RIFLE SHOOTING

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 74, 24 February 1938, Page 10

RIFLE SHOOTING

NOTABLE MEETING. EMPIRE COMPETITORS. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Feb. 23. Rifle shooting history was made at Trentham to-day, when 'for the first time British, South African, and New Zealand riflemen shot side by side on New Zealand soil. The occasion was the annual championship meeting of the Wairarapa Rifle Association, which is being held at Trentham instead of at the usual range at Papawai, near Grey town. This morning’s events were the commencement of what should prove to be one of the most auspicious weeks in the annals of rifle shooting in the Dominion. To-morrow Britain, South Africa, and New Zealand are to compete in a special international teams match, and on Friday the annual championship meeting of the National Rifle Association will commence, and this will last until next Wednesday. A record entry had been received for the Wairarapa meeting, 223 competitors going down on the mounds this morning. This number exceeds by a large margin the highest previously recorded. In addition to a large contingent from the Wairarapa, Wellington rifle clubs are well represented, and there are visitors as well. All told, there are 28 overseas riflemen competing—l 3 in each of the official British and South African teams, one unofficial British rifle shot, and one former officer of the Indian Army. Both Commander Swanston (Britain) and Colonel Rodley (South Africa) reported their men fit and well when they arrived at Trentham today. They were looking forward with interest to to-morrow’s match, and were delighted with the surroundings. Trentham is on its best behaviour to-day. The day is gloriously fine, with a light breeze from the south, and the only thing the visitors were afraid of—with the memory of Australia fresh in their minds—was that the day might become too hot. The South Africans made a particularly good showing and their names figured prominently in the prize lists. Members of the British team also acquitted themselves well, but several of them failed to reproduce the form they recently displayed in Australia. South Africa provided the winner or the Wairarapa championship in C. H. Baxter, who is a member of the Pietermaritzburg Rifle Club. In the four one-range matches comprising the championship series he dropped only three points with his 28 rounds. The runner-up for the championship was P. R. T. Garnett, of the British team, who was one point behind Baxter with 136 out of a possible 140. Baxter received the congratulations of competitors on his success and was warmly applauded as a bulls-eye was signalled from the butts to give him the championship with the aggregate score Of 137 On Friday the South Africans will be taking part in the national meeting and. judging by their performance to-day, they are expected to provide some strong competition. As the members of the British team are sailing for England early in the week, they will not he able to attend that meeting. A slight drift from the rear disturbed the aim of some marksmen and others experienced elevation troubles. Tile visitors had little difficulty in mastering the conditions and the shooting was generally of a high standard. Details are-as follow: SERVICE MATCH.

(Rapid and Snap Shooting, 300 yards.) £2.—L. Boxnall (South Africa), 62. £2.—J. R. Koekhn (Westport), 62. £1 each.—H. T. R. Boon (Karori), 61: E. A. Spradbury (South Africa), 60; R. Congreve (Old Navals), M. C. Exstein (South Africa), 58 each; E. A. Johns (Auckland City), 57 ; R. H. Nicholls (Petone), D. F. Perrin (Auckland City), P. Ri Cleote (South Africa), 56 each; Roy Ronald (Featherston), 55; J. MeKelvie (Karori), 54; T. Orr (Ashhurst), 54 and A. V. Barrow (Cheltenham), 50, received 10s each; R. Wakefield (Ashhurst), 45, R. B. McKenzie (Rangitikei), 44, and A. R. Tantrum (Levin), 41, took: ss.

, BID WELL MATCH. (Seven Rounds at 300 yards.) £1 10s each.—L. Hare (Karon), L. J. Milne (England), P. R. Cleote (South Africa), C. J. Nix (Featherstone), C. H. Baxter (South Africa), M. Jones (Wanganui), 35 each. £1 each.—H. R. Hunt (Suburbs), F H. James (Napier), D. Roots (Patea), P. R. T, Garnett (England), E. J. C. Reston (Akarana), 34 each. Tantrum 34, Barron 33 and PChurcher (Cheltenham) 33, won 10s; H. Barlow (Linton) 33 and S. Mayhew (Cheltenham) 33, won ss. First place in the B grade was filled by A. Falconer (Mataura) and R. B. McKenzie (Rangitikei) who received £1 10s each. V. G. Hunter (Levin) 33, won 10s. WELLINGTON MATCH. (Seven Rounds at 600 yards.) £3.—C. H. Baxter (South Africa) 35. £1 6s 8d each.—R. D. Greig (England), H. K. Smith (Opaki), R. B. Gray (Okato), 34 each £1 each. —H. Harries (Christchurch), C. Falconer (Balclutha), J. McKelvie (Karori), N. McCaw (England), R. E. W. Johnsen (England), J. Paterson (Wanganui), R. R. D. Rolston (Levin), Roy Donald (Featherston), 34 each. P. Churcher, 33, won Bs. The B grade was won by D. F. Perrin (Auckland City). Second place was taken by C. W. Eden (AVairau Valley). McKenzie, 31, won 10s.

BUCHANAN MATCH. (Seven Rounds at 800 yards.) £1 13s 4d each.—P. R. J. Garnett (England), W. J. Hague (South Africa), R. Wakefield (Ashhurst), W. C. Gibb (South Africa), 35 encli. £1 each.—T. Gruar (Petone), H. T. Boon (Karori), E. M. Castles (AVaikoniro), J. Huston (Patea), J. Burnett (Gore), F. N. McVicar (Waipukurau), H. A. Lumsden (Hautere), 34 each.

A. V. Barrow, 33, won 10s. R. R. D. Rolston (Levin) and McKenzie tied for first place in the B grade, each registering the possible. Hunter 33 and J. M. Wylie (Levin) 33, won 10s.

DOMINION MATCH. (Seven shots at 900 yards.) £2 10s each.- —A. H. O’Donnell (Petone), S. O. Hay (Christchurch), 35 each.

£1 each. —C. H. Baxter (South Africa), P. R. T, Garnett (England), F. H. James (Napier). H. Harris (Christchurch), A. J. Andrews (England), F. C. Hodge (Christchurch), S. Clark (Wairoa), J. W. Hague (South Africa), A. E. F. Whittington (England), R. A- Fulton (England), 34 each.

The B grade was won by J. Bishop (Hautere) with 1 the possible; he takes the prize of £2. Wylie 31. CHAMPIONSHIP AGGREGATE:. (Grand aggregate for highest average scores in Bidwill Match, Wellington Match, Buchanan Match and Dominion Match.) £5 and trophy valued £3.—C. H. Baxter (South Africa), 137.

£4.—P. R. T. Garnett (England) 136.

£2 and Bidwill Memorial Challenge Belt and Shield.—F. H. James (Napier), 134. £2 each.—J. W. Hague (South Africa). 133; H. Harries (Christchurch), 133. The challenge belt cannot be taken out of the Dominion and was therefore won by James, as the New Zealand competitor was the highest aggregate score in the championship series.

McKenzie 131, Tantrum 130, and Wakefield 128, won 10s each. B GRADE AGGREGATE.

(For highest aggregate scores in championship series of matches.) £3 and Walden Challenge Cup.— H. R. Feast (Greytown). 133. £2. —G. Wilson (Invercargill), 131. £1 each.—G. Falconer (Balclutha), 131; McKenzie 131; D. J. Flynn (Greytown), 131. Ralston, 128, won 10s.

THE DOMINION TEAM. Per Press Association. TRENTHAM, Feb. 23. Members of the New Zealand team to compete against. Great Britain and South Africa in the international teams match to-morrow were selected at Trentham to-night. Captain W. N. Masefield (Blenheim) will act as captain and coach of the team, and the other coaches will be Mr T. H. It. Boon- (Karori) and Mr H. H. Mawley (Opaki). Members of the team will be : —Messrs F. W. Bowes (Auckland City,), B. G. A. Ford (Invercargill), F. James (Napier), J. McKelvie (Karori), F. N. McVicar (AVaipukurau), C. J. Nix (Featherston), D. Roots (Patea), F. J. Soler (Wanganui), H. K. Smith (Opaki) and AV. H. West (Blenheim). Emergencies will be Messrs A. H. O’Donnell (Petone) and H. Harries (Christchurch).