THE TRENTHAM SHOOTS.

Manawatu Times, Volume LXV, Issue 1865, 8 March 1913, Page 5

THE TRENTHAM SHOOTS.

CHAMPIONS' DAY

(Presi Association. —By Telegraph, Trentham, Last Night.

After lunch, to-day the clouds cleared away, but the wind increased somewhat and. becoming very puffy, it was verv disconcerting to the 50 who fired for the King's prize. The Hon. and Mrs Massey, Hon. Rhodes, Mr Skyes, and Dr. Newman, M. P. 's, and members of the Empire Trade Commission, were among the visitors to the range. Interest in the Belt contest was somewhat lessened owing to the long lead (7 points) established by James. But he might easily have Deen beaten. Marenzie need only have' scored 40 to have won, and Loveday and McMurray only wanted 42, but none of these marksmen proved equal to the task. McMurray recorded two misses and these lost him the Belt. With two shots to go James had only to hit the target once to ensure a win, even allowing for bulls-eves from all the rest of the competitors. There was a spirited race for the next two position, and after everyone had walked away thinking Williams was second and Roots and Frank equal for third, Cameron, shooting on the end target rang on three successive bulls'-eyes and just got into second position. This change in the positions was not known to 99 per cent of those present until Cameron was called on to come forward for the runner-up's prize. Marenzi, who was second to James at the commencement of the match, finished tenth, while Williams, who was twenty-sixth up, got the excellent score of 44 and finished third—a line recovery. As proof of ( the erratic shooting, out of 500 shots i ■ fired, there were not fewer than j 113 misses, one competitor missing eight times, another >°ven times, two others six times, while only six out of fifty competitors found the taiget with every shot. Before the prizes were presented by Mrs Massey, Col. Collins addressed those present. He welcomed Mrs Massey on her first visit to this range, which lie thought was the finest in the Southern Hemisphere, and as a training ground for marksmen was a most valuable asset to the country. Many competitors came simply to meet old friends and renew old acqnaintanceships, and many gave no thought to prize money. Col. Collins expressed appreciation of the Government's generosity. .The Government, he said, not only gave them a grant of £750 and 100,000 rounds of ammunition (valued at £500) but also supplied markers and tents. The Colonel eulogised the services rendered by Col. Hughes and other officers, the markers and other assistants, and the press. Mr Massey said the country owed a deep debt of gratitude to all participating in any branch of the defence scheme. It was always a source of pride to him to remember that when the Empire was in need of assistance New Zealand was the foremost in giving and offering help. He was sure she would do so again should the occasion arise.

The Hon. Mr Rhodes endorsed Mr Massey's congratulations. Referring to the decrease in entries, he said they could hardly expect to find experienced shots in the territorials just yet. He hoped shortly to see musketry instructors devoting the whole of their time to that branch of the service. Then the territorials could practice musketry and let Trentham be the Mecca of champions.

RESULTS. King's Prize, ten shots, 1000 yards; the winner holding for oue year the Champion Rifle Belt and winning a gold medal, presented by the Minister of Defence, and a gold badge of the Association; the runner- up taking a silver star and a D. R. A. badge:— £3O James, Okawi 31 499 £ls Cameron, Opaki 41 493 £lO Williams, Ohura 44 942 £7 Roots, Patea 36 491 £5 Frank, Canterbury 37 491 £5 Milroy, Nelson 40 490 £5 McMurray, TeAwamutu 31 490 £5 Henderson, Sounds 31 489 £5 McCalmont, Opaki 35 489 £5 Loveday, Woodvilie 28 487 £5 Marenzi, Kaitawa 25 486 £5 Keene, Eketahuna 39 486 £2 Cuthbertson.Tuamarina 35 483 £2 Fisher, Suburbs 40 483 £2 McAlister, Junee 30 481 £2 Reynolds, Christchurch 32 481 £2 Randell, Linton 33 481 £2 Mcintosh, Opaki 28 480 £2 Govenlocfe, Linton 34 480 £2 Guiuey, Christchurch 29 479 £2 Greig, Upper Hutt 31 478 £x Goodall, Subuibs 23 477 £2 Bayden, Kaiapoi 26 476 £2 King, Opaki 33 475 £2 Kella, Waimangaroa 33 475 £1 Swinard, Oamaru 22 471 £1 Logan, Blenheim 22 474 £1 Mace, New Plymouth 23 474 £1 Potter, Auckland 25 474 £1 Ching, Wellington 32 474 £1 Moselem, Kaeo 19 473 £1 Craw, Linton 30 473 £1 Matthews, Feilding 31 473 £i Marshall, Karori 32 473 £1 Rait, Gisborne 26 472 £1 Comrie, Akarana 23 470 £1 Banks. Okawa 27 470 £1 Parnell, Wanganui 23 469 £1 Mainjav. Te Aroha 27 469 £1 Halmshaw. Veterans 11 467 £] Duncan, Westport 14 466 £1 Bruce, New Plymouth 18 466 £1 Chapman, Suburbs 26 466 £1 Belk, Woodville 15 464 £1 Patrick, Auckland City 21 464 £1 Croxton, Kamri 23 464 £1 Cox, Auckland 14 460 £1 Litham, Akarana 15 459 £1 Elliott, Akarana 16 456 £1 Brennan, Wauguiiui 6 44*

PHOTOS OF THE WINNER, Mr W. Bunting has a spleDdid negative of Mr James, the winner of the Championship Belt, and copies will be otainable at Bunting's Studio to-day.—Advt. Other champion re ;ults are RIFLE CLUB'S CHAMPION TEAM MATCH, for teams of live, in all belt matches for C.A.C. Company's Shield. Opaki A '2209 Linton 2163 Ohura 2161 Suburbs B 2160 Sounds 2145 TEAMS C.A.C. CUP, for best scores at 800, 900 and 1000 yards in Belt matches. Opaki A 1188 D. C., 7th Regiment 1163 Christchurch A 1142 Opaki B 1139 Akarana 1136