New Zealand Bisley

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XIV, Issue 90, 24 March 1924, Page 5

New Zealand Bisley

King’s Prize Match

A CLOSE FINISH

SIMMONDS NABEOWI.Y BEATS

(By Cable.--Fresa AuHociation.—Copyright.)

Trentham, Alar. 22. New Zealand’s 1924 Bisley has ended and the new champion wears a sil-ver-studded leathern belt, for the possession of which 250 men have been contending all the week. lie is Captain H. bimmonds, of Wanganui, His was no runawa yvictory, however, ami at one period it looked as though success might be snatched from his lingers by Napier’s hard-lightin» Nielson. In two decades of shooting Nielson has worked to the forefront by dint of much solid work. This makes his second appearance as the runner-up to the champion and on two other occasions he has been third and fourth. Truly circumstances has been stonyhearted to him, permitting him only to touch the hem of the mantle of success, which he fain would wear. The day will come, however, when Napier' will take him to its arms as King’si Prizeman. Jt can point to Wanganui as the exemplar of patience rewarded and hope fulfilled. Four times in days long past Wanganui has haile 1 the victor and ten. years ago Simmonds almost added a fifth name to the roll, but had to be content with second place to Ala sc field. Now ho has climbed the rifleman’s Olympus. Among the early division was C. Whiteman (Upper Hutt), who made the line score of 47 out of 50 and no one bettered it. Whiteman shot himself from 48th place to 24th and curried off the Rifle Challenge Cup. LAST SHOT WINS-

When the leading division of aggregate men took the mound ail eyes were focussed on Simmonds and Nielson, who were about the middle of tho line, separated by live targets. When they had ii •ed seven shots Nielson had wiped out his deficiency. Each, missed with his sighter. Then Nielson; founu the bull and continued to hit hard, while Simmonds was struggling unevenly. Their boards read; Simmonds, 3,4, 4,3, 2, 5 —26, aggregate 425; Nielson, 5,4, 5,5, 4,4, 4. —*>l, aggregate 524. They were su far in tlie lead tnat no on else had a chance and the battle between the two was now exciting the keenest interest amongst the spectators. Each man got lours -with, the next two shots and they were still level. The crucial moment had arrived and the tenseness of the situation stilled all conversation in the thickly packed crowds behind the two men. Simmonds fired his last shot and after moments that seemed long minutes of suspense a “bull” was signalled amidst applause, which, however was quickly suppressed so as not to disturb the Napier man, who, of course, had also to get a “bull” to tie. The wind seemed to be a bit more unsteady. Nielson studied it closely and then loosed off. An anxious pause followed and then slowly the target was lowered and a dummy appeared with a black square in- the upper right hand corner. He had. scored a magpie, counting three points and missed making a tie of it oy two points. The last three shots of each man thus read: —Bimmouds, 4,4, 5, aggregate 537; Nielson, 4,4, 3, aggregate u 35. Both men were warmly congratulated on their performances by Sir Heaton Rhodes, other prominent visitors and late opponents. Aleautime H. Feast, of Grey town, and Roots, of Batea, an ex-champion twice over, had finished with 521 each, and had to fire off for third and fourth places. Feast won. Of the other ex-champions who were in the leading division on Friday only two,. Masefield and West, kept up the pace, finishing in that order behind Boots. Croxton and James crashing badly, Uroxton falling from seventh place to thirty-first, and James from tenth to thirtieth. PRESENTATION OF PRIZES. Immediately the shooting for the King’s Prize was completed the new champion was chaired in, time-honoured fashion to the stand, where the presentation of prizes was to take place. Colonel R. J. Collins, president of the National Rille Association, who has been ill lately, presided, and was accorded. a hearty reception on rising to speak. He congratulated the champion and other winners, and urged those upon whom fortune had not smiled not to be discouraged. He hoped tho Government would see its way to facilitate the sending of a NewZealand rifle team to Bisley this year, as all parts of the Empire would be represented, and it would be a fitting time to bring the Kolapore Cup to the Dominion, as was done by the New Zealand team in 1904. Sir B. Heaton Rhodes, after congratulating the competitors on the allround excellence of the shooting, said the Government wished to encourage the improvement of rifle shooting. Personally he wanted to see more money spent on territorials and cadets. He looked upon service shooting as most important, but if amalgamation were possible he would welcome the linking up of the two associations. If, however, the riflemen desired to retain a separate identity, well and good. He would certainly give them such assistance as lay in his power compatible with the interests of the Army Association. He could not make any announcement regarding Bisley, but hoped the Government might see its way to assist in. the despatch of a team, and if so that it would be as successful as that sent in 1904. Lady Rhodes then presented the prizes, and the proceedings ended. KING’S PRIZE AIATGH. Ten shots at 900 yards. Ballinger Belt. Geld Medal; N.R.A. Badge and £3o—- — H. Simmonds (Wanganui) 498 39 537

The following receive no prize:—T. W. Warburton (Petone), 460, 37. 497; C. J. Nix (Featherston), 461, 36,497; W. H. Ballinger (Petone). 466. 31, 197; F. J. Solen (Wanganui). 474, 23, 497; L. G. Loveday (Linton), 466,30, 196; H. Reynolds (Christchurch), 467, 28,495; W. S. Mills (Kiwi). 471,19, 190; C. Ashley (Akarana), 469. 18. 487. Palmer (Patea) and Keane (Dargaville) were absent.

The’grand aggregates prize for the highest total in all B series matches, including the King’s, was won by Simmonds with 751 points, taking tlffi gold medal presented by Colonel Collins. The runner-up was Nielson (711) taking a silver medal; B. H. Nicholl (710) third, taking a bronze medal. The Rifle Challenge Cup for the highest score in the King’s Prize Alatch was won by C. Whiteman with 47. THE KING’S PRIZEMAN. The new King’s Prizeman is a medium-sized sturdily-built man in the middle thirties, a native of Picton, Alarlborough. where he learned to handle tlie rifle. He is employed in tlie traffic branch Of the railway service at Vv anganui and has been shooting for the past two years with the \\ anganui Rille Club. He competed at Trentham last year and was occasionally in the prize lists, but did nothing outstanding. At the recent Wanganui meeting at Christmas time Simmonds shot well and won the North Island championship and a week later at Trentham was runner-up for the district championship. He served the full period of the war in the Wellington Regiment, attaining the rank of captain and was adjutant of the second battalion. He was awarded the Alilitary Cross for gallantry on the field in France. As a result, no doubt, of his war experience, Simmonds is an enthusiastic advocate of service shooting aud his feat in winning both the service and fixed target championships at tlie meeting just ended is unique in the history of rifle shooting. Rarely does one man excel at both. Alasefield has managed to gain both distinctions, but not in tne same year. ’ Incidentally, as a result of obtaining ' the highest total for all matches fired at the meeting, Simmonds takes a grand aggregate gold medal presented by the president of the association. Simmonds took his club mates in hand also for service shooting and it is mainly due to his training that they have this year captured the Logan Campbell Shield, the second time m succession, so that it becomes the club’s own property. At th© 1914 meeting, when shooting for Marlborough. Simmonds was runner-up to Alaseneld ior the King’s Prize.

Silver Star and Badge and £15 — Captain A. Nielson (Napier) •193 42 535 Silver Star and Badg and £10H. Feast (Greytown) .. 490 31 521 Silver Star and Badge and £7D. Routs (Batea) 485 36 521 Bronze Badge and £3 each— Capt. AV. N. Alaselield (Kekerangu) 481 39 520 \V. H. West (Okawa) .. 481 34 518 P J. Nicholls (Greytown) 472 43 515 R. H Nicholls (Petone) 475 40 515 H R. Hunt (Wellington Suburbs) 483 32 515 VV. E. Hester (Suburbs) 481 31 515 Badge and £1 each— J. A. Blackwod (Timaru) 486 29 515 H. Loveday (Ohura) .. 477 37 514 H. J'. Boon (Suburbs) . . 484 30 511 E. F. Sandford (Christchurch) 484 30 514 AV. J. Green (Okawa) . . 471 40 511 M. C. Connor (Okawa) . 467 43 510 II. H. Mawlev (Opaki) 466 44 509 R .1, Gillick (Kiwi) . 473 36 509 E. S. King (Wanganui) 472 36 508 J. Smart (Suburbs) . . . 473 35 508 E, A. Ballinger (Petone) 465 42 507

C. Whiteman (Upper Hutt) 459 47 506 A. H. Barker (Linkwater) 475 31 506 The following receive £1 eachLieut. W. Duncan .... 471 34 505 W. Mclvor (Petone) . , 472 33 505 D. J. Anderson (Kaituna) 159 44 503 J. Kyle (Linton) 465 38 503 1*. H. James (Napier) . 483 20 503 H. \ . Croxton (Karori) 484 19 503 J. 1'. Thompson (Greytown) 466 36 502 P. B. Goldfinch (Old N avals) 467 35 502 G. Ashley (Akarana) .. 466 35 501 R. heist (Cambridge) .. 459 41 500 Capt. J. Bolton (Opaki) 460 40 500 G. L. Evans (Cliristchurch) 461 39 500 G. 11. Cross (Hawera) 462 37 499 R. Piper (Christchurch) 462 37 499 C, Corkill (Waipukurau) 468 30 498