RIFLE SHOOTING

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XX, Issue 69, 5 March 1930, Page 2

RIFLE SHOOTING

THE NATIONAL MEETING BERRY TOPS THE KING'S FIFTY. WHITE, OF OKAWA, WELL UP. Trentham, March 4. Tlie rifle shooting champion belt has again been fought for and the ovation that the winner received when the result was known proved how popular the victory was. There was a large gallery when the final was fired, the interest of the majority being centred at targets 8 and 23, where Masefield and Berry took their respective places. Masefield got the first sighter away. It was a magpie, while Berry registered a miss, followed by a magpie, his first business shot being also a magpie. Masefield found the centre twice and then scored a two, followed by two bulls, 4,3, 5 and finished with a 3, making the total 44. Berry got two inners, then a bull, a magpie, two bulls and two inners, finishing with a bull, total 42. Mclver (Petone) and McVicar (Waipukurau) tied for third place, the former winning the shoot-off. The prizes were presented by Colonel H. Pilkington.

On leaving Nelson College Berry joined the Tararua Defence Rifle Club at Nireha. In 192" Berry won the Tararua Rifle Club championship and has also won several cups and trophies. Early in the New Year he competed in the North Island championship meeting at Wanganui, finishing in sixteenth place. Berry is an unassuming young man, whose win was decidedly popular. He used a cut down long Lee-Enfield throughout the meeting. The present is the third occasion he has taken part at the national meeting at Trentham. KEARNEY’S RECORD. The service champion, Staff Ser-geant-Major J. Kearney, of the New Zealand Permanent Staff, Napier, is the most notable . rifle shot in the regular military forces of tho Dominion to-day. In 1924 Kearney first took part in a National Rifle Association meeting. Since that time he has attended every meeting at Trentham. He was also at Trentham for the army rifle meeting in 1924, and with' the exception of 1925, when there was no meeting on account of the influenza epidemic, has attended every subsequent army meeting. Kearney is present holder of the King’s Medal. In 1928 he won the 11 grade of the army. His first experience of shooting "with a sling was when he joined tho Napier Rifle Club in 1925. although before that he had done considerable service shooting. KING’S FIFTY. £5O, Ballinger Belt, gold medal, and gold badge.—P. Berry (Tararua) 500 £25, silver star and badge.—W. Masefield (Blenheim) ..... 502 £l5, Silver star and badge.—lV. Mclver (Petone) 495 £lO, silver star and badget—F. McVicar (Waipukurau) ... 495 100/- and badge.—L. Caldwell (Knrori) 401. W. Hudson (Wanganui) 494, F. White (Okawa) 493. L. Benton (Featherston) 493. W. Ballinger (Petone) 492, P. Goldfinch (Karon) 492. 80/- and badge.---F. James (Napier) 490, W. Kenning (Nelson) 490, H. Searle (Nelson) 487, D. Roots (Patea) 487, R. Nicholson (Napier) 187. 60/- and badge.—J. Feast (Greytown) 484, W. Duncan (Westport) 484, A. Neilson (Hastings) 481, F. Sharland (Nelson) 483, tt. Shaw (Wanganui) 483. 40/- and badge.—F. Ching (Karon) 483, D. Kerr (Ashburton) 482, W. Green (Okawa) 481, J. Brydcn (Kai apoi) 481, H. Barlow (Linton) 480. The remaining 25. with scores from 180 to 437, taka 20/- each. Grand aggregate, awarded fot highest scores in all matches.- Go.d medal, W. Mclver (Petone) 863; silver medal, A. Devore (Akarana) 857: bronze medal, P.. Berry (Tararua), 852Collins challenge cup, awarded for service and belt series.—W. Mclver (Petone) 678. Rifle Challenge Cup, awarded fol highest score in King’s Match.—F. James (Napier), 49.