RIFLE SHOOTING

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 82, 8 March 1937, Page 2

RIFLE SHOOTING

SERVICE CHAMPIONSHIP. WON BY MASEFIELD. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, March 7. After the shoot-oft to determine first ! place in the final of the service championship at the National Rifle Association's meeting yesterday, the service title was won by W. N. Masefteld (Blenheim). Masefield and J. H. Kearney (Napier), the 1930 service champion, tied in the championship each with a score of 261 out of the possible 300. In the subsequent shootoff Masefield made 21 and Kearney 16. Although Masefield has won the King's Prize three times, this is the first occasion on which he has become holder of the Ross Carbine and champion belt awarded to the winner of the service championship. Third place in the championship was filled by E. M. Wrigley (Opaki). with a score of 249. Conditions on the range provided a good service test. Throughout the day a fresh hut variable and bluestering wind blew down the range and towards the end of the afternoon heavy clouds passing overhead were responsible for rapidly changing light. Considering the weather prevailing, the general standard of shooting was exceptionally high. The firing of the compulsory service matches occupied all day yesterday. Rapid fire and snapshooting at disappearing targets without the help of sling supports and aperture sights docs not appeal to some of the marksmen who attend the national meeting, but the service practices are necessary to satisfy the musketry demands of the military authorities. Most of the older competitors are no longer as active as they were in their younger days, and they prefer a fixed target and the permissive use of devices by which wind velocity can be measured and adjustments made to eliminate degrees of error. The- service series comprised four matches. Three of the matches involved application, rapid fire and snapshooting practices at 300 and 500 yards. The 50 marksmen to make the highest aggregate scores in these three matches qualified for a place in the service fifty to fire ten rounds application at 600 yards for the service championship, which is awarded to the competitor with the righest score for the complete scries. The first man in the 50 was K. M. Wrigley (Opaki), whose 212 out of the possible 250 gave him a one-point lead over .?. H. Kearney (Napier. W. N. Masefteld (Blenheim) occupied third place with 208. With his final ten rounds Wrigley could not do better than a 37, and Kearney dropped ten points; Masefield scored 43, he and Kearney each having a grand aggregate of 251. A shoot-off was, thereiore, necessary to determine the winner of the championship. The Simmonds Cup, which is awarded for the highest individual score in the final of tlie service championship, was won by R. Congreve (Old Navals) with 47. . Twenty-six teams competed in the champion service teams match, which was fired, concurrently with service matches. The match was won by 'Auckland City No. 1 team, which also won the match last year. The team holds the Sir John Logan Campbell Shield for one year and the Islington Cup, which is awarded for snapshooting at 300 yards. Christchurch No. 1 team finished in second place. Petone No. 1 team, who were fifth, also won the Dawson Shield, awarded for rapid fire practice at 300 yards.

Results : SERVICE CHAMPIONSHIP (All scores in Service Matches.) Ross Carbine champion belt, N.R.A. gold medal and £o, W. N. Masfield (Blenheim) 251 N.R.A. silver medal and £3, K. J. H. Kearney (Napier) 251 N.R.A. bronze medal and £2, E. M. Wrigley (Opaki) 249

£1 each. E. C. Crocker (Auckland City) 244,' C. J. M. Clark (Auckland City) 242, J. E. Farley (Wanganui) 240, C. J. Robieson (Auckland City) 240 W. J. Burton (Okawa) 240, H. King (Opaki) 238, It. Congreve (Old Navals) 237. Sixteen others took 10s each, including F. J. Solcr (Marton). SERVICE FIFTY.

The following were the 50 marksmen to secure places in the service fifty:—K. M. Wrigley (Opaki) SSI2, J. H. Kearney (iNapier) 211, W.N. Masefield (iilenheinO 2UB, E. C. Cooker (Auckland City) 204, C. J. M. Clark (Auckland City) '202, A. G. Devore (Auckland City) 20i, It. H. Nicholl (Petone) 200, T. 11. 11. Boon (Karon), W. J. Burton (Okawa), C. J. Robieson (Auckland City) PJi), J. E. Farley (Wanganiu) 198, D. V. lvcir (Christcnurch) Wi , D. ]>. Donald (Opaki) 196, tl. King (Opaki) 190, 1. L. Ford (Wanganui), H. Catley, junr. (Nelson), F. Hiscock (Itoyal New Zealand Air Force) 195, H It. Hunt (Suburbs) 193, F. Jeune (Gisborne) 192, F. Hickcnbotham (ChristcUurch), J. C. Feast (Greytown), It. Congreve (Old Navals) 190, H. L. Mason (Christchurch), S. C. Parkinson (Auckland City) 189. 8. A. S. Elliott (Akarana.), F. J. Soler (Marlon) ISo, 0 W. Sandford (Wairoa), H. Brehaut (Okawa) 184, J. Paterson (Wanganiu), \V. H. Ballinger (Petone), E. It. Truman (Christchurch), F. S. Hood (Featherston) 183, G. H. Taylor (New Plymouth). J- C. Ashman (Petone) 182, 1 J Sprv (Auckland City), \\ . A. Whyte (Paparangi) 181, BE. Stuart (Cheltenham), It. J. King (Opaki). D. H 'Small (Karori). P. F. Wakefield (Akarana) 180, A. J. Burning (Christchurch) 179, W. A. Kenning (Nelson), A. J. Brown (Hautere) 178, J. It. Keoghari (Weetport) 177, D. S. McKenzie (Opaki), U. McLeay (Te Kuiti), E. J. Boston (Akarana). J. Gapes (Royal New Zealand Air Force), P. R. Catley (Levin) 170, H. K. Smith (Opaki) 17'6. NO. 1 SERVICE MATCH.

(Five rounds application _ and ten rounds snapshooting each at 300 yards.) £4 W N. Masefield (Blenheim) 67 £3' E. M. Wrigley (Opaki) 07 £2 F. 8. Hood (Featherston) ... 06 £1 each, A. J. Binning (Christchurch) 65, F. Hiscock (Royal New Zealand Air Force) 64, A. G. Devore (Auckland City) 63, W. J. Burton (Okawa) 63. F. J. Soler 63, C. Milroy (Suburbs) 03. W. Oakley (Christchurch) 63. A. W. Harris (Auckland City) 62. W. A. Whyte (Paparangi) 62 ' D. Wilton (Whangarei) 62, R. B. McKenzie (Itangitikei) 62, G. Craw (Linton) 62 F. Hickenbotham (Christchurch) 62. It. Congreve (Old Navals) 62, J. E. Farley (Wanganui) 62. Sixteen others took 10s each. NO. 2 SERVICE MATCH.

(Ten rounds rapid and ten rounds snap-shooting each at 300 yards.) £4, It. H. Nicholl (Petone) 87 £3, E. C. Crocker (Auckland City) 83 £2, J. H, Kearney (Napier) ... 82 £1 each, E. M. Wrigley (Opaki) 81, F. Hiscock (Royal New Zealand Air Force) 79, C. J. Robieson (Auckland City) 78, C. J. M. Clark (Auckland City) 78, H. It. Hunt (Suburbs) 78, T. H It. Boon (Karori) 78, I. L. Ford (Wanganui) 77, J. H. A. Blatch (Wakatipu) 77, W. N. Maseiield (Blenheim) 76 W. J. Burton (Okawa) 75, D. P. Donald (Opaki) 75, J. Paterson (Wanganui) 74, It. Congreve (Old Navals) 74. 15s each, J. E. Farley (Wanganui)

74, It. Catley junr. (Nelson) 74. Fifteen others took 10s each, including R. E. Stuart (Cheltenham).

NO. 3.SERVICE MATCH. (Five rounds application and ten rounds snapshooting each at 500 yards) £4, H. G. Day (Nelson) 71 £.'3, T. H. R. Boon (Karori) 6!) £2. I>. F. Keir (Christchurch) ... OS £1 each, A. V. Barrow (Cheltenham) 68, S. H. Haraldson (Napier) 08, J. H. Kearney (Napier) 08. C. J. M. Clark (Auckland City) 07. W. Oakley (Christchurch) 07. A. G. Deyore (Auckland Citv) 67. O. W. Sandford (Wairoa) 03, J. Watters (Culverden) 60, W. N. Kummer (Opaki) 06, J. Paterson (Wanganui) 00. R. C. Holt (Napier) 00, R." Ellis (Takapau) 00, L. T. McNatty (Ashburton) 60, H. R. Feast (Greytown) 65. Sixteen others won 10s each. CHAMPION SEP VICE TEAMS MATCH. (Teams of four men for highest scores in service matches.) Sir John Logan Campbell Shield. Islington Cup and £4, Auckland City No. 1 (C. J. M. Clark, S. C. Parkinson, A. G. Devore, I. J. Sprv). ... 773 £3. Christchurch No. 1* (D. F. Keir, H. Hiscock, H. L. Mason, E. R. Truman) ... 704 £l, Wangamii No. 1 (J. E. Farley, L. L. Ford. R. Shaw, F. J. Kole'r) 745; £l, Masterton Opaki No. 1 (U. S. McKenzie. H. K. Smith. H. King. R. J. King) 728; £1 and Dawson Shield, Petone No. 1 (W. 11. Ballinger, J. C. Ashman, It. H. Nicholl. A. H. O'Donnell), 718.