RIFLE SHOOTING.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLV, Issue 127, 2 May 1925, Page 3

RIFLE SHOOTING.

SERVICE CHAMPIONSHIP. WON BY CAPTAIN SIMMONDS. Per Press Association. TRENTHAM, May 1. The National Rifle Association has made a good start with the championship meeting. In spite of a short working day, due to the lateness of the season and made worse by the fading light in the afternoon, which interrupted the opening match on the bull’s-eye targets, the whole of the service series was disposed of, with the result that Captain Simmonds emerged the winner of the service championship by a good margin, although he did not annex any individual match. Last year he won Nos. 1 and 2, and carried off the championship with an aggregate of 116. The runner-up, Nicholl, was third last year with 106, and Soler, who was runner-up a year ago with 108, fell back to-day to lifth place. The leader’s scores in the service series were good, but tho majority of the competitors found the pace rather too much for them. A fairly fresh breeze at times affected the men, but elevation appeared to be the principal trouble. After lunch, a start was made with the B series; two ranges (200 and 300 yards) of the opening match, which does not count for the belt, being taken. The failing light, just after four o’clock, caused a cessation of shooting, the third range on 600 yards being held over till the morning. The wind in the early stages was moderate, generally from the left, but displaying the propensity to “fishtail” and licking occasionally round to the right, the variation ranging over an arc of about five degrees. Bright sunshine alternated with a shadow of heavy passing clouds, but these changes did not trouble the marksmen, some very good scores beingf recorded. Simmonds (Wanganui), and Turnbull (New Plymouth) got on possibles at 300 yards. A tyro made 35 and 34, and there are many very close to 70, but the tyro, whose identity could not be traced, as cards were not all in pending the completion of the match in the morning, should be able to hold his'own. Boon (Karon) and Munro (Wyndham) made possibles at 500 yards and have good totals on. Dense clouds overhang the camp tonight. and there is more than a hint of ram in the air. Tho optimists, however, are hopeful that to-morrow will be as fine as to-day. The programme will be seven shots at 600 yards to complete the opening match, the Marlborough match, ten shots each at 300 and 500 yard 3, and the first stage (ten shots at 300 yards) of tho Auckland match. Scores to-day were as follow: Service championship (aggregate of scores in matches 1,2, 3 and 4). —£10

"old medal and Kynoch Cup, Captain H. Simmonds (Wanganui), 109. '• £6 and silver medal, R. if. Nicholl (Petone), 103. £4 and bronze medal, S. MeNabb (Dannevirke), 101. £2, A. Devore (Akarana), 98; Lt. F. Soler (Marton), 95; J. Ball (Kaiapoi), 95. The. following take £1 each: Captain F. Bolton (Masterton), 94; A. V. Swanson (Karori), 93; H. A. Cromie (Ashburton), 93; C. M. Moss (Dunedin), 93; P. Jack (Christchurch Railway), 92; E. F. Sandford (Christchurch) , 91; H. W. Feast (Greytown) 91; H. T. Boon (Karori), 90; Segt.Major M. L. Frank (Permanent Staff), 90 ;> P. C. Hamilton (Wanganui), 89; L. Hare (Wellington Old Navals), 88; J. Bryden (Kaiapoi), 87; W. K. Williams (Ohura), |5; L. Pask (Linkwater), 85. Champion service teams match, for teams of five men, counting scores in matches 1,2, 3 and 4:—£B and Logan Campbell Shield (Wanganui No. 1) 392; £5 (Opaki) 370; £3 (Petone) 366; £2 (Karori N T o. 1) 363; £2 (Akarana) 354. No. 1 match, ten shots, 300 yards (possible 50): L. V. J. L. Christensen (Omana) 46, £2 10s; F. R. Chapman (Wairoa) 41, £2 10s; Captain F. Bolton (Masterton) 41, £2 10s. The following take £1 each: Lieut. F. J. C. Soler (Marton) 40; C. M. Moss (Dunedin) 40; A. G.' Devore (Akarana) 40; P. Jack (Christchurch Railways) 40; W. K. Williams (Ohura) 39; A. G. Robertson (Ilnwera) 39; J. Bryden (Kaiapoi) 39; S. M. H. L. Frank (Permanent Staff) 38; R. H. Nicholl (Petone) 38. Thirty-eight others, with scores down to 30, were in the prize list. No. 2 match, snap shooting, disc target, 300 yards (possible 50) : L. V. J. Scott (Petone) 44, £3; H. W. Feast (Greytown) 39, 26s j P. Hamilton (Wanganui) 37, 265; Captain Simmonds (Wanganui) 37, 265; J. Ball (Kaiapoi) 37. The following take £1 each: S. Eliott 36, E. Russell (Nelson) 36. £pb P- A. Hiscock (Royal Marines) (H.M.S. Philomel) 34. Thirty-seven others, with scores down to 26, were in the prize I list. No. 3 match, tile shooting competition, five allots at 200 yards (possible 25) : O. M. Ching (Karori) 25, £3 10s; J. C. Feast (Greytown) 25, £3 10s. The following, with scores of 20, take 17s 6d each: R. H. Nicholl (Petone), J. Blackburn (To Kuiti), H. Wansbrough (Wanganui), L. Tlure (Wellington Old Navals), PI. Boon (Knrori), W J. Green (Okawa), Lt. F. Soler (Marton), M. Davis (Kinohaku), C. Clark (Auckland), H. W. Feast (Greytown), Captain Bolton (Masterton), D. McKenzie (Opaki'k J. Cornes (Waihi), M. P. chapman (Wairoa), K. Feary (Takara), A. Powell (Akarana), T. Orr (Greytown). Forty-three others, all with 6cores of 15, divide £2O. No. 4 match, moving figure target, six shots_ at 200 yards (possible 30): J. McKelvie (Scots College cadets Wellington), 26, £4; L. Hitchcock (Takaka), 25. £2 10s. W. Molvor (Petone) 25, £2 10s. The following take £1 each: C. Page (Linton) 24 W. Kells (Linton) 22, F. Whiteman (Uppor Hutt) 22, A. Swanson (Karori) L. Benton (Featherstou), A. Soper (Tau Marina), -F. Hogg (New. Plymouth), R. H Nicholl (Petone), J. Ball (Kaiapoi). H. CTomie (Ashburton), all 21. Forty-1 others, witli scores down to 16, divide £l6,