RIFLE SHOOTING.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVIII, Issue 18354, 11 March 1920, Page 7

RIFLE SHOOTING.

DOMINION CHAMPIONSHIP MEETING. CROXTON 'WINS KING'S PRIZE. [Feb Pkess Association.] TREOTHAM, Maroh 10. Another King's Prir-e day has como and pone, and Karori's representative, Croxton, maintained tho position gained in the preliminary' struggle by hard work and some good luck, West pnd Barkis kept second and third places, bnt Feast lost ffround. D. Guinoy came up from tenth to fourth position. Evans and Heirris, who, when tho matoh begacn, Jay fifth and sixth, both struck trouble wid dropped away down the list. The afternoon was fine and fair. A number of visitors oamo from town, and among tho rtlßoial party prnsent ware tbo Hon J. G. Gofttos, Acting-Minister of Defence, and Mrs Coatee, Major-Gonoral Sir Edward Chaytor, Genorul Officer Commauduifr; BrigadierGeneral &. 8. Riohwdrson, General Officer in Charge of Administration; and LieutenantColonel J. L. Slecman, Director of Military Training. When the men wont down at 1000 yards for tho final tost, tho light was bright and dull by turns and a fair amount o£ mirage was running in front of tho target:) whon the sua broke through tho clouds. Tho wind varied from two degrees left to fourtcoiv right. Grojrtaa at once attracted all oyes on No. 12 target, West, his immediate chaser, being on No. 26, Barkle on No. 1. and Feast on No. 2. The wind wan in real Trentharn mood, as tricky at any time during the meeting. Groxton got away quietly with a magpie for a sighter, which ho rejectod. Then oamo 4. I, 8,4, i, and KaTori-itos reckoned that the belt was eafo. though thoy got a bad jar when the nest signai was 3 and then another 2, Theso were followed by 5, C, fl, making tho total foT the range S-l and the aggregate 65(1. Moantime wast and Barkle both ctruok very bad luck. "West got an encouragingstart with i for sighter, which, he kept. He got another 4, and then fell a cropper, two misses being eignalled. He managed to screw Into the bull again, and Blenheim breathed more easily whon 4 and 5 followed, and the piospect of retaining second plnco to tho priio man seemed assured. Barkle, right at tho other end of the mound, had had an unfortunate kiok-eff with 2 for a sighter, then 0,8, 0. The wind eeomed to have him beaten, but the next two ehota found the magpie ring. Then came 6,6, 4, 6,8, makina; 81 for tho range and 689 aggreguto. West had continued meanwhile a dogged uphill fight, slowly groping his way through tho windy barrage, Ho o got 2 and thon 3, and had only to hit the target to tie with BaTlde, who, when he got going, rattled his shots in at a good rate, while West had lost a lot of time and fired the last shot on the range, which was a 4, giving him the position of runner-up, two points ahead of Barkl*. Feast, on No. 2 targot, had something of Bnrkle's experience—3 for sighter, 0,4, 4,2, 5,8, 4,8, 0, 4—-total 2S>. Tho finest shooting of the aftornoon was put up by Henderson, of tho Sounds—s, I, 6,4, 4,5, 4,4, 4, B~total 42, which gave him the challengo cup as winner of the matoh. Tho detailed scoring in the prize list Will show how the other competitors rose and fell aa compared with the positions published yesterday. Crorton's win "was hoartily applauded.

The following is the result of tl&> Ring's Prine Match tho ecore at this afternoon's shjoot over ioOO yards added to the aggregate brought forward!— 1000 Aggroyds. gate.

Hendorson takes the Rifle Challonfro Cup for the highest Booro in the match. Croxton, tho ■winner oi tho King's Prize, is thirty-four years of aga, and is employed in tho Education Department. Weilir.frton. Ho has been ehootina: for the past eleven years, first with the Wellington Niwils, and later with the Karori Biflo Club, tho championship of which he annexed in 1918. In 1915 he won the Hawko's Bay championship, and twice previously. In 19X3 and 1914 he has reached tho King's fifty at Trentham. QUICK MARCH (Running Man) COMPETITION, seven shots at 200 yards; possible 35. Major Wallingford, Auckland. £3 . . 2t Staff-Sergeant-Major Gray Trentham- £2 22 The following with scores of twenty take 33s id. each:—J. Tewhniti (Toaharangi). Staff-Sorgeant-Major Bevy (Trentham) and A. G. Dovoro (Akoraim); twenty-one with scores down to 14 got £1 each. Tho gold medal for the grand aggregate In the Serviqe and Belt series was won by W. H. We3t (Blenheim) tho runner-up being H. V. Croxton (Karoxi).

SERVICE CHAMPIONSHIP—The prizalist is as follows: C. M. Moss (Dunedin), Kynoch Cup, fOl5 and gold medal 222 A. J. Green (West-port), £8 and Bilver mechil 220 A. G. Devore (Akarema). £5 and bronze medal . ". . ' . . , .219 Lanoe-Corporal J. R. Baird (Hamilton Cadets), £i 213 Major J.' A. Wallingferd (Auckland), £5 217 Twenty-Hire© prizes of XI each went to scores ranging front 214 to l!)i.

PRESENTATION OP PRIZES. The presentation of prizes took phxco im.. mediately after the championship was fired. Ooionel Collins, in calling upon MraCoates to perform the ceremony, uaid that the meatiug altogether liad proved ft decided success. 'J/io weather conditions v;ero not all that could have been desired, but some very g-cod shooting had been witnessed for ail that. Tho Hon J. G. Coatos expressed pleasure at being 1 present. Referring to Colonel Collins'a suggestion for improvement of tho accommodation at tho 1003 yards ranges, Mr Coatoß said that t ho would not moke rash promises. Ho vrotild do the best ho could, but he must go warily, *s staff buildings occupied some of tho ground needed. Any promises 'made by Sir James '.Allen regarding iho provision of rifle rango.i in country centres, such as Hamilton and Invoroargiil, would be carried out. Ho congratulated the champion and other prize.'winners. The prizes were then presented, and tho function ended with cheers for the prizewinners and thw Dominion Rifle Association officials 1 _ WORKING MEN'S DEFENCE CDUB. The members of tho Christclruroh Working

Men'e Defence Club fired & competition for trophies presented by Mrs J. Gates end Mosstb Leathara and Attwood. The first match was fired last Saturday at Redcliffa. Tho conditions are three matches of ton shots at 200 yards, BlsJov targets and Bcorins:. Tho weather was fine, but a very tricky wind and light at times troubled the marksmen. Tho olnb'a captain, P. Jack, put up ft fluo performance in Ecoring 49 out of possible 50. Tho following wero the highest scorers, with 2is.ndi<s»p3!—2ooyds. 10 shots—P. 'Jack (1) 50, Major Oakes (8) 47. M'Clen. (7) 46, G. Stow* (10) 45. Attwod (7) 44, Underwood (9) 44. Leathnm (0) 87, Simmons (10) 80. British" team, prospects of australian visit. By Telegraph—Pr«»s Ainoclttion—Copyright Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received March 10, 6.S pfka.i LONDON, March ft. Tho National Rifle Association etates that it is a diffikmlt task to arrange for a team) to visit Auntralia, eßpeoially in regard to flnanoes. The estimated cxpaTises aro nt least «J4OOO, compared with .-fiIGOO before the war. It else is a difficult matter to sbWit « team. Tho enaociation wishes to send yoUTNj men, as heat seTionfly effectod veterans on the last visit, hut few yotmg chMa oan fiffoyr! \o lonve their businesses foT five month. Tho rf«ponse to the awpeal so far v-t-ry poor. Tho association is doln*r its utmagt to rHt tho public, and' If the renportße should ho satisfactory it will sand c, team, oven if composed of veterans, but at present tho proppcot ia not hopeful

Rifleman H. V. Oroxton (Karon), £35. Ballingor Bolt, gold medal ftnd gold D.R.A. bad-go . . 84 650 Rifleman W. H. West (Blenheim), £20, silver star end D.R.A. badge PI £89 RiflomBtt R. 0. Barkis (Suburbs), £15, silver star and D.R.A. budge ...... Bl 859 Rifloraan D. 7. Qauney (Petone), £12, eilvor star omd D.R-a badge . "*S3 538 Rifleman W. J. Feast (Opaki), £5 and D.R.A. badge . . • 29 636 Rifloraan A. Hendorson (Sounds), £5 end D.R.A. badge . 42 634 Rifleman L. 0. Pimm (Christohrtrcb), £5 and D.R.A, badiyo 83 6S11 Rifleman F. J. M'Doaald! (Suburbs), £5 and D.R.A. badg^ 33 531 Captain W, Hiasoficld (Nelson), £S and D.R.A. badgo 32 e&i Rifleman D. Roots (H&wera), £5 and D.RA. badge 81 881 Eiflemau H. Harris (Christchuxok), £5 and D.R.A. badge 39 sso Rifleman A. Govonlock (Lintoa), • £5 and! D.R.A. badgo 29 626 Riffaman H. H. Donald (Opaki), £2 and D.R.A, badgo BO 524 Rifleman G. A. Eyles (Danncrvirka), £2 and D.R.A. badga S3 522! Secretary H. C. Evan3 (To Kuiti), £2 and D.RA. badge 18 £21 Rifleman P. Fodon (Timaru), £2 and D.R.A. badgo 29 620 President F. G. Gledhlll (Nelson), £2 and D.R.A. badge 87 519 Rifleman A. Patrick (Auckland), £2 and D.R.A. badgo 53 619 Rifleman L, Barrell (Petone), £2 and D.R.A. badge 33 613 Rifleman S. J. Mavbe-w (Linton), £2 and D.R.A badge '. 34 ■ 518 Rifleman E. J, 0. RcBton CAkarona), £2 and D.R.A. badge 33 618 Rifleman P. 0. Hamilton (Wonganui), £2 and D.R.A. badgo . . 24 617 Rifleman W. P. Dane (Akojana), £2 and DTR.A. badgo 40 518 The following take £1 each I— Rifleman E. Badd (Blenheim) 35 510 Rifleman V. E. Donald (Opaki) . 26 616 President 0. J. Nix (Feathcrston) . 17 51G D.-President W. K. Williams (Ohura) 89 515 Rifleman J. 0. Carter (Botono) . 23 514 Rifleman G. Halliday (Karori) 25 513 Rifleman P. Bolton (Opaki) Rifleman C. Dunstaa (Waiki) 22 513 So 511 Rifleman W. Hudson (Wanganul) 25 510 Rifleman S. Marenzi (Tararua) 25 508 Rifleman A. P. M'ilurray (FrasktMl) 23 503 Rifleman 0. Waiteman (Suburbs) 19 007 Rifleman E. F. Sandford (Ckrist30 507 Eifloni&n C. G. Engstrom (Opalri) 24 597 Rifleman C. Lovcday (Ohura) 11 5(17 Rifleman D. S. M'Leod (Okawa) . 29 50S Rifleman R. J. Gelliok (Kiwi) 29 50G Lieutenant A. W. Duncan (Westport) Rifleman E. A. Ballinger (Potono) 29 504 27 502 D.-Prosideflt A. Boon (Suburbs) , 20 501 Rifleman F. (Waipukirrau) 22 509 Rifleman T. W. W.iTburton (P-etone) 22 ■iJO President P. Palmer (Pr.tea) 21 «:? GunneT C. Milroy (R.N.Z.A.) 21 497 Mo|]or A. J. STerrilces (Tauranga) 19 49fi