KING’S PRIZE

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIII, Issue 77, 13 March 1933, Page 5

KING’S PRIZE

WON BY H. V. CROXTON H. SIMMONDS THE RUNNER-UP. BOLTON TAKES SERVICE TITftE. Wellington, March 12. The rifle, champion belt, gold medal and gold badge pf the National Rifle Association and the King’s Prize of £3O were won at Trentham on Saturday by H. V. Croxton, of the Karori Rifle Club, with an aggregate score of 569 out of a possible of 605. Croxton received all the customary honours accorded to the King’s prizeman: he was cheered, “chaired” and carried from the range shoulder-high by his clubmates to receive for the second time in his life the coveted prize. His previous championship success was in 1920. H. Simmonds (Auckland) was runner-up with 568. The score which determines the winner of the King’s prize is really the aggregate of a series of matches, the final, of ten rounds at 900 yards, being reserved for the 40 marksmen with the highest • scores over the preceding ranges. The King’s Forty shot in two batches: the last 20 and the first 20. Last night the top positions in the King’s Forty were occupied by Croxton and Simmonds, each with 523, with W. N. Masefield (Blenheim) standing third with 521. For the final stage these three marksmen all drew positions to the right of the range. A strong right wind blew across the range, the correction required ranging from 12 to 16 minutes of an angle. _ It was because Croxton gauged the wind better than his rivals that he won. Croxton put on 46, and Simmonds 45 to finish with an aggregate of 565. C. J. Nix (Featherston), who occupied seventh place in the King’s Forty, made his way to near the top, finishing third with 566 as a result of a 49 for his final ten rounds. His score was byfar the best at the final range, there being nothing else better than 47. Masefield, who made 44, was fourth with 565. The grand aggregate for the highest aggregate scores in the service and belt matches, except the fipal ten shots, was won by Simmonds, who receives, the Collins' Challenge Cup and the N.R.A. gold medal. E. M. Wrigley (Opaki) was second and H. L. Mason (Christchurch) third. They received the silver and bronze medals of association respectively. T. YV. Warburton (Petone) and W. Kenning (Nelson), who finished with the highest scores in the Bisley ag* gregate on Friday, fired off on Saturday" to decide first and second places. Kenning won the shoot-off and was awarded the Croxton Cup and £5 and Kenning collected the second prize, -of. £4 SCORES IN KING’S FINAL. Scores made in the final match for the King's prize, together with the aggregate scores for all matches in the championship series, are as follow : — , Ballinger rifle, belt, gold medal and gold badge of the National Rifle Association and £3O- —H V. Croxton (Karori). 46. 569. £l5 and National Rifle Association silver star and badge.—H. Simmonds (Auckland), 45, 568. £lO and W. R. A. Silver star and badge.—C. J. Nix (Featherston), 49, 566. £8 and silver star and badge.— W. N. Masefield (Blenheim), 44, 565. £5: F. H. James (Napier), 47. 564; F.. S. King (Wanganui), 44. 562. £3: D F. Keir (Ashburton). 47. 561 ; E. Wrigley (Opaki), 4.5, 561. £2: F. J. Jeune (Gisborne), 47. 559; C. Mhiteman (Upper Hutt). 42. 559; L. G. Benton (Featherston), 47. 558; 11. W. Feast (Greytown), 47, 558. £1: W. Oakley (Christchurch), 46. 558; R. F. Wakefield (Auckland), 43. 558; R. H. Nichol] (Petone), 46, 557; R. C. Barkle (Petone). 45. 557; H. Harries (Christchurch). 45.557; W. H. Ballinger (Petone), 46, 556; C. H. Gower (Wanganui), 45. 553; H. King (Opaki) 44, 556; F. H. Sharland (Nelson), 43, 555; T. W. Wharburton (Petone), 40, 555; H. Cromie (Ashburton), 44,554; C. J. Feast (Greytown), 44. 554; W. West (Blenheim), 45, 553; H. W. O'Donnell (Petone), 44. 553; C. M. Pickering (Opuki). 45. 552: J. C. Carter (Petone), 44, 552; P. C. Hamilton (Wanganui), 44. 552; W. J. Green (Okawa). 43. 552; I. J. Nicholls (North Bank). 42. 552; F. Bolton (Opaki), 42. 552; R. Nicholson (Napier) 43. 551, H. Frankland (Karori), 42, 551: B. B. Jones (Nelson), 40, 550: A. V. Swanson (Karori), 42. 549: W. Kenning (Nelson), 42, 519; F. Bowes (Auckland), 41. 549; H. L. Mason (Christchurch). 39. 549; F. Clark (Ashburton), 40, 548.