RIFLE MEETING.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIII, Issue 343, 10 March 1922, Page 3

RIFLE MEETING.

GATHERING AT TRENTHAM

ll’or Press Association.) WELLINGTON, March 9, I The ('cntral Command rifle meeting lor 1 territorials and cadets opened ai Trenlhain 10-day. Though the necessities of economy have rendered the matter ot holding eotnpetit ions one of some difficulty, the defence uulhoriiies regard this phase of (raining as one of great importance in its usefulness, so that special efforts were made to avoid the abandonment of the meeting. The district embraces the whole of the Wellington province as well as Taranaki and portions of Auckland as far as Taumaranui, and Hawke’s Hay to Napier. Though the entries are no! so large as they were last year, when the meeting was held at Wanganui, they are fairly satisfactory in the circumstances especially so far as the cadets arc concerned. The entries comprise 100 territorials, 160 senior cadets above 17 years of age, 121 under 17, and 17 allcomers. The competitions this year are confined to the best shots in tin? different companies, and next year they will be limited to qualified marksmen, which it is hoped will make the members of all units shoot, tilt lo iheiif best form during the year to gain a chance of a trip to Treniham, which, besides being in the nature of a holiday to those from other districts, will afford an opportunity for valuable additional instruction. The younger cadets use .22 rifles, and the older boys the .303,. the same as tlie territorials. All the shooting is of a service character, with open sights, no adventitious aids being permitted. The cadets got throitgli the individual series to-day, and displayed keen interest, some very line shooting being done, though the majority were handicapped by a strong, gusty wind sweeping across the range. The territorials have not: yet completed their individual scries, (which includes a new form of match of a trying character, fired for the first lime at such a meeting. This is a ten-shot snap-shoot at .200 yards, covering ,a period of ten minutes during which the head and shoulders target appears at irregular intervals for a period ol three seconds. It >s the strain of watching for lids that imposes a test; on the marksmen. All the events carry trophies for the first men, and from 20 lo 30 cash prizes. 'I here i;ro, also a, number of handsome trophies for the championship aggregates and team shooting. The meeting continues tomorrow and the championships will be fired off on Saturday. The principal results to-day were: TERRITORIAL MATCH, 200 yards, 7 shots; application, 10 shots snap. 1 Sergeant Hester, Wellington 54 11. W, Feast, Creytown ■ 49 Lieut, Williamson. Wellington 48 SENIOR CADET MATCH (over 17. using .303 rifle. 5 shots grouping and 5 applied!ion, 25 yards). IL Oak, Napier .. 44 W. Lewis, Maslerlonl 43 d. Richards, Maslerlon So Corporal Bemieli, Wellington . ... 38 CADET MATCH (.22 title. 5 shots snap, 25 yards). E. A. Wild bore (Levin), Serge. Broughton (Palmerston North), 11. M. Mills (Wellington), A. While (Wellington). T. Petersen and 0. Richardson (Wellington College). T. Fulton (Wellington), K. Wilkie (Trentham), R. Berg; (Wellington) and JI. Fuller (Wellington), all scored the possible, 15 points. CADET MATCH (over 17 years, miniature limning target, 5 shots at 26 yards). R Mayo (Napier) and (1. Richardson (Wellington College),, each a possible, 15 points; M. Mc\\ birter (Wellington) and W. Willoughby (Scots College), each J2. i CADET MATCH (10 shots rapid in 50 seconds at 25 yards). ! R. V. Bailey, Scot- College 34 R. J. Kells, Palmerston North 33 C. Duigtfn, Hastings 32 F, Ben dull, Palmer-ton North 32 11. Mills, Wellington 31 Corporal N. Swain, Waipawa 31 CADET MATCH (under 17. using .22 rifles, 5 shots, grouping and 7 application 25 yards). J. It. MeArlhnr. Scots College 51 G. Stephens, Wellington College .. ... 51 P. ,1. Loader, Palmerston North 48 F, G. Cameron, Scots College 47 E. .!. Trolley, Palmerston North ... 47 T. Gilmer, llawera 47 CAD ITT MATCH (under 17. snap-shooting 25 yards, miniature target, 5 shots, 5 seconds exnosure). J. Reiter (Palmerston North), E. 11. Mullins (Wellington College), •). 11. Waterhouse (Siots College), T. Popps (Masterion), G. Stephens (Wellington College), and li, |)i(I1 ’ ll ry, .1, McArthur, D. Walker and T. George pdl Scots College), all a possible. 15 points. ( ADK’I MATCH (7 shots rapid at 25yards) W. Evafi, Wellington College 25 T. Hancock, Wellington 24 K. (Today, Hastings ... 24 I) Walker, Scots College 24 J, W, Shore, Wanganui 23