RIFLE SHOOTING

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 3967, 23 September 1930, Page 4

RIFLE SHOOTING

ACTIVITIES OF GARSTON SECTION The Garston section of the Wakatipu Defence Ride Club held the formal opening of the season at Fanlight on Saturday last. It was unfortunate that after most thorough arrangements had been made by this very enthusiastic unit of the Club the weather conditions, so essential in a gathering of this sort, were somewhat unpropitious. Queenstown section comprising twelve riflemen left Queenstown early in the morning in Messrs Mackenzie and Sons’ launch ‘‘Lion” with the prospect of _ fine weather, but on reaching Kingston they ran into heavy rain. After a halt of about an hour, the waiting cars were boarded and the riflemen were safely transported to Greenvate Station. A warm welcome awaited them at the men’s quarters of t|he station. A blazing lire, a table loaded with appetising viands and several young ladies to attend to the wants of the inner man made the visitors entirely forget the little trials and tribulations through which they had come. Such, too, was the experience of a representation from the Invercargill Defence Rifle Club, which had arrived at an earlier hour. These riflemen ran into rain shortly after leaving home. However, the leelmg oi all was that Vice-president J. P. Kennett and his committee had determined to make the visit of far away riflemen as pleasant as possible and in this effort they were most successful. The opening was attended by over 40 riflemen including 7 members of the Invercargill Defence Rifle club. Among the latter were Deputy-presi-dent 'A. R. Wills, W. Milley (runner up for the Club’s championship this year) and other expert marksmen. The competition was ’thus invested with more than usual interest. When the riflemen had refreshed themselves the rain had fortunately ceased and they were motored to the range which is situated a little bfurther up the valley. The spot chosen lor the range is admirably situated for rifle-shooting. It is subject to variable winds, nevertheless it affords conditions which the ambitious riflemen looks for. A slight north-west wind was blowing on Saturday, otherwise the conditions, '(except 'for a chilliness in the atmosphere) were qurte good. The Garston riflemen have proved conclusively that their heart is in the game. The arrangements were all that could be desired. The marking was, moreover, quite sarTs factory, very few challenges being made. Refreshments were also provided on the range during the afternoon.

The competition resolved itself into a teams one, with a small sweepstake. Teams of 7-men aside were entered from the Invercargill Club, Gars'ton and Queenstown 1 and 2. The conditions were 7 shots with 2 optional sighters at 300 and 500 yds, the scores of the 6 highest aggregates to count for the prizes. The following are the results:

INVERCARGILL DEFENCE RIFLE CLUB.

7th man: T. E. Henshehvood, 53. QUEENSTOWN SECTION—No. 1.

7tli man: D. It. Gray, 50. QUEENSTOWN SECTION—No. 2.

7th man: D. F. Gray, 27. GAESTON SECTION.

7tli man: A. McLean, 32. Owing to fading light 1-3 other Gars,ton riflemen were unable to complete. At the conclusion of the shooting Vice-president J. P. Kennett expressed the pleasure of his section at seeing such a good gathering of riflemen, especially those from Invercargill and Queenstown. He regretted that the the weather conditions caused a delay in the shooting . He was pleased to announce that the Invercargill riflemen carried off the honours for the day, and hoped that their success would induce them to come back again. He then presented the prizes —£2 and 14s.

Deputy President Wills, replying on behalf "of the Invercargill Club, said that his team had derived much enjoyment from the outing despite fihe indifferent weather. They appreciated to the full the eifortlp of the Oarston section for the manner in which they had catered for the visitors. Deputy-president Wills then returned I lie prize money to the Garstou riflemen and asked them to procure a trophy for competition amongst their members.

Major Mackenzie replied on behalf of President Mackenzie and the Queenstown section. He said that they had enjoyed themselves very much indeed. In conveying the thanks of the Queenstown visitors to the Garston section tor their hospitalitfy he wished to specially thank the young ladies for their valuable assistance. He sympathised with the Gars- 1 ton riflemen in that the weatjher went against them, but this was more than

compensated for by the kindly treatment meted out to them. He, too, had pleasure in returning the prize money to Garston section.

At the call of Major Mackenzie cheers were given for the Garston and Invercargill riflemen, and Deputypresident Wills returned the compliment by asking for cheers for Garston and Queenstown riflemen. Cheers were also exchanged by Garston section. ‘ ;; ( ' ( j

’Vice-president Kennett thanked die Invercargill and 'Queenstown riflemen for handing back the prize money. Prizes for the highest aggregates (donated by Queenstown section) were awarded in 'the following order: — Rifleman Diack 1, Deputy-pres Wills 2, Major Mackenzie 3. ci-Tirston Section.—J. McLeod 1, I. G Kerr 2, A. McLeod 3. (These prizes •were provided by the loca. section).

At the conclusion of the presentation Deputy-pres. Wills stated that he would be pleased to donate a cup for competition among *the Garston riflemen.

The visiting riflemen were the guests of the Garston section ab a dinner which was given in the local hotel.

During the course of the dinner Rifleman P. A. McNamee was presented with the E. D. Campbell Cup for the best two scores made out of four at the 500 yds range at the end of last season.

The Queenstown riflemen are under a great debt of gratitude ffc Mackenzie and Sons for their transport to Kingston and to the *Garston members for motoring them from Kingston to the range and back.

300 500 yds yds tU W. £. Diack ... 30 33—63 A. R. Wills ... 32 31—63 C. H. Cunningham ... 31 31—62 W. Milley ... 33 29—62 W. Ayson ... 30 27-57 A. Falconer ... 26 29 —55 362

300 500 yds yds ti Major Mackenzie ... 30 32—62 It. J. Mackenzie ... 30 31—61 A. S'imson ... 28 31—59 President Mackenzie ... 25 32—57 AV. D. Warren ... 25 29 —54 T. P. Lynch ... 24 28—52 345

300 500 » yds yds ti. Geo. Thompson A. McLeod 29 28 221 1 ss D. Jardine 21 26—47 W. H. Nelson 23 20-43 I). Carruthers ... 26 15--41 Id. Harris 21 19—40 281

J. r. McLeod ]. Kerr J. Kennett X. S. Blakely J. H. Gordon G. Gordon 300 500 yds yds tl‘. S9 26—55 128 26—34 27 21—48 18 26—44 14 ,22—36 18 17—35 272