THE RIFLE ASSOCIATION' MEETING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12211, 5 March 1903, Page 6

THE RIFLE ASSOCIATION' MEETING.

—i —_« [BY telegraph.—special cobbespondent.] TEENTHAM RIFLE RANGE, Wednesday. ' Colonel sommerville has been hard at work for the past few days, and has everything ready and in working order, so that a- prompt start can be made on Thursday morning for the annual meeting. Ffteen extra targets have been erected, the increased number of competitors necessitating , this. The new Bisley target has been adopted, viz., 500, 600, and 700 yards. 20in bull's-eye, 34in inner, 48in "magpie. The entries, are even more numerous than last year, the younger shots mustering in great force. The exchampions present include W. Ballinger (1879, and 1895), A. Ballinger (1893 and 1897), Okey (1881), King (1900), Nelson (1901), Parslow (1834; and 1889). J. Ross (1886, 1888. and 1889), Kruse(lß9l), and Hyde (1902). To pick the ultimate winner would be but a guess. W. Ballinger is in fine form, but so ir Winslade, of Wanganui, whilst Percy Brown and W. Cox, of Auckland, are both. in splendid trim. All the" Auckland contingent have arrived, and are quartered in various parts of the district, none, however, going into camp. Brown and Causley, who have been, competing at the Wairarapa meeting, came on •;. to-day. Brown secured one match at Wairarapa. and was second in another, • and . secured third place in the aggregate. This shooting, coming after his Auckland-form, must make one count him in ' the championship. Several competitors had practice .on the range today, but no particularly brilliant scores were made. A ': The ; orders published are fall-in at forty-five minutes past nine a.m. to-morrow, and as the entries up to the present exceed 350, nc time must be lost in carrying out the meeting. .' __________