SOUTH ISLAND ASSOCIATION'S MEETING.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLIII, Issue 57, 3 March 1909, Page 3

SOUTH ISLAND ASSOCIATION'S MEETING.

CHAMPIONSHIP DAY.

Shooing started, at Redcliffs on Saturday at 8.30, when the Southland Match, ten shots at 600 yards ■was taken. The weather was splendid from a spectator's point of view, but those shooting were troubled with a nasty mirage which upset the calculations of many of the shootists. This mirage doubtless affected the scores, as it made aiming very difficult. Rifleman Haylock, of the Wamui Club, however, found the conditions suited to him, for opening with six buliseyes he got just over the black spot with the next, hit the bullseye again with his next, only to lose it again next shot, which scored 4. His last shot was a splendid bullseye, and he finished with the fine total of 48. Bradley, last year's champion_• again showed fine form, putting up 47, made up of 55455555553. - Another Dunedin man who appeared -to be suited by the conditions was LanceCorporal Butcher, who put up 46, just beating Lance-Corporal Jordan, of the Christchurch Engineers, in the count, who, again, beat Sergeant F. Hogg, of Oamaru. . * There was a good muster of Defence Cadets to compete for the handsome prizes allotted by the Association. Ihe firing was conducted under the supervision of Major Cressweli (Rangiora) and Captain F. Farthing (Christchurch). The match, which was at 200 yards, was carried through on the B range, and concurrently with the Southland Match on the A range. The youthful marksmen fired with great steadiness, many of them showing tactics that marked them as future representatives at the South Island or larger meetings. Colour-Sergeant Oliver, of Ashburton, put on 32, made up of 5455445, just beating Private Brook, of Rangiora, on the count, the latter making 5455454. Another Ashiurton cadet, Corporal Rountree, put «p 31, made up of 5554444. THE CHAMPIONSHIP.

The twentyrfour highest aggregates ranged up. at the squadding posts shortly after 'one o'clock .to fire tor "The "King's," ten shots at 9UU yards, which also with the previous aggregates constituted the championship ot the South Island. One of the first to finish was Captain King, who went down with an aggregate of; 1/6. His total was 39, made up of 5345334543. This left him with a total ©1 215. Jones, one of the Dunedm City Guards' veterans, proved that he had lost none of his old form when he put up 46 here. His hits were 5553545455. This left his total at 220, and ho led at this stage. It is worthy ofnote that Private Jones has never used an .orthoptic, and he proves that shooting can be done as well without this accessory as with it. Buntin, who was second in the aggregate with 184, put up 35 here." He had the misfortune to get two misses, which spoilt his chance. He finished with 219, one point behind Jones. Evans, Bradley, Sandford, Jordan, Henry, and others of the top aggregates fired in the second squad, and it was felt that the championship must lie between them. Wills put up 35, which made his total 212. Sandford, after opening with two bullseyes, got off the target, which utterly spoilt his chance of victory. Evans got 534555 with his first six shots, and there being no response to his seventh he challenged, getting the return "clean target." McCormick with his first five shots got 04544 Perham finished with a range total ot 44 which brought his aggregate to 216. Bradley, the toi> aggregate and last year's champion, who started the match with 186, put up 43434 with his first five shots. Jordan, of Rangiora, who started with 182, four points behind Bradley, piled up the hits rapidly. His first seven shots were .5553435. With his eighth shot Ji,vans found the target for 4, his last two shots being 5 and 3, making a total ot 39 His aggregate was 222, and there seemed little chance of anyone but Jordan, Bradley, or Timbrell beating it. Sandford, with his next four shots put on 5335. Jordan was shooting very steadily, his next two shots being 44. Bradley in the meantime was shooting steadily his next three shots being 453. Few had\been watching Lieut. Timbrell. but he was shootin- very steadily, his hits being 4444555554—45, making his aggregate 223, one point above Evans. "Bradley and Jordan were now level. each with a shot to fire. Jordan fired first, and there was a dead stillness, everybody watching the target for the marking'disc. It hardly seemed likeiv that a man who had been shooting so steadily would miss. There was, however, no response, and Jordan promptly challenged. While the trench was being rung up Bradley fired, scoring a bullseye. Jordan must now get a bullseye to tie Bradley's score, or a 4 to beat Timbrell.

In a second or two the telephone bell rang, and there was a silence as the range officer took the message. /'Clean target" was called, and Bradley was once more the champion, this being the third year in succession he has held tfie belt.

THE KING'S MATCH—Being the aggregate of matches Nos. 1, 2, and 3, added to a final shoot of ten shots at 900 yds, open to the twenty-four highest scorers; winner to hold South Island Championship Belt (presented by the Licensed Victuallers' Association, Christchurch), for one year. One prize of £8, the Champion Belt and gold medal, one prize of £5 and silver meual, one prize of £3, two prizes of £2, and five prizes of £1. All money prizes, less 20 per cent. yds

ieret. Bradley (Dunedin) 186 39 22! iieut Timbrell (Linwood) 178 45 22: Igt.-Major Evans (Ch.) 188 38 22! ieut. Ongley (Oamaru) 178 '43 22: it. McCormick (H.Ji.M.R) 179 42 29 >vt Jones (Dunedin) ... 174 46 22! Japt. Jordan (Bangiora) ' 181 38 221 tflmn. Henry (Opaki) ... 179 40 211 tflmn. Buntin (Gh. Ch.) 184 35 21! tflmn. Liddle (Lincoln) 176 41 ,21' tflmn. Duthie (Ch. Ch.) 177 40 21' ?pr. Perham (C.Y.C.) 172 44 21< iieut. Sandford (Ch .Ch.) 182 34 2H Jol. Set. Dewar (Oamaru) 174 42 2K Jap*. King (Linwood) 176 39 211 Jpl. Welsford (Alexandra) 177 38 211 t,fl Narby (Duvauchelles) 174 40 21' K-Cpl. Jordan (Ch. Ch.) 173 39 215 ergt. Hogg (Oamaru) ... 176 36 21! ■ergt. Wills (Southland) . 177 35 21! J.M.S. Noonan, (Ch. Ch.) 171 39 21( tflmn. Reynolds (Ch. Ch.) 172 38 21( tflmn. Craw (Chorlton) 175 34 20! tflmn. Ray (Ch. Ch.) 176 27 20i