THE KING’S PRIZE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 83, 6 March 1935, Page 9

THE KING’S PRIZE

WILLS’S NARROW LEAD. SHOOTING AT TRENTHAM. / Per Press Association. ' TRENTHAM, March 55. Tlie championship series of matches, from which are determined the 40 highest aggregate scorers to fire in the final match for the King’s Prize, was completed at the national rifle meeting at Trenthnm today. Tlife leading position in the King’s Forty is occupied by A. R. Wills (Invercargill) with 421, out of a possible 450. The next highest score is 418, made by F. Bowes (Auckland City). With his three-point lead, 47 for his filial ten rounds at 900 yards would make Wills sure of the Championship Belt. Third, fourth, and fifth places in the forty are filled by L. G. Benton (Featherston), F. H. James (Napier), and A. H. O'Donnell (Petone), each with 416. The championship shooting was resumed half-way through the morning, following the completion of an extra match, of seven rounds at 800 yards, for wliich there were 41 prizes, totalling £lB. The first range of tlie Auckland match, ten. rounds at 800 and 900 yards was fired before tlie luncheon adjournment, leaving the afternoon free for the second range of the Auckland match and the Whitcombe and Caldwell match, which called for ten rounds at 900 yards. Tricky conditions were experienced by the first men to shoot in the Auckland match and many competitors suffered severely in rapid wind changes from right to left. Little fault could be found with the light. As the morning advanced, the weather improved, and although at times the wind was difficult to follow, there were occasional easy patches. Marksmen who were fortunate enough to be shooting in them had good scores. Throughout the early afternoon, conditions were much the same, but towards tlie end of the day the breeze freshened from tlie south and more windage allowance was required than on any previous occasion during the meeting. AUSTRALIAN AGGREGATE SCORES Four marksmen had aggregates of 235, out of a possible 250 ; to gain leading places in the Australian aggregate, which is awarded for the highest scores in the Canterbury. Wellington and Auckland matches. They were A R. Wills (Invercargill), J. C. Carter (Petone), K. Grigsby (Morrinsville), and F. H. James (Napier). The matches comprising the Australian aggregate involve one shoot at each of the short and long ranges over which the competitors fire in the championship series. With his consistent shooting in the long-range belt matches, R. Congreve (Old Navals) won the Bis!e3’ aggregate with 193, out of a possible 200. His loss of seven points for tho three matches comprising the Bisley aggregate was marksmanship of the highest order. The next highest scores were 189, registered by Wills and Benton. The rifle club champion teams’ match, which is based on all scores in the belt matches except the final ten shots, was won by tlie Napier team, the members of which were F. H. Janies, L. H. Profitt, R. Nicholson, and J. H. Kearney. Their aggregate scores totalled 1633. The team wins tho Petone Rifle Club Champion Aggregate Shield and each member of the team receives a miniature silver cup. The Auckland City team had the second highest score with 1629 and the Petone No, 1 team finished third with 1613. The cup for the highest team scores in all range belt matches, except the final ton shots, was won by the Napier team with 709. The Auckland City team was second with 709 and the Featherston team third with 708. The Auckland match was won bj T Congreve with 98. J. C. Feast (Greytown) was second with 95. The winner of the Whitcombe and Caldwell match was C. B. Benton (Okato), with 48.

THE KING’S FORTY. The following marksmen will fire off to-morrow for the King’s Prize: A. R. Wills (Invercargill) ... ... 421 E. Bowes (Auckland City) 418 L. G. Benton (Featherston) ... 416 E. H. James (Napier) 416 A. H. O'Donnell (Petone) 416 IV. N. Masefield (Blenheim) ... 415 R. Congreve (Old Navals) ... 412 J . C. Carter (Petone) 412 F. J. Soler (Wanganui) 411 C. J. Nix (Featherston) 411 H. Simmonds (Auckland City) 411 K. Grigsby (Morrinsville) 411 R. Nicholson (Napier) 409 H. V. Croxton (Karori) 408

F. H. Sharland (Nelson) 40S L. H. Proffitt (Napier) ... 408 C. Whiteman (Upper Hutt) ... 408 F. Rocking (Cheltenham) 407 1). Roots (l’atea) 407 H. W. Feast (Greytown) 407 A. R. Elgar (Okato) 407 J. C. Feast (Greytown) 407 W. H. Ballinger (Petone) ... 406 F. N. McVicar (Waipukurau) ... 406 J. H. Thompson (Woodville) 406 M. King (Opaki) _ 405 W. Norris (Whangarei) 405 F. C. ITogg (New Plymouth) ... 405 L. E. Braithwaite (Oltawa) ... 405 R. C. Anderson (Invercargill) ...' 405 W. N. Kuromer (Opaki) ... 405 L. J. Spry (Auckland City) ... 404 H. C. Percy (Alfredton) 404 W. Johnson (Featherston) ... 404 D. McKenzie (Opaki) 404 B. B. Jones (Nelson) 404 E. Ballinger (Petone) 404 R. H. Niclioll (Petone) 404 J. McKelvie (Karori) 404 R. Donald (Featherston) 403 P. W. Congreve (Old Navasl) ... 403 H. R. Hunt (Suburbs) 403 R, E. Stuart (Cheltenham) ... 403 C. Pickering (Opaki) 403 The last five competitors will fire off one compulsory sighter and three shots at 900 yards to-morrow morning to determine the last place in the King’s Forty. Results to-day were :

Australian aggregate (for highest scores in Canterbury match, Wellington match, and Auckland match). — Challenge Cup and miniature and £7: A. It. Wills (Invercargill) 235; £5, J. C. Carter (Petpne) 235; £4, K. Grigsby (Morrinsville) 235; £3 each, F. H. James (Napier) 235, L. H. Proffitt (Napier), 232; £2 each, F. C. Hogg (New Plymouth), L. G. Benton (Featherston), H. W. Feast (Greytown), F. J. Soler (Wanganui) 232. Twentyfive others received £1 each, Bisley aggregate (for highest aggregate scores in Taranaki match, Auckland match and Whitcombe and Caldwell match).—Croxton Cup and £5: R. Congreve (Old Navals) 193; £4. A. R. Wills (Invercargill) 189; £3, L. G. Benton (Featherston) 189; £2 each, J. C. Feast (Greytown) 188, W. N. Masefield (Blenheim) 186. Ten received £1 each and ten 10s each. Grand aggregate (for highest aggregate scores in all matches except tho final ten shots). —Collins Challenge Cup and N.R.A. Gold Medal: W. N. Masefield (Blenheim) 671; N.R.A. Silver Medal, R. H. Niclioll (Petone) 657; N.R.A. Bronze Medal: F. J. Soler (Wanganui) 654. Imperial aggregate (for highest scores in Otago. Hawke’s Bay, Taranaki and Whitcombe and Caldwell matches). —Coffee Cup: R. Nicholson (Napier) 189. B grade aggregate (for all scores in Belt matches except final ten shots). — Barton Challenge Shield, gold medal and £5: L. M. Pr-offitt (Napier) 408; £3, IP. Booking (Cheltenham) 407; £2,

each, W. Norris (Whangarei), R. O. Anderson (Invercargill) 405. Thirteen received £1 each. In the Australian aggregate, F. Whitehead (Cheltenham) 226, J. H. Thompson (AVoodville) 226, and D. Lundy (Bulls) 226, each won £l. In the Bisley aggregate, R. E. Stuart (Cheltenham) 179, won 10s. He also won £1 with a score of 403 iii the B grade aggregate and £1 with 46 in tho Witcombe and Caldwell match (A grade). In the B grade of the latter match D. Lundv (Bulls), 43, won 10s.