RIFLE SHOOTING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22670, 6 March 1937, Page 13

RIFLE SHOOTING

NATIONAL MEETING GOOD SCORES AT TRENTHAM FIRST MATCH IN BELT SERIES [BY TELEGRAPH PRESS ASSOCIATION] TRENTHAM, Friday Most of the Dominion's leading marksmen arc competing at the annual meeting; of the National Rifle Association, which opened at Trentham to-day in fine weather, with an attendance of 290 competitors, which is an increase of between 40 and 50 on last year. The entry for this year's fixture is by far the best the association lias had since pre-depression days. A three-range opening match over short distances was fired in the morning, and in the afternoon a start was made with the championship belt series of matches. Several ex-champions aro competing and W. N. Masefield, last year's belt winner, is defending his title. Australia is represented at the meeting by C. A. Wohlers, of the Wangaratta Club, Victoria. Wohlers, who is visiting New Zealand on holiday, has competed at national meetings in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland and South Australia, and last year finished in loth place in the match for the Victorian King's Prize. The veteran of tho meeting is F. E. Humphreys, of the Okawa Club, Hastings, who attended his first national meeting half a century ago. He is in his 78th year. Since his initial appearance at the New Zealand championship meeting in 1887 he has taken part in over 40 national championship meetings. Tho results of to-day's matches are as follows: — Opening Match (seven rounds at 300, r»00 and 600 yards).—£s, H. 11. Hunt (Suburbs), 104; £4. H. Koppert (Oamaru), 102; £3 each, C. A. Wohlers (Wangaratta), 102; and T. : M. Gooclall (Suburbs), 102; £2 each, C. Whkeman (Old Navals). 102, R. Congreve (Old Navals), 102, W. Oakley (Christchurch), 101. and J. C. Ashman (Petone), 101. The B grade was won by T. Smith (Culverden), with 100. He received £3. J. R. Keoghan (Westport) and N. Manssen (Nelson), who also made 100, received £2 each. Canterbury Match (ten rounds at 300 and 500 yards).—£s, F. N. McVicar (Waipukurau), 99; £4, H. F. Hickenbotham (Christchurch), 99; £3 each, M. Jones (Wanganui), 99, and J. Christian (Wanganui), 98; £2 each, H. King (Opaki). 98. P. Berry (Tararua), 98, T. H. Proffitt (Napier), 97, and J. C. Feast (Greytown), 97. The B grade, for which the first prize was £3, was won by W. Manssen (Nelson/, with 97. H. Brehant (Okawa) and P. H. Ashton (Whangarei), each 97, took £2 each. AUCKLAND COMPETITORS SEVERAL IN THE PRIZE-MONEY ' [itY TELEGRAPH OWN CORRESPONDENT] TRENTHAM, Friday Auckland competitors' scores in the opening match were:—Wakefield. 101, Harris, 100, and Bowes, 98, placed; Reston, 98, and Pieterson. 97, counted out; Clark, 97; Draffin. 97; Spry, 97; Collingwood. Crossan* Elliott- ana Russell, 94; Hill, 93; Devore, 91; Parkinson, 91; Wain, 90; Crocker, 82. In the combined 300 and 500 yards match, the first in the belt series, the Auckland scores were:—Bowes, 97 (12th)- Clark, 96 (16th); Wakefield, 95. and Elliott, 94. placed; Collingwood and Draffin, 94 each, counted out; Parkinson and Pieterson, 92; Russell, Spry and Harris. 9]; Hill, 89; Devore, 88; Ciossan, 86; Reston and Wain, 85; Crocker, 79.