Croxton Wins King’s Prize

Manawatu Times, Volume LVI, Issue 7104, 13 March 1933, Page 6

Croxton Wins King’s Prize

Bolton Service Champion

WANGANUI CHAMPION TEAM

Per Press Association WELLINGTON, Last Night

Tho rifle champion belt, gold medal and gold badge of the National Rifle Association and King’s Prize of £3O was won at Trent ham on Saturday by H. V. Croxton, of tho Karori Rifle Club, with an aggregate scoro of 569 out of a possible of 605. Croxton received all tho customary honours accorded to a King’s Prizeman. Ho was cheered, “chaired” and carried from tho range shoulder high by his club mates to receive for the second time in his life the coveted prize. His previous championship success was in 1920. 11. ISiminonds (Auckland) was runner-up with 568.

The score which determines the winner of tho King’s is really the aggregate of a series of matches, the final ten rounds at 900 yards being reserved for the forty marksmen with the highest scores over the preceding ranges. The King’s forty was shot in two batches, the last 20 first and tho first 20 last.

The top positions in the King’s forty wero occupied by Croxton and Simmonds each with 523, with W. N. Masefield (Blenheim) standing third with 521 for tho final stago. These three marksmen all drew positions to the right of the range. A strong right wind biew across tho range, the correction required ranging from 12 to 16 minutes of tho angle. It was because Croxton gauged that wind better than his rivals that he won. Croxton put on 46 and Simmouds 45 to finish with an aggregate of 508. C. J. Nix (Feathcrston), who occupied seventh place in the King’s forty, made his w r ay to near the top, finishing third with 566 as tho result of a 49 for his final ten rounds. His score was by far the best at the final range, there being nothing else better than 47. Masefield, who made 44, was fourth with 565.

Croxton’s win was very popular. He is a member of the clerical staff of the Education Department and is 47 years of age. Pie lias attended 17 Now Zealand national riflo meetings and on 13 occasions has obtained a place in the final. His first appearance at a New Zealand meeting was in 1910 when he shot as a tyro. Ten years later he had his first important success, winning the Ballinger Belt. In 1921 lie was third in the King’s. He was runner-up in 1923, fifth in 1931 and runner-up again last year. Croxton represented New Zealand at Bislcy in 1920 and out of 045 competitors at that meeting secured a place in the King’s hundred, shooting into 66th. place. Ho "was also a member of the JVew Zealand team that went to Australian in 1920.

Boltcm Service Champion. The final match for the service championship was fired on Saturday morning. This called for ten rounds application at 600 yards and the winner was F. Bolton (Opaki), who received £5, the Ross Carbine Bell and the gold medal of the National Riile Association. The runner-up was F. J. Holer (Wanganui), who collects £3 and the silver medal of the association. Bolton and Solcr both finished with 181, it being necessary to decide the first and second places with a shoot-oil. The next highest scores were made by H. L. Mason (Christchurch) and H. F. Wood (Featherston) who finished with 178 each. As a result of the slioot-ofi.’ Wood was placed third for which lie received £2

and the bronze medal of tho association. Mason takes fourth place for which he received £l.

Twenty-four teams competed in the champion teams match which was also fired in the morning. Tho match was open to teams of four men who had to tiro seven rounds at 300, 500 and (100 yards. The first place was filled by Wanganui A with an aggregate score of 305 out of a possible 420. The team consisted of F. J. Holer, J. E. Ferley, C. H. Gower and E. H. King. They receive a cash prize of £l2, the District Challenge Shield and miniaturo siller cups for each member of tho team. The second prize of £8 was won by Opaki No. 2, and Greytown Mo. 1, which was third, takes £6. Fcatherston No. 1 in fourth place receives £5 and Karori No. 1 in fifth position gets £4. Simmoncls Wins Grand Aggregate.

The grand aggregate for the highest aggregate scores in the service and bc'.t matches except the final ten shots was w : on by Himmonus, who receives the Collins Challenge Gup and N.R.A. gold medal. E. M. Wriglcy (Opaki) was second and H .L. Mason (Christchurch) third. They receive the silver and bronze medals of tho association respectively. T. W. Warburton (Pctone) and W. Kenning (Nelson), who finished with tho highest scores in the Bislcy aggregate on Friday fired off on Saturday to decide tho first and second places. Kenning won the shoot off and was awarded tho Croxton Cup and £5 and Warburton collected second prize of £4. Tho scores made in the final match for the King's Prize, together with the aggregate scores for all matches in the championship scries, are as follow: Ballinger Rifle Belt, gold medal and gold badge of the National Riflo Association, and £3O: H. Y. Croxton (Karori), 46, 569.

£ls and National Rifle Association’s silver star and badge: H. Simmonds (Auckland), 45, 635. £lO and W.R.A. silver star and badge: C. J. Nix (Feathcrston), 49, 566. £8 and silver star and badge: AY. IN. Masefield (Blenheim), 44, 565. £5: F. H. James (Napier), 47, 561. £5: E. H. King (Wanganui), 44, 502. £3: D. F. Kc-ir (Ashburton), 47, 561. £3: E. M. Wriglcy (Opaki), 45, 561. £2: F. J. Jeune (Gisborne), 47, 559.

£2; C. Whiteman (Upper Hutt), 42, 559. £2: L. G. Benton (Feathcrston), 47, 555. £2: 11. W. Feast (Greytown), 47, 555. £1: W. Oakley (Christchurch), 4G, 535. £1: R. F. Wakefield (Auckland), 43, 558. £1: R. N. Nicholl (Petonc), 46, 537. £1: R. C. Barkle (Pctone), 45, 557. £1: H. Harries (Christchurch), 45, 557. £1: W. H. Ballinger (Pctone), 46, 550. £1; C. H. Gower (Wanganui), 43, 556. £1: H. King (Opaki), 44, 550. £1: F. 11. Sharland (Nelson), 13, 555. £1: T. AY. Warburton (Pctone), 40, ODD* £1: H. Cromic (Ashburton), 44, ’551. £1: J. C. Feast (Greytown), 44, 554. £1: AY. AA’est (Blenheim), 45, 533. £1: 11. AY. O’Donnell (Pctone), 44, 553. £1: C. M. Pickering (Opaki), 45, 552. £1: J. C. Carter (Pctone), 44, 552. £1: P. C. Hamilton (Wanganui), 44, 052. £1: AV. J. Green (Okawa), 43, 552. £1: I. J. Nicholls (North Bank), 42, 552. £1: F. Bolton (Opaki), 42, 552. £1: R. Nicholson (Napier), 43, 551. £1: H. Frankland (Karori), 42, 551. £1: B. B. .Tones (Nelson), 40, 550. £1: A. A r . Swanson (Karori), 42, 540. £1: AY. Kenning (Nelson), 42, 549. £1: F. Bowes (Auckland), 41, 549. £1: H. L. Mason (Christchurch), 39, 549. £1: F. Clark (Ashburton), 40, 5.15.