RIFLE SHOOTING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20481, 5 February 1930, Page 15

RIFLE SHOOTING.

AUCKLAND CHAMPIONSHIP.

VISITING MARKSMAN'S SUCCESS

I PAEROA CLUB'S DOUBLE WIN. As was anticipated all that was required to make the Auckland Rifle Association's championship meeting a pronounced success was reasonably good weather and in this respect the riflemen wero fortunate in that the conditions throughout the day wero all that could be desired. The actual attendance was not quite as Ibig as last year in spite of the fact that there was a very satisfactory percentage of visitors shooting. As the matches were ten shots throughout instead of seven shots at the short ranges, as in last year's programme, it might have been difficult to complete the shooting before the light began to fail had there been many more competitors. As it was everyone had an equal chance and great credit is due to the secretary, Mr. P. J. Pring, for the efficient organisation and smooth running of the meeting. Possibly the most pleasing incident of the day was the fact that the championship fell to a visiting rifleman in Mr. F. C. Hubbard, of Paeroa, whose club was very well represented at the meeting. The new champion needs no introduction to Aucklanders as his prowess with the riflo is well known and his average of 46 per range was a sterling performance. It will be remembered that last year ho was only three points behind the winner, which shows his win was no flash in the pan. That fine shot, W. Colquhoun, of the Akarana Club, filled the position of runner-up for the second year in succession. Akarana Defeated. The Paeroa Rifle Club completed the double by winning the teams match 011 the count back from Akarana A team, which 011 paper looked unbeatable. This is the first time the Waihi Rooster and Gordon Shield have been taken out of the city for many years and the winners deserve the highest praise for ..their performance.

H. Judkins, City, scored a surprise win in the service match and should prove an asset to his club in this type of shooting. In the 300 yds. match J. R. Draffin, Akarana, looked a certain winner with 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 4, 5, 4, 4, 5, but J. Norris, jun., Whangarei, a yOung cadet, equalled the score and won on the count back with 5, 4, 5, 5, 5, 4, 4, 5, 5, 5. Both were high-class performances, especially that of the youngster, who shot solidly all day and won the tyro championship for his district from older and much more experienced local men. If he goes on improving he should take high honours in a few years' time. At' 500 yds. W. Colquhoun, Akarana, won comfortably by two points with 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 4, 5, 5, 5, 5. It is seldom that a win at this range is registered so easily, but Colquhoun completely outclassed the other competitors on the day. ~S. A. S. Elliott, Akarana, scored a popular win at 600 yds. with 5, 5, 4, 4, 5, 4, 4, 5, 5, 5—46, this being the third time he has won the Avondale trophy, which goes with the match. It now becomes own property. His club-mate, D. Calder, would have counted him out but for getting a 3 with his second counter. A. G. Robertson, the City tyro, won his grade with 4, 5, 5, 5, 4, 5, 4, 5, 4, 4, and should develop into a firstclass shot, as he shot very solidly at the meeting and is performing well in his club. High-class Shooting. At the long ranges some high-class shooting was witnessed, H. Judldns, City, winning at 800 yds. with 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 4, 5, 5. 5, 5, on the count back from Hubbard, whose card ran 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 4, 5, 5. The unlucky man was A. Hughes, Akarana, who with nine bulls on the board finished with a 3.

H. A. Morrison, Paeroa, won the tyro grade with 5, 4, 5, 5, 5, 5, 3, 5, 5, 5. Hubbard completed his remarkable aggregate over the long ranges with 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 4, 5, 5, at 900 yds., a performance which has only been equalled once and beaten once on the Penrose range for a number of years. In the individual matches the Akarana men were most prominent, although Paeroa with fewer representatives was always well to the fore. The grand aggregate saw five Akarana and four City riflemen placed, while Paeroa had F. C. Hubbard, H. Simmonds and R. I. Wells. W. MacFarland, of the Rangitaikf Club, who shot solidly throughout, was also included. GENERAL SPORTS NEWS. CORRESPONDENTS' QUERIES. CRICKETER OF THE DAY. Miss Dulcie Nicholls, winner of the ladies' singles at the New Zealand championship tournament in Wellington last week, is a sister of Mark and If. E. Nicholls, the well-known New Zealand representative footballers.

J. C., Waharoa, writes:—Could you oblige mo with the information as to whether the All Blacks who Toured the Old Country in 1924-25 were ever "beaten," and if so, by whom? Tho All Blacks were not defeated on their Home tour. They lost the first test match in Sydney, however, on a visit there prior to their departure for tho Old Country. The All Black party which went to Sydney was incomplete.—Athletic Editor.

F.L.C., Auckland, writes:—Could you please publish through your columns the fastest times of the Wanganui speedboat, J. and J.—Official times for tho J. and J." are not on record in Auckland, but against Fleetwing Jun., at Wanganui somo time ago, she did in the vicinity of 48 miles per hour. She is reported to have done 52 miles per hour over the flying mile. It is understood she has since been repowered.

Writing prior to the appointment of tlie captain of the Australian cricket team for England a Sydney critic said:—No matter who may bo appointed, ho is certain to have the loyal support of a fine body of voung cricketers and a few more experienced ones. Ho will have an opportunity of arresting the ascendancy begun in England four years ago, and eontVued in this country last season, lie will be tho cricketer of the day.

There was a rather remarkable finish to tho forty-fifth annual cross-country race between Cambridge and Oxford Universities in December. A. N. S. Skelton, J. R. Croggon and R. J. C. Goodo, all of Cambridge University, dead-heated for first placo, being ten seconds ahead of the first Oxford man, who filled fourth position. Skelton won. tho event the previous year. It was his fourth appearance in the event and on three occasions he has helped Cambridge to victory.

Another outboard speed-boat meeting will be held on the Panmure Basin next Saturday, when tho Auckland championship will be decided for gold medals presented by the club captain, Mr. E. R. Mouatt. The outboard events at Palii regatta on February 15, Rangiriri regatta on March 1 and Ngaruawahia on March 15 will be handled by the Auckland Outboard Division of the New Zealand Power Boat Association. At present negotiations are in train for the establishing of a controlling body for the holding of Now Zealand championships in all classes of outboard events and tho results should be available before long.