Nix Leads for King's Prize

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 57, 9 March 1937, Page 7

Nix Leads for King's Prize

In National Rifle Championship BLUSTERY WEATHER UPSETS MARKSMEN. Per Press Association. TRENTHAM, Last Night. The firing ot the short range matches in the championship belt series was completed at the National Rifle Meeting at Trentham to-day and at the conclusion of these C.,J. Nix (Featherston) was leading in the contest tor tho King's Prize with a score of 289 out ot a possible 300. The next two places are filled by F. Bowes (Auckland City), who was King's Prizeman .two years ago, and F. J. Soler (Wanganui), each with 287.

Tricky conditions were experienced for to-day’s shooting which took place at 300, 500 and 600 yards. The wind was blustery and changeable and .the pennants from which marksmen are expected to gauge it were blowing in opposite directions for the greater part of the day. The light was also troublesome first thing in the morning and ele\atxon troubles and wind adjustments were responsible in varying degrees for tho exclusion of many front rank marksmen from the prize lists. The conditions prevailing provided reall testing weather for the riflemen and although many registered high scores others found difficulty in judging the wind.

The Wellington match, ten rounds at 500 and 600 yards, which was fired during the morning, was won by Bowes ‘with 98. With ten others he had a possible at 500 yards. This range is the easiest of the short ones owing to the fact that the target is dimensioned for use at 600 yards. The only mkn to register a possible at 600 yards was W. N. Masefield (Blenheim) who filled second place with 97. Four possibles were returned in one range of the Otago match .ten rounds at 300 yards. At this range the strong wind was not so apparent and the marksmen took full advantage of the easier shooting conditions. Bowes, Masefield, N. Mac Williams (Invercargill) and H. V. Croxton (Karori) had possibles recorded on their score boards and ten others dropped one point o'flly. Seven marksmen lost one point only ju the Hawke's Bay match, ten rounds at 600 yards, but H. Harries (Christchurch) had the best bull finish to win the first prize. Bowes and Masefield both fell away a little at this range, the former being unable to do better than 42 and Masefield dropping six points. With the completion of to-day’s shooting the following 50 marksmen are leading for the King’s Prize:—

C. J. Nix (Featherston) • • •• • • 289 F. Bowes (Auckland City) .. .. 287 F. J. Soler (Wanganui) .. .. .. 287 F. llickenbotham (Christchurch) . 28ti W. N, Masefield (Blenheim) .. .. 285 R. F. Wakefield (Alkarana) •• .. J. Bim (Okawa) 285 H. V. Croxton (Karori) •• •• •• 284 F. J. Jeune (Gisborne) .. •• •• •• 284 W. H. West (Blenheim) 283 N. Jones (Wanganui) 283 H. King (Opaki) 263 J. E. Farley (Wanganui) 283 F. N. McVicar (Waipukurau) •• 283 H. H. Mason (Christchurch) • • . • 283 K. H. Nicholl (Petone) 283 A. H. O’Donnell (Petone) .. .. .• 282 H. H. Cromie (Ashburton) .. •• 282 L. H. Proffitt (Napier) 282 H. K. Smith (Opaki) 282 S. H. Haraldsen (Napier) 282 J. Tansley (Invercargill) . • .. ... 282 J. C. Feast (Greytown) 282 11. Harries (Christchurch) • • • • 282 D. J. Guiney (Petone) 282 J'. C. Carter (Petone) * «• 282 K. McKenzie (Featherston) .... 281 H. R. Hunt (Suburbs) 281 F. Hiscock (Christchurch) .... 28’• W. Duncan (Westport) .. .. .. 281 P. B. Goldfinch (Karori) .. .. •• 281 N. Mac Williams (Invercargill) •• 28! D. E. Wilton (Whangarei) .. .. 281 R. Ellis (Takapau) 280 F. J. White (Okawa) 280 C. A. Wohlers (Wanganratta, Australia) 280 G. P. Crimp (Christchurch) .. .. 280 S. A. S. Elliott (Akarana) .. •• 280 J. I. King (Karori) 280 A. A. Ford (Invercargill) .. .. 280 F. H. Monk (Hautcre) 280 J. D. Christian (Wanganui) •• •• 279 F. C. Hodge (Sydenham) .. .. .. 279 H. A. Lumsden (Hautere) .. .. 275 R. Congrovo (Old Navals) . • • t 279 F. P. Dickinson (Mangaweka) .. 279 A. R. Symons (Okawa) 279 H. C. Percy (Alfredton) 279 E. E. Stuart (Cheltenham) .. •• 279 F. Bolton (Opaki) .. .. .. .. .. 279 Results: — Wellington Match, ten shots at 500 Yards and at 600 Yards. £5: F. Bowes (Auckland City.) •• 98 £4: W. N. Masefield (Blenheim) .. 97 £3 each: P. B. Goldfinch (Karori) 97, F. H. S'harland (Nelson) 96. £2 each: D. R. Wilton (Whangarei) 96, A. A. Ford (Invercargill) 96, H. A. Cromie (Ashburton) 96, P. R. Catley (Levin) 96. Thirty-four took £1 each and 14 10s each. Otago Match, ten Rounds at 3fro Yards. £3 15s each: F. Bowes (Auckland City) 50, H. V. Croxton (Karori) 50, N. Mac Williams (Invercargill) 50, W. N. Masefield (Blenheim) 50. £2 each: C. J. Nix (Featherston) 49, F. J. Jeune (Gisborne) 49, P. Berry (Tararua) 49, H. Harries (Christchurch; 49. Thirty-four collected £1 each and 14 10s each. Hawke's Bay Match, ten Shots at 600 Yards. £5: H. Harries (Christchurch) .... 49 £3 10s each: J. H. Thomson (Wairakei) 49, J. C. Williamson (Cheltenham) 49. £3: D. J. Guiney (Petone) 49. £2 each: F. Bolton (Opaki) 49, J. C. Carter (Petone) 49, C. J. Nix (Featherston) 49, L. J. Sigvertsen (Tararua) 4*

Thirty-four took £1 each and 14 10f each. Trentham Aggregate (For all Short Range Belt Matches). £5 and B.S.A. Cup: C. J. Nix (Featherston) 289 £4: F. J. Scler (Wanganui) .... 278 £3: F. Bowes (Auckland City) .. 287 £2 each: F. Hickenbotkam (Christchurch) 286, J. Sim (Okawa) 285. £1 each: W. N. Masefield (Blenheim) 285, H. V. Croxton (Karori) 284. F. J. Jeune (Gisborne) 284, R. H. Nicholl (Petone) 283, N. Jones (Wanganui) 283, H. West (Blenheim) 283, J. E. Farley (Wanganui) 288, H. King (Opaki) 283, F. N. McVicar (Waipukurau) 283, R. F. Akarana 285. Ten won 10s each.