SERVICE SHOOTING

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 12 March 1930, Page 6

SERVICE SHOOTING

ARMY RIFLE MEETING

RESULTS AT TRENTHAM

(By Telegraph—Bresa Association)

TRENTHAM, 11th March

A cold Kout-li breeze was in evidence at Trentham for the opening of tlio Avmv fllifle Meeting. It was a perfect, windless afternoon. Owing to the large number of competitors and the classification work entailed, prize lists were tardy in compilation. Conditions are extremely exacting, consequently the scoring was comparatively low. several competitors’ totals being marred through rifles jambing during the rapid practice. General Young, Commander of Now Zealand Forces was an interested spectator. Tho possible points in the first series championship total 200. The contestants are divided into two classes, the first comprising the New Zealand division of the navy, members of the permanent forces, territorial officers and reservists; the second, rank and lilo of the territorial force and cadets over eighteen years.

Last year Sergeant-Major Kearney (Napier) 124, won the first stage and Lance-Corporal A.,Symons (Hawkes Bay Regiment) 121, the second. In the first stage of the cadet championship, similar practices to ,territorial, all at 200 yards (possible 125 points), Sergeant F. Jano (Hawkes Bay) 105, topped the average in 1929 and this year Cadet A. Leyland (Wellington-West Coast Regiment) 110 won. Results are:— Cadet championship, first stage deliberate, snapshooting, rapid, and moving target, all 200 yards: 40s—Cadet Leyfield (Hawkes Bay Regiment) 108; 20s — Cadet D. Sandford (Chrisctcliurch Technical College) 106; each 15s —Cadet H. Hart (Marlborough) 104,^ Sergeant-Major J. Fuller (Waitaki), 103,'QuartermasterSergeant R. Duff (Christchurch High School), Sergeant-Major K. Vare (Wellington College)' 101, Cadet J. Murray (Auckland) 100, Lance-Corporal G. Coombes- (Southland) 9. Thirty-six scores of 97 to 83 divide 180 s. The marksmanship at this stage is considerably in advance of last year. Army Championship, first stage, second class (possible 200): 40s —Lance-Cor-poral J. Carmichael’ (First Battalion Hawkes Bay Regiment) 137; 35s—Sapper W. Thom (Southern Engineers) 122 ; 30s —Corporal A. Symons (First Battalion Hawkes Bay Regiment) 113; 25s Corporal L. Hall (Army Service Corps) 106; Quartermaster-Sergeant Taylor (Southern Signallers), Sergeant L. Murcott (Marlborough) 96; Corporal W. Burton (Hawkes Bay) 95; Private G. Duff (Canterbury) 94; Corporal H. Ellis (Hawkes Bay) 93. Fifty-one divide 2455. The Belt winner comes from this class. Last year Corporal Symons, 121, won the class and Belt with 218.

Cadet match snapshooting and rapid, 200 yards (possible 75): 40s—Corporal J. Johnson (Hawkes Bay) 65; 30s—Corporal H. Holloway (Hamilton); 20s- • Cadet R. Harle (Ashburton) 64. Fortyeight scores of 62 to 49 divide 3305. Lewis gun match, 500 to 300 yards, lire with movement, point per hit 4QO yards, superiority of fire, (possible 150): 200s —First Battalion Hawkes Bay Regiment (Sergeant H. Ellis, leader, Corporal. A. Sympns, Lance-Corporal J. Carmichael, Private E. Burton) 179; 120 s and McKinney Challenge Cup— Southern Army Service Corps, (Corporal M. Graham, leader) 169; 80s—Wellington Regiment (Corporal C. Rudman, leader) 156; 40s—Wellington-West Coast Regiment 144. Sixteen teams competed.

TQ=DAY’S‘SHOOTING TRENTHAM, This Day. Excellent weather marksmen at Trentham this morning when the second stage' of the Army Championship was proceeded with. Competitors marched away punctually from squadding posts,- but there was delay at the mounds, ocacsioned through the target being enveloped in mist. The first practice, 600 yards deliberate, opened the shooting, initial details having a slight disadvantage in the light. The second practice, 600 to 100 yards, fire with movement, proved strenuous. There were five 45 seconds target exposures, at 500, 400, 300, 200, and 100 yards respectively, firing positions being prone,' kneeling and standing, according to the distance, advance being at' the double. The best aggregate was that of Lieut. T. Denton [Air Force) 41, (possible 50) who was King’s Medallist in 1927. but who is uneligible for the belt which is only open to the active list of the tet-ritorial force. Visitors commented on the excellent physique of the competitors and their conduct is exemplary. This afternoon the champion, shot will be available when the final practices of this series, 300 yards rapid, 300 snapshooting in the open will be completed. The highest total registered last year was 247, obtained by Sergeant F. Hissocks (Permanent Staff) that of the belt winner, Corporal Simmons (Hawkes Bay) being 218.