Kiwitea Rifle Association

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 7239, 19 August 1933, Page 3

Kiwitea Rifle Association

CHAMPIONSHIP BELT. In existence just over thirty years the Kiwitea Rifle Association's Championship Belt, now well weightod with twenty-two silver bars bearing the names,- of successive champion shots, went astray for a period of . twelvo years, singularly enough on its twelfth birthday. This handsome trophy, which is at present having added the name of this year’s champion, E. Farley, is now a historical possession of tho association. It was first competed for in 1901 when the volunteer movement, receiving impetus from the South African War, was at its height and when rifle shots were for ever practising over the district ranges. Tho first holder of the belt was A. J. Pettigrew. The holders for the successive years until 1912 were: Col.-Sergeant C. Aitken, W. Bandell, Sergt. E. Perrin, F. Needham, W. Banks, Col.-Sorgt. C. Aitken, W. S. Penney, Col. S. Mayhow, Sergt. Needham, Sergt. H, Frank and W. A. Lumsden.

At this period in its history the belt went astray and it was not. until 1924 that it was reinstated at Kiwitea when a party of old-time shots, including Messrs. J. E. Barltrop, H. Smithers, J. Campbell and T. Simpson, made the journey to attend the shoot. On this occasion the belt was won by J. Kylo. The winners since that year to date are: W. J. PaTk, E. P. Bailey (also next year), J. Paterson, E. D. Grant, F. Soler, E. P. Bailey, F. P. Dickenson and E. Farley.