RIFLE SHOOTING

Marlborough Express, Volume LIV, Issue 86, 13 April 1920, Page 3

RIFLE SHOOTING

RENWICIC CLUB'S OPENING

MEETING

The Renwiok Defence Rifle Club was favored with ideal weather for the opening of its range on Easter Monday, and long betore the appointed time vehicles of all descriptions could be seen 'naking their way to the rifle range. By 10 a.m. there was a large gathering of ladies, visitors, and competitors to see Mr W. Pollard fire the first shot. Mr Pollard, in a brief speech, dwelt on the importance ot rifle shooting as a national sport. There had always been wars, and there would always be wars, and the man who trained himself in the use of a rifle was the man who would be of great value in the next war. I& was not the man who fired away his ammunition who did the damage, but the man who could bring down his man tvery shot, i Then there was the N.Z. Rifle Championship, and Mr Pollard said he hoped before long to see the photograph of some member of the Renwick Defence Rifle Club among the winners. He also mentioned that he would closely watch the doings of the Club, and if they were up to his expectations he would give a trophy for competition. (Applause.) Mr Pollard then declared the range open, and fired th© first shot, registering a bulls-eye amid great applause. The matches laid down on the programme were then proceeded with.

Luncheon and afternoon tea were £<rved by a number of lady friends, and were much appreciated. The work of erecting the bulls, targets, ranges, etc., was done by the Club members, and the Club is; in the happy position of having one of the best and most up-to-date ranges in the district with practically no expense, and too much credit cannot be given to the energetic members for their labors. The Club is also liuch indebted to Mr W. Follard for ihe free use of the range.

Sixty-eight competitors took part in the various events. The shooting throughout the day was good considering that with exceptions the competitors had never fired at a target before. The wind at times vas tricky, and puzzled the marksmen, but with practice they Avill be able to gauge it better.

The 200 and 500 yds match was won by Rifleman C Brydon with 57 points, who takes Mr 11. Reeves's trophy. Rifleman A. Jordan (55) wins Mr'J. Mitchell's tronhy, Rifleir..an F. Brydon 55) Mr* F. SharI land's trophy, and Rifleman Ralph Newman (55) the Club trophy. ! The committee were very pleased to see so many visitors competing for Mr J. A. McKay's trophy. After a close finish this was won by Riflenan W. J. Paynter, of the Blenheim R.C., Rifleman A. Hadfield being runner-up Mr Paynter's win was a very popular one, as he was at one time a member of the old Renwick Club, and has done much during his shooting career to assist young shots. Thirteen competitors took part in the Ladies' Match, 5 shote at 200 >ar&s., and some excellent shooting was dorao. Mrs J. McKay notched the possible (25 poifrts) putting every bullet through the "spotter. "* a most creditable performance. Miss Gleeson also shot well, scoring 23 points. There was to have been a match at 300 yards, 10 shots, but this had to be postponed till Saturday, the 17th inst., at 1 p.m. This match will complete the totals for the aggregate also. The prize for the lowest scorer was won by Rifleman Byford, with a total, of 9 points, and Mr J. W. Robinson's trophy for the best score at 530 yards was won by Rifleman C. C Brydon, with 29 points. Appended are the principal scores:

200 500 Hep Tl. C. C. Brydon... ... 28 29 scr'. 57 A. Jordan 29 26 scr. 55 F. Brydon 31 24 scr. 55 Ralph Newman ... 23 26 6 55 M. Falvey ... ... 27 19 7 53 H. Reeves ... ... 25 23, 4 52 C. Worthingtoa ... 25. 22 5 b2 Sam Newman... ... 27 24 scr. 51 P. Morrison ... > 28 23 scr. 51 H. Rowe 21 23 6 50 J. E. Eves 27 20 scr 47 F. H. Sharland ... 33 2714 off 46 Geo. Spears 20 21 4 45 W. Flanders 26 12 7 45 i J. Morrison 23 13 7 43 I R. Laidlaw ID 23 scr. 42 B. Bishell 20 15 7 42 P. Newman 25 10 7 42 H. Haines ... ... 19 22 scr. 41 J. Newman 24 17 scr. 41 A. Reader ... ... 21 13 7 41 J. Middlemiss ... 18 22 scr. 40 J. Falvey 23 12 5 40 J. A. McKay 31 22 14 off 39 S. Jordan 20 19 scr. 39 S. Shaw 17 21 scr. 33 J. Haines 18 20 scr. 38 A. I-fcunes 22 16 scr. 38 W. Mills 15 21 scr. 36 A. Womyss 15 14 7 36 J. Brydon 27 8 scr. 35 D. Murdook 13 15 7 35 VISITORS' MATCH. 500 yds. W. J. Paynter ...... 30 A. Hadfield 30 G. Jackson 27 J. Maxwell" 26 B. Cooke 25 F. Adamson 22 Sergt.-Major Milroy ... 20 P. Gee 19 J. Mitchell 19 ._. Mills 15 LADIES' MATCH. 200 yds. Mrs J.. McKay 2-5 Miss Gleeson ... 23 Mrs Laidlaw 21 MUs E. Falvey 21 Mrs S. Jordan 21 Miss S. Falvey 21 Mrs Paynter 19 Miss jFlanders 18 Mrs F. Sharland ... 17 •Mrs Sloss 14 Miss 'Murdoo.k IS Mrs M-ndfield IS Mrs Ha%ies 8