Young and Colonel C. G. Powles, O.C. Central Command, witnessed the final practice of the match, the ueuulecl icsuit of which is as follows

King’s Medal and £6— Staff-sergeant J. S. Thomson (Palmerston _ North) £4 —Sergeant A. J. Howard (Royal Marines) , ■* dl £3—C. R. M'Callum (Christchurch) Tol £2—Staff Sergeant-major J H Kearney (Permanent Staff) ... Jo-. The following take £1 each:—R. H. Perkins (Auckland) 148, G. E. Parker, (Wellington! 144. Sergeant F. A. Hiscock (Rovsl Marines) 143. Lieutenant T J. Denton (Christchurch) 143, Seaman E. FI. Durham (New Zealand Naval Division) 142. 10s each Lieutenant A. J. Moore (Staff Corps) 140, A. R. Symons (Napier) 139, Lance-cor-poral L. H. Tobin (9th Mounted Rifles) 139, Corporal F. H. Poohnan (9th Mounted Rifles) 137, Staff Sergeantmajor W. Bates (Permanent Staff) 135, Sergeant T. J. Eyre (Permanent Artillery) 135, Staff Sergeant-major C. H. Kitzemn. (Permanent Staff) 134. Sergeant L. Shepherd (Waikato Regiment) 133, Lieutenant C. W. Cayzer (Otago Regiment) 133. G. W. Foote (Auckland Regiment) 133, Corporal H. G. Burrell (Wellington West CoastRegiment) 132. Company Sergeantmajor A. R. Mayhill (Auckland Regiment) 131. Staff Sergeant-major G. PO’Learv (Napier) 131, W. S. Mansell I Royal'Marines) 131, Sergeant A. H. Fergusson (6th Mounted Rifles! 130, Sergeant F. Williams (Wellington Regiment! 129, S. Pearce (Auckland Regiment! 127, F. Jamieson (15th Battery) 127, J. F. ’Mason (Royal Marines! 125, Sergeant J. E. Milner (Canterbury Regiment) 125. FINE PERFORMANCE.

King’s Medallist Thomson belongs to the Permanent Staff, being instructor of mounted rifles at Palmerston North. Ho saw service in the war, and cmnpeled at Bisley in 1919, bur- just failed by one point to got into the King’s Hundred. Los Lnveday, who won the King’s Prize on that occasion, pipped Thomson in the scramble to get in at the tail end. Both were members of the New Zealand team at that meeting, under Captain Simmonds, of Wanganui. who Iwo years ago distinguished himself at Trenlham by carrying- off both tho Service Championship and the King’s Prize at the National mooting. Thomson’s and Howard's PM out of a possible 200 constituted n very fine performance under service coudilimis, PRIZES PRESENTED.

As soon as the shooting was completed and the positions of the men were ascertained all the men paraded around the stand, on which were the Minister of Defence, General Young, and the staff officers. The general very briefly welcomed the Minister, and expressed pleasure at the manner _in which the meeting had been carried through. The discipline at the butts had been excellent, hut he hoped next year to sec an improvement in the discipline on the tiring mounds. The Hon. Mr Rollcston, in acknowledging the welcome to himself as Minister of Defence, said he was pleased to see the interest all had shown in the meeting, despite the break in the sequence caused by last, year’s epidemic. New Zealand’s defence system had been through rather difficult times, hut he felt the outlook was now better, and that the system was going to prove thoroughly successful, and produce a 'Territorial force of which they could he proud. It was essential that the whole personnel should put heart and soul into the work, and then The fullest efficiency would he secured. Mr Rnlleston concluded with an expression of pleasure at seeing the naval men taking part, and congratulated them on having made some calls upon the. prize money.

'The Minister then presented the prizes. The King's Medal and the Army and Cadet champions were each chaired by their respective commands, and heartily applauded.’ while the, appearance of the naval team to receive second prize in the services- match evoked prolonged applause and cheers. The Auckland Cadet team also came in for special notice, and seemed able lo carry off their honors with an aplomb which sonic services seemed unable to muster.

'This ended the 192 G Army meeting, and by the evening tbe camp bad resumed its normal stale. It will be awake again on Monday with the advent of riflemen for the National Rifle Association’s meeting.