Shooting For King’s Prize.

Manawatu Times, Volume 60, Issue 53, 5 March 1935, Page 7

Shooting For King’s Prize .

O’Donnell, of Petone, Leading for Trophy

NAPIER MARKSMEN IN NEXT TWO POSITIONS

Per Press Association. TRENT HAM, Last Niglit. Witli the completion of all the championship short-rango matches and one long-range match, at the end of the day's shooting at the national rifle meeting at Trentham to-day A. H. O’Donnell, of the Petone Rifle Club, is leading for (ho King's Prize with an aggregate score of 256, out of 300. The next two positions are occupied by two Napier marksmen, F. H. James and R. Nicholson, each with 282. James was the King’s Prizeman in 1913. Two more long-range matches will be decided to-morrow and the 40 marksmen with the highest aggrgeate scores at the end of these will compete in the linal match for the Championship Bolt on Wednesday afternoon.

When the shooting commenced in the morning the light was dull, but fairly even. As the day advanced, there were occasional patches of sunshine, which caused a mirage, and although conditions were at times tricky and required careful watching, they were not difficult to follow. Dark, low-lying clouds adversely affected visibility in the afternoon. A strong frontal fishtail breeze also blew down tho Tange.

High scores were fairly plentiful at 500 yards in the two-range Wellington match, but back at 000 yards there were many crashes and more than one ex-King’s Prizeman returned mediocre figures. Tho failures were due principally to bad holding, rather than to wind variations. The winner of the match was H. Cromic (Ashburton) with 98. He scored the only' possible at GOO yards. Second placo was filled by K. Grigsby (Martinsville) with 90. P. H. James (Napier), who had a possible at 500 yards, finished in third place with 96. The only other possible at 500 yards was obtained by J. P. Petersen (Tararua), but at the 000 yards range he dropped six points. Those who did well at tho short-range, but lost ground at the longer distance included the reigning champion, R. H. Nicholl (Petone). He dropped one point only at 500 yards, but at 600 yards could not do better than a 43.

The last of the short-range championship matches was the Hawke's Bay match, of ton rounds at GOO yards, which was won by A. H. O’Donnell (Petone) with 49. A string of “bulls” was broken by an “inner” for his second shot. Several dropped only two points, but G. G. Kelly (Auckland City) had the best finish for second place. With the completion in the afternoon of the firing in the Hawke’s Bay match, the Trentham aggregate was compilod, this being awarded for the highest aggregate scores in the shortrange championship belt matches. First place in the aggregate was gained by O 'Donnell with 239, out of a possible of 250. Second highest score was obtained by P. H. James (Napier) with 238, and A. H. Cromie (Ashburton) finished in third position with 235. Six forty-nines were registered in the Taranaki match, of ton rounds at SOO yards. First place went to L. Palmer (Otorohanga) and the next two positions in the prize list were occupied by P. H. Sharland (Nelson) and R. Congreve (Old Navals). At the end of to-day’s shooting the following wore in the lead for the King’s Prize: —

A. H. O’Donnell (Pctonc) 2S(i F. H. .Tames (Napier) 232 K. Nicholson (Napier) .. 252 P. Bowes (Auckland City) .. 281 E. Ballinger (Petone) 280 A. R. Wills (Invercargill) .. .. 2SO H. H. Mclntosh (Blenheim) .... 279 A. R. Elgar (Okato) 279 H. V. Croxton (Karori) .. .. 279 C. Whiteman (Upper Hutt) .. .. 279 11. Simmouds (Auckland City) .. ' 27S W. Johnson (Fcatherston) .. .. 27S C. -T. Nix (Pcatherston) 27S L. E. Braithwaite (Okawa) .... 278 Results were:— Wellington Match (Ten rounds at 500 and 600 yards.) £5: H. A. Cromie (Ashburton), 9S. £4: K. Grigsby (Morrinsville), 96. £3 each: F. H. James (Napier) 96, R. Nicholson (Napier) 93. £2 each: D. Roots (Patea) 94. F. C. Hogg (New Plymouth) 94, H. H. McIntosh (Blenheim) 94, L. Davidson (Patea) 94. Thirty-four collected £1 each and 14 10s each.

The B grade was won by S. C. Park inson (Auckland City) with 95.

Hawke’s Bay Match (Ten rounds at 600 yards.)

£5: A. H. O’Donnell (Petone) 49. £4: G. G. Kelly (Auckland City) 48, £3 each: H. V. Croxton (Karori) 4S. 11. Simmonds (Auckland- City) 48.

£2 each: R. C. Anderson (Invercargill) 48, P. C. Hogg (New Plymouth) 48, E. Ballinger (Petone) 48, G. R. Smith (Okato) 47, R- Nicholson (Napier) 47. Thirty-four took £1 each and 14 10s each.

The B grade winner was C. B. Benton (Okato) with 48.

Trentham Aggregate

(For highest scores in Canterbury match, Otago match, Hawke’s Bay match and Wellington match.) B.S.A. Cup, B.S.A. Gold Medal and £5: A. H. O’Donnell (Petone) 239. £4: F. H. James (Napier) 238. £3: H. A. Cromie (Ashburton) 235. £2 each: R. .Nicholson (Napier) 234, I'. Bowes (Auckland City) 234. Ten received £1 each and ten 10s each. Taranaki Match (Ten rounds at 800 yards.) £5: L. Palmer (Otorohanga) 49. £3 each: P. H. Sharland (Nelson) 49, R. Congreve (Old Navals) 49. £3: H. R. Hunt (Suburbs) 49. £2 each: T. W. Warburton (Petone) 49, L. G. Benton (Featherston) 49, J. C. Carter (Petone) 48. £llos each: W. H. Ballinger (Petone)

4S, H. V. Croxton (Karori) 48. Thirty-three received £1 each and 14 10s each. The B grade was won by F. Booking (Cheltenham) with 48.