RIFLE SHOOTING.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 16 March 1928, Page 5

RIFLE SHOOTING.

THE ARMY MEETING. BATTLE PRACTICE COMPETITION. I lIV TELEGRAPH—PRESS ASSOoI \T'ON. 1 TRENTHAM, March 15. Fine weather .again favoured the shootlsts at the meeting this morning, when the comeptitions were advanced to the final stages. Friday morning will see the conclusion of the meeting, which has been the most successful yet held. The most interesting feature to-day was the battle practice competition by both territorials and cadets. The competition repiesentis an enemy attack in force over 1000 yards reduced to scale, its object being a trench occupied by the competitors, who represent a platoon of four sections with the remainder of the company on either flank. The/ teams taking part consisted ol eight men representing each company selected from those who registered' the highest scores in the regimental teams match. Forty rounds, per man were allowed. points' being given for hits on targets, for fire direction, control and discipline. It is assumed that aeroplanes have reported that an enemy is concentrating in force behind the landscape and a- 'platoon has been instructed to bold them at all costs, whig the supply of ammunition is limited. The enemy is advancing under gas and high explosive shells. The enemy is represented by mechanically operated figures, which increase in size as they advance.. A model airplane passes overhead. Bursting powder represents gas bombs- Ihe competitors’ masks and thp enemy deploying and taking cover give a realistic touch to the 'competitions. Each figure hit represents a casualty and drops out of action. The climax is a bayonet charge at life-sized figures, and the possession of the trench is the signal for -“cease fire.” Competitors from Hawke’s Bay collect! vre.v have proved the best marksmen at the meeting, and will take away • ith them more than half the prize money. In snapshooting practice Ser-geant-Maior Stitclibury, Gisborne, olv trinied the remarkable score of 48 out of a possible 50. Trio filial results were: — SERVICES TEAMS MATCH. £l6 and Challenge Shield, silver spoon for each member. —N.Z. Perm an-,->nt Forces (Captain Clifton, leader. I dents. Denton, Moore, Sergt.-Ma.iors Bates. Kearney, Stitclibury, Thompson, Sorgt. McCurrie), 675. . £8 and silver spoon each. —Central Command Territorials, 567. £6 —Southern Command Territorials. 522. Five teams competed. BATTLE PRACTICE. For Cadet teams of eight. £4 10s. —Northern Command, 513. £2 ss.—Southern Command. 422. Central Command also, competed. CADET TEAMS’ RIFLE MATCH. £9. C.A.C. Challenge Shie’d, and silver spoon for each member.—Southern Command A team (Cadet Boyce, leader, C. S. Maekie. Corporal Watts, Cadet Duff Sergeants Yook, Hudson, ITancox, Beattie, Cadet Homer), 533. £4 10s. silver spoo>, each member- — Central Command B, 487. £2 os.—Northern Command B, 480. Sis teams competed. MACHINE GUN MATCH, VICKERS. £ls and challenge trophy.—-First Mounted Rifles (I. Lloyd, L. Cresswell, W. Sanford, R. Davidson, 3. Collen), 111. , £lO. Seventh Mounted Rifles, 109. 07 i(><.—Waikato Mounted Rifles. 88. £5. —Wellington West Coast Regiment. ... , „ 0 £2 10s. —Wellington Regiment, <B. MACHINE-GUN MATCH, HOTCHKISS. £l2 and challenge trophy.—NelsonMarl borough Mounted Rifles (A.Brown, W. Brown. 11. Brown, T. Mills), 43. £lO. —Auckland Mounted Rifles, 3th £5. Manawatu Mounted Rifles, 37. Seven teams comepted. LEWIS GUN MATCH. £l2 and challenge trophy, silver spoon for each member—First Battalion Hawke’s Bay Regiment (Sergt. Hampton, Lanco-C’orporals Carmichael, Svmonds. Hood), 184£lO, silver spoon tor each member.— First Battalion North Auckland Hegi merit., 90. or£s.—Third Field Artillery, 8/. £9 10s—Central Depot Engineers, 8,. Sixteen teams comepted. STAFFORD CHALLENGE SHIELD. Open to all battalions of territorials. Score ‘awarded battalion whose teams gain the highest aggregate score in regimental teams, \ 1 eke re and Lewis gun matches. First Battalion Hawke .s Bay Regiment, 756. . „ , Wellington West Coast Regiment <lO First Battalion Wellington Regiment, BATTLE PRACTICE. For Territorials, trams of eight. £9. First Battalion Hawke’s Ray Regiment (Sergts. Graham, Hampton, Slade. Stewart, Corporal Ellis, LanceCorporals Carmichael, Symons, Burton) 903* £4 10s. —Southern Command, 518. £2 5s. —Northern Command, 344.