Conduct of Rifle Club Receives Favourable Comment

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23079, 18 October 1949, Page 8

Conduct of Rifle Club Receives Favourable Comment

The manner in which club afi’airs had been conducted during the year was the subject of favourable comment at the annual meeting of the Gisborne Defence Rifle Club held recently. Submitted by the president, Mr. R. O. Bull, the annual report stated that there had been good attendance? on the range throughout the season. A high standard of marksmanship had been maintained and many new members had shown promise. , , , , Nearly all of the members had shared in the distribution of prize-money. The major challenge trophy, the Barry Cup, was again won by F. J. Jeune. In the B Grade, W. Lundon won the Ford Cup and C. Lloyd secured the Whitcombe and Caldwell Cup as runner-up in this class H. Parata. a first-year mmeber, won the Ford Cup for the C Grade. At the annual East Coast championship held at Wairoa. Gisborne was well represented. W. jTßurton Rait Belt and the Taxi Cup, while G. Jeune secured the Townley Cup. In the various team competitions held Gisborne retained the Tokotnaru Bulls-Eye Plate, the Chamber Shield. “Pop” Jeune Mug, and the Manning White Horse Trophy. The competition for the Holden Cup for club teams was won by the team consisting of W. J. Burton, J. K. Aitken, B, Clark, R. Hamilton and F. Lloyd. National Championship

At the New Zealand championships held at Trentham three of the club members qualified to shoot in tire King s Fifty, W. J. Burton, F. J. Jeune and G. Jeune. This was a creditable effort by the last-mentioned, who is a junior, and was attending his first national championship shoot. Burton, B. Elliott and F. J. Jeune also qualified to shoot-off in the service championship. In the champion teams’ matches held at this meeting 50 teams competed and Gisborne secured third place in the service series and fourth in the district challenge shield match. Gisborne won the Islington Cup for obtaining the highest score in the snap-shooting practise. The club was also well represented at the Hawke's Bay championships, where R. Bull secured fourth place. The election of officers resulted:— Patron, Mr. H. T. Holden; president, Mr. R. A. Burson; deputy-president, Mr. R. O. Bull; vice-presidents, Messrs. L. Grey, J. Gardiner. A. H. Barwick, Captain L. R. Stichbury, Mr. S. Smith, anci Captain R. B. Lockett; hon. secretary, Mr. F. J. Jeune; assistant secretary, Mr. W. J. Burton: range ammunition officer, Mr. W. Lundon; chief range officer, Mr. R. Burson: assistant range officers. Messrs. I. Caie, B. Clark and W. Lundon; armourer. Mr. H. lies; committee. Messrs. T. Lambcrton, J. Foss, F. Lloyd, J. K. Aitwen. IT. Parata. P. Foss, T. Evans, H. Allan and P. Benney; handicappers, Messrs. R. O. Bull. W. I,undon and F. J. Jeune: lion, auditor, Mr. B. H. Dodge. A programme for the coming season was approved, and the official opening day was fixed for October 30.

The retirement of Mr. R. O. Bull, the former president, in which capacity he had rendered valuued services to the club over the past. 20 years, was received with regret. A recommendation that Mr. Bull's services be recognised was carried unanimously. First Practise On Saturday afternoon the club held its first practise shoot of the season on the Sponge Bay Range, ten shots being fired at both 200 and 300yds. T. Lamberton returned the best aggregate for the day with 91 points, followed by I. Caie with 90. made up of 45 points at each distance.. The best scores returned at each range were those of T. Lamberton 47 at 200yds. and H. Parata 46 at 300yds. Practices from 500yds. and 600yds. are to be fixed next Saturday, after which handicaps will be declared for the competition matches to follow.

The results from 200 and 300yds., together with the total, were:—T. Lamberton. 47, 44, 91; I. Caie, 45, 45, 90; F J. Jeune, 47, 43, 90: H. Parata. 43, 46, 69; B. Elliott, 43. 45. 88: P. Benney, 43, 44. 87; H. Elliott. 43, 44. 87: R. Burson,- 44. 43, 87; I. Foss. 43. 43. 86: P. Foss. 42. 43 85: B. Clark, 42, 42, 84: P. Griffin, 42, 42, 84: W. Lundon, 43, 40, 83; H. Allan. 42. 40. 82: F. Lloyd. 43. 39, 82; W. Sinton, 41, 38, 79: D. Nicholson, 34, 44. 78: H. Rowley, 41. 36. 77.