RIFLE SHOOTING

Evening Star, Issue 22891, 24 February 1938, Page 4

RIFLE SHOOTING

OVERSEAS COMPETITORS SOUTH AFRICAN SUCCESSFUL (Per United Press Association) TRENTHAM, Feb. 23. The first, appearance ever made in New Zealand by representative marksmen from Great Britain and South Africa was at Trentham to-day, when members of the visiting teams from two countries competed at the annual t meeting of the Wairarapa Rifle Association. They are to take part in an international teams’ match with New Zealand to-morrow. The South Africans made a particularly good showing and their names figured prominently in the prize lists. Members of the British team also acquitted themselves well, but several of them failed co reproduce the form they recently displayed in Australia. South Africa provided the. winner of the Wairarapa championship in C. H. Baxter, who is a member of the Petermaritzburg Rifle Club. In the four one-range matches comprising the championship series, he dropped only three points with his 28 rounds. The runner-up for the championship was P. R. T. Garnett, of the British team, who was one point behind Baxter, with 136 out of a possible 140. Baxter received the congratulations of competitors on his success and was warmly applauded as a bull’s-eye was signalled from the butts to give him the championship with an aggregate score of 137. Ever since .its first meeting over 40 years ago the Wairarapa Association has always fired its competitions at Papawai, but this year’s meeting was held at Trentham with a view to attracting competition from the visiting teams. By adopting this course the executive of. the association also provided the visitors with an opportunity to gain experience of Trentham conditions and to try out their rifles, over the ranges they will fire on in the international contest to-morrow. Twenty-five targets were required to accommodate the record entry of 223 competitors. There are 13 men in each of the visiting teams. The British team is in charge of Commander D. S. Swanston, and Colonel R. Bodley is the commander of the South African team. In addition to these overseas visitors, India is represented at the meeting of Major P. S. Bapty, formerly of the Indian Army. The British team also includes D. L. Birney, who won the King’s Prize at Bisley last year. The meeting was also attended by strong contingents from Wellington and Wairarapa Rifle Clubs, as well as marksmen from other parts of the Dominion, who will be taking part in the national rifle meeting which will commence on Friday. The South Africans will be taking part in the national meeting, and, judging by their performances to-day, they are expected to provide some strong competition. As the members of the British team are sailing for England by the Akaroa early in the week, they will not be able to attend that meeting. The matches to-day were fired in brilliant sunshine. A slight drift from the rear disturbed the aim of some of the marksmen, and others experienced elevation troubles. The visitors had little difficulty in mastering the conditions, and the shooting was of a generally high standard. Results:— . SERVICE MATCH. ' (Seven rounds rapid and seven rounds snap-shooting, each at 300 yards.) £3—L. Boxhall (South Africa) 62. £2—J. R. Keoghan (Westport) 62. £1 each—H. T. R. Boon (Karori) 61, E. A. Spradbury (South Africa) 60, R. Congreve (Old Navals) 58, M. C. Ekstein (South Africa) 58, E. A. Johns (Auckland City) 57, R. H. Nicholls (Petone) 56, D. F. Perrin (Auckland City) 56, P. R. Cleote (South Africa) 56, Roy Donald (Featherston) 55. J. McKelvie (Karori) 54. Twenty competitors received 10s each and 20 5s each. BIDWILL MATCH. (Seven rounds at 300 yards.) £ 1 10s each—L. Hare (Karori) 35, L. J. Milne (England) 35, P. R. Cleote (South Africa) 35, C. J. Nix (Featherston) 35, C. H. Baxter (South Africa) 35, M. Jones (Wanganui) 35. £1 each—H. R. Hunt (Suburbs) 34, F. H. James (Napier) 34, D. Roots (Patea) 34, P. R. T. Garnett (England) 34, E. J. C. Reston (Akarana) 34. Twenty-four competitors received 10s each, six 5s each, and five 2s each. First place in the B Grade was filled by A. Falconer (Mataura) and R. B. McKenzie (Rangitikei), who received £1 10$ each, WELLINGTON MATCH. SEVEN ROUNDS AT 600 YARDS £3—C. H. Baxter (South Africa) 35. £1 6s 8d each—R. D. Greig (England) 34. H. K. Smith (Opaki) 34. R. B. Gray (Okato) 34. £1 each—H. Harries (Christchurch) 34, C. Falconer (Balclutha) 34, J. McKelvie (Karori) 34, N. McCaw (England) 34, R. E. W. Johnsen (England) 34, J. Paterson (Wanganui) 34, R. R. D. Rolston (Levin) 34, Roy Donald (Featherston) 34. • Twenty-three competitors took 10s each, five 8j each, four 5s each, and three 3s 4d each. The B Grade was won by D. F. Perrin (Auckland City), and second place was taken by C. W. Eden (WairaU Valley> * » BUCHANAN MATCH. V(Seven Rounds at 800 Yards)’ £1 13s 4d each—P. R. J. Gamett (England) 35, W. J. Hague (South Africa) 35, R. Wakefield (Ashhurst) 35, W. C. Gibb (South Africa) 35. £1 each—T. Gruar (Petone) 34, H. T. Boon (Karori) 34, E. M. Castles (Waikopiro) 34. J. Huston (Patea) 34, J. Burnett (Gore) 34, F. N. McVicar CWaipukurau) 34, H. A. Lumsden (Hautere) 34. Four competitors received l2s 6d each, 19 10s each, five 9s each, five 5s each and three 3s 4d each. R. R. D. Rolston (Levin) and R. B. McKenzie (Rangitikei) tied for first place in the B Grade, each registering a possible, DOMINION MATCH, (Seven shots at 900 yards.) £2 10s each —A. H. O’Donnell (Petone) 35, S. O. Hay (Christchurch) 35. ' £1 each —C. H. Baxter (South Africa) 34, P. R. T. Garnett (England) 34, F. H. James (Napier) 34, H. Harries (Christchurch) 34, A.„J. Andrews (England) 34, F. C. Hodge (Christchurch) 34. S. Clark (Wairoa) 34, J. W. Hague (South Africa) 34, A. E. F. Whittington (England)' 34, R. A. Fulton (England) 34. Twenty-five competitors received 10s each, three Cs 8d each and six 5s each. The B Grade was won by J. Bishop (Hautere) with a possible, and he took the prize of £2. GRAND AGGREGATE, (For highest aggregate scores in the Bidwill Match, Wellington Match, Buchanan Match, and Dominion Match) £5, and trophy valued at £3 —C. H. Baxter (South Africa), 137. £4—P. R. T. Garnett (England). 136. £2 and Bidwill Memorial Challenge Belt and Shield—F. H. James (Napier). 134, £2 each—J. W. Hague (South Africa) 133. H. Harries (Christchurch) 133. The challenge belt cannot be taken out of the Dominion, and was, therefore, won by James as the New Zea-

land competitor with the highest, aggregate score in the championship series. B GRADE AGGREGATE. (For the highest aggregate scores in the championship series of matches) £3 qnd AValden Challenge Cup—H. R. Feast (Greytown) 133. £2—G. AVilson (Invercargill) 131. £1 each —C. Falconer (Balclutha) 131 R B. McKenzie (Rangitikei) 131, D. J. Flynn (Greytown) 131.

INTERNATIONAL MATCH

HEW ZEALAND TEAM (Per United Press Association)' TRENTHAM, Feb. 23. The members of the New Zealand team to compete against Great Britain and South Africa in the international teams’ match to-morrow were selected at Trentham to-night. Captain W. N. Masefield (Blenheim) will act as captain and coach of the team, and the other coaches will be Messrs T. H. R. Boon (Karori) and H. H. Mawley (Opaki). , The members of the team will be:— F W Bowes (Auckland City), A. Ford (Invercargill), F. James (Napier), J. McKelvie (Karori), F. N. McVicar (Waipukurau), C. J. Nix (Featherston), D. Roots (Patea), F. J. Soler (Wanganui), H. K. Smith (Opaki), and W. H West (Blenheim). Emergencies: A. H. O’Donnell (Petone) and H. Harries (Christchurch).