CLAY-BIRD SHOOTING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20911, 29 June 1931, Page 7

CLAY-BIRD SHOOTING.

DOMINION CHAMPIONSHIP. SUCCESS OF MURRAY PRATT. [FROM our own correspondent.] HAMILTON. Saturday. The Dominion clay-bird shooting championship of 21 birds at Ruakura to-day was won by Murray Pratt, of Otorohanga, who defeated E. Thornton, of Thames, in the shoot-off. The contest was hold under tho auspices of tho New Zealand Gun Club Associa tion before a large gathering of specta tors. The weather was showery and the wind was tricky. Sixty-two entries were received for tho event and shooting took place from tho 18yds. mark.. Pratt and Thornton each secured 21 birds, and in tho shoot-off Pratt shot four out of five and Thornton shot two out of four. Other results in the championship event were:—Twenty birds: J. McMullan (Kaikohe), J. McMillen (Hamilton), J. Mills (Hastings), A. N. Turner (Christchurch), W. Elliott (Nelson); 19 birds, C. Seddon (Hamilton), I. G. Watkins (Rangiora), J. Donnelly (Auckland), E. King (Waihi); 18 birds, G. Brown (Auckland), T. Parker (Napier), B. Green (Stratford), A. E. Macredie (Auckland), H. Clinch (Auckland); 17 birds, R. H. Bartley (Auckland). An American shoot of 15 birds resulted in D. Fraser (Te Kuiti), G. Brown (Auckland), C. Seddon (Hamilton), M. Pratt (Otorohanga), J. Amundsen (Matamata), C. E. Bretherton (Taihape), J. Duncan (Taihapo), and A. N. Turner (Christchurch), socuring the possible and dividing tho prize-money. There were 40 entries. In a double-rise shoot of six pairs of birds D. S. Ewing (Whangarata) secured tho possible. J. Duncan (Taihape) and G. Peach (Hamilton) were runners-up wit.fi 11 birds each. There were 38 entries. Tho Hamilton Gun Club's trophy, for tho best barrel performance over the two opening days, was won by A. Nickle, of Hawera, who was successful with 60 shots out of a possible of 54.