RIFLE SHOOTING.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCVIII, Issue 11462, 28 December 1897, Page 2

RIFLE SHOOTING.

FIELD DAT AT CASHMEEE. A field day, open to all comers, was held on the rang© of the Honorary Eeserve Ccegs at Cashmere yesterday. The meeting was managed by a committee, of which Sergeant Lavery was a very efficient, secretary. Captain Harman was range officer, and Sergeants Wakelin and Meddings and Private Eobinson acted as handicappers. The competitors numbered twenty-two, a smaller muster than was expected, but the unfavourable weather of the morning was doubtless responsible for several men who had intended to compete not putting in an appearance. Conditions as to weather certainly were against heavy scoring. A strong, changeable and gusty sou’-wester blew from the right front, and the light was very variable, owing to passing clouds. There were three matches. Shooting was begun at 10.30 a.m., and was not completed till nearly 6.30 p.m. Whitney’s December 1897 ammunition was used, and proved entirely satisfactory. For elevation, as to which it was subjected to the severe test of a strong and variable wind, it was all that could be wished. The shooting was good, considering the unfavourable conditions. The leading position in the first match, a handicap, was gained by Private T. Eobinson of the Eeserve Corps, with the exceedingly creditable score of 92 points, who put on the target an average of - 28 over inners. The veteran Sergeant Wakelin’s score of 90, and the 89 of Private Bentley, were well-nigh equally meritorious performances, both being from scratch. Corporal Lummis, who has been steadily working his way to the front as a rifle shot, won the second match —at 500 and 600 yards with a shade over inners. Private Batchelor was an exceedingly good second with' 57, and Mr G. Eobinson, of the Upper Hntt Eifle Club, was third with 56. Private T. Eobinson came to the front a second time in the 700yds match, taking first prize with a total of 38 points, - 2 under an average of inners. Sergeant Lavery was only one point behind iiim. The two representatives of Canterbury in the Bisley team. Corporals Banks and C. Simpson, took part in the competitions, but failed to get into the list of prize-winners. They were not the only good shots who were troubled by the unfavourable weather, for much of the shooting was decidedly erratic; men who did very well in one match making but a moderate score in another, and vice versa. Luncheon was provided for tho competitors, and afternoon tea was dispensed by a number of lady friends of the promoters. Early in the afternoon the luncheon tent was blown down, but the damage done to the croekefy and comestibles was, fortunately, slight. The following were the prize-winners and those counted out: — HANDICAP MATCH, handicap not to exceed inners ; 200yds, 500yds and 600yds; one prize of 15s, one of 12s 6d, one of 10a, one of 7s 6d, two of ss. Twenty-two entries. 200 500 COO

Private Batchelor won the range prize at 500yds with 80 points (four bulls, two inners and an outer). Sergeant Wakelin also made 30 at this range, but the shots of his score were not so good. At 600yds Corporal Lumxnis won the range priie with 30, his score being constituted exactly the same as that of Private Batchelor at 500yds.

DUNEDIN ENGINEERS v. CANTS®. BUEY ENGINEERS. The annual match between the Dunedin and Canterbury Engineers was fired ati Bromley yesterday. In consequence of, the delay in obtaining passes the visitors; were not represented by their strongest team. The conditions were not conducive, to good shooting. A very strong, right! wind was blowing, and the light variedi with almost every shot. The following are the scores;— DUNEDIN ENGINEERS.

Hep. yds. yds. yds. Tl. 1. Private T. Eobinson scr 31 33 28 92 (Honorary Eeserve) 2. Sergeant Wakeliu scr 31 28 31 90 Honorary Eeserve) 3. Private Bentley scr 28 32 29 89 (City Guards) 4. Sergeant Lavery (Honorary Eeserve) scr 29 31 24 84 5. Private Perkins ( Honorary Eeserve) 2 32 22 28 84 6. Private lumnns (Honorary Eeserve) 2 29 28 25 84 * Lieutenant Simpson (Kaiapoi Eifles) 5 29 24 26 84 * Lance-Corporal Marsh (College Eifles) S 28 29 19 84 ♦ Private Martin (City Guards) 9 29 26 20 84 ♦ Counted out. In this match Corporal M’Kay gained the range prize at 200yds ■ with 32 points (four bulls and three inners). Private Perkins also made 32, but his score included a magpie. Private T. Eobinson won the 500yds range prize with 33 j points (six bulls and a magpie). Ser geaut Wakelin won that at GOOyds with a score of 31 (four bulls, two inners and a magpie). SECOND MATCH, 500 and 000yds; seven shots. One prize of 15s, one of 32s ;6d, one of 10s, one of 7s 6d. one of 5s. Nineteen entries. yds. yds. Tl. 500 600 1. Corporal Luuamis (Honorary Reserve) 28 30 58 2. Private Batchelor (City Guards) 30 27 57 3. Mr G. Eobinson (Upper Hutt Bifle Club) 28 28 56 4. Corporal M'Kav (Honorary Reserve) 28 28 56 5. Sergeant Parker (City Kifes) 26 26 52 * Lance-Corporal Marsh (College Eifles) 25 26 51 * Private Bentley 28 (City Guards) 23 1 * Counted out!

TRIED MATCH. 700yds: ten shots* Prises ilia same as in the previous match, . Fourteen entries. 1. Private T. Hobinson (Honorary Essevve) 4544435423 ... 38 2. Sergeant Lavery (Honorary Eeserve) 5355243343 37 3. Sergeant Wakelin (Honorary Bcserve) 5535045422 ... 35 4s Private Wakelin (City Guards) 5242322554 -33 o. Mr G, Robinson (Upper Hutt Eifle Clnb) 3425*45240 M 83 • Sergeant Manning (Honorary Reserve) 3525420225 ... 3D * Corporal M’Kay i (Honorary Eeserve) * Counted out 2259543334 ~ 39

290 300 500 yds. yds. yds. •TL Sergeant Beadle „ 24 19 16 5 69’ Corporal Mi-dgley „ m 22 23 18 63'i Corporal Tonkin ... ~ 28 22 .14 641 Bugler lire ... ... 21 10 17 48! Engineer Power ... 28 20 20 68! Engineer Miles ... 24 19 19 62! Engineer Wurr 26 24 ■ 4 54! Engineer M’Kay ... „. 27 20 18 65 Engineer Lawrence , H ... 19 21 • 21 61. Engineer Stych. ... 24 12 5 41 Total *• .’sis CANTEBFDET ENGINEERS, . Captain Dougall ... 24 21 ’ 19 64 Lieutenant Anderson ... ... 22 20 24 • 66i Sergeant-Major Jones ... 20 19 26 65 Quartermaster-Sergeant Walls 22 17 26 65 Sergeant Smitli... ... 23 23 2369 Sergeant Buntm ... ... 18 22 12 52 Corporal W. Taylor ... ... 29 22 27 ■78 Sapper Lightfoot ... ... 30 25 24 ‘ 79 Sapper Roberts ... 32 28' IS' 73 Sapper Mapplebeck ... ... 21 : 24 -16 . .61, Total ... ... ... 672