TRENTHAM

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLVIII, Issue XLVIII, 6 March 1914, Page 7

TRENTHAM

MASEFTEt.D WINS THE BELT.

EX-CHAMPION MILROY FOURTH

(United Prksp Association.)

WELLINGTON, Match 5,

The King's Pri.Ke> ttiii shots at 1000 yards, as th© filial match for the cham-pionship-belt is termed, was fired this afternoon at 3 o'clock. A fairly strong north-westerly rear wind was blowing, and clouds obscured the sun.

It was confidently expected that Masefield, the president of the Sounds R.C., who had a commanding lead, would win. and this expectation Avas borne out. Opening with two for his sighter, Masefield started with a bull's eye, and his full score was 44, which brought his grand total up to 625, or 16 points ahead of the second man, Lieutenant Simmonds, of the Railway Corps, Blenheim, who scored 40, giving him a total of 609. Rifleman H. Loveday, of Ohura, filled the third place. H« added 34 points to his original score of 570, and took thir position with 604. Rifleman Milroy. of Nelson, finished up with a total oil 603. having added to his score by 39. Oliver (Ohura) was in fine shooting form, and wound up with a good score of 45, bringing his total to 598, and Given, of the Suburbs Club, finished on the same mark. Loveday (Woodville) made the highest score in the match (46), and the individual scores dwindled down to 28.

Owing to the weather conditions, the , shooting in many, cases was of an indifferent character, and there was nothing approaching any excitement on the mounds. There was only a fair attendance of the public. The visitors in-1, eluded the Hon. R. H. Rhodes, General . Godley. Colonels Heard, Johnstone, Cochrane. Robin; Lieut.-Colonel Neale; : Colonel and Mrs Baillie; and Mr Luke . (Mavor of Wellington). At the conclusion of the firing the ( competitors grouped round the platform for the presentation of prizes. Colonel Collins, chairman of the- executive, ; speaking from the dias, thanked the pub- ■ lie for their presence and encourage- : ment. He thanked the Government for the liberal treatment of the association, pointing out that its assistance amounted to a grant of £750, ammunition valued at £SOO, free railway passes estimated at £250, equipment, and the services of .25 members of the permanent force. He also mentioned the fact that as the services of the permanent artillerymen, had not been available as markers the executive had been compelled to seek the services of civilians, and" this extra cost, amounting to £250, had also been borne by the Government. He advocated a more liberal supply of ammunition to the younger branch of the scr vies. The Hon. R. H. Rhodes said He was there to - convey to all concerned the congratulations of the Ministry upon the success of the "meeting. There had been a slight decrease in the entries, but he felt confident that time would remedy >hat. It would take some years for the Territorial system to develop, and then the process of drafting men from- that branch of the service to rifle clubs would commence. In return for what assistance the Government gave the association, they expected the riflemen to enter heartily into the spirit of the service matches. There was no desire to abolish the bull's eye practice, but thev must know that they were in a stage of transition. A change was taking place at Bislev, and it must come here. He congratulated Rifleman Masefield, oi Marlborough, on his win. Lieutenant-Colonel Baillie then spoke a few words, and the crowd broke into loud cheering as the champion, Masefield, bowed his acknowledgement. The prizes were then presented to the .winners by Mrs R, J. Collins, Colonel Collins, and amidst another round of applause for Rifleman Masefield, whose win was a very popular one,, the oMampionship meeting of 1914 came; to a#end. TJhe following are the leading prizewinners : - , ■' j Rifleman Masefield (Sounds), belt, and £2B, 625; Lieutenant Simironds, £l 6 - 609; Rifleman Loveday (Ohura), £}2 605; Rifleman Milroy (Nelson), £9, 603,; Rifleman Oliver (Ohura), £4, 598; Rifleman Given (Suburbs), £4, 598; Rifleman Mclver (Te Awamutu), £4, 595; Rifleman Evles (Dannevirk.e), £4, 591; Rifleman Henderson (Sounds), £4, 591; Hifleman. Bent (Div. Sig. Corps), £4, 59i ; Rifleman Soper (Tuamarma), £4, 590; Rifleman Mcintosh (Opaki), £4, 589. _ ■• i Colonial Ammunition Company s prizes, for teams with the highest aggregate over long ranges: Suburbs (Wellington), £2 12s 6d, 1231; Sounds, £1 12s 6d, 1140; Opaki, No. 1, £1 Is, 1131. , , „ ~ „ n Champion teams match: Opaki No. 1, £8 and shield, 467; Christchurch, £6, 458; Ohura, £4, 449; Suburbs, £3, 448; Tuamarina, £3, 448; Auckland, £2, 446 Sergt.-Major Montgomery, (Dunedin) takes the Kynoch cup for the highest aggregate score in the service chani pionship.