RIFLE SHOOTING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22936, 14 January 1938, Page 15

RIFLE SHOOTING

MATCHES AT PENEOSE NEW SOUTH WALES MEETING AUCKLAND TEAM'S PROSPECTS Conditions experieifced at Penrose during the week-end were very similar to those met with on the Trentham range, as the strong rear wind fishtailed very rapidly and made accurate judgment praotically impossible. Anything np to a five-minute change occasionally took place from the time a marksman left the flags with an adjustment made until ho got his shot away, and the Bcores suffered accordingly.

There were periods when conditions were fairly regular, but generally speaking they called for continuous alteration and a quick let-off. The wind appeared a trifle steadier at 900 yds, bub after the third detail had shot, heavy rain set in, causing the competition to be abandoned. »

The team from the Auckland City Club which will compete at the anniversary meeting in New South Wales will leave at the end of this month, the members being:—T. L. Blomfield, F. Bowes, A. W. Harris,. S. C. Parkinson, D. Purvis, R. C. Russell, H. Simmonds and I. J. Spry. Of these Bowes is the ; only Aucklander selected to represent the Pominion, the others travelling as a club team. Bowes was slow to strike form this season, but is now shooting well'and under reasonable conditions should perform well in. Australia, especially on ranges up to 600 yds. Blomfield has been well below his best," but has only to strike form to make a good showing. Harris has had a lot of practice, but his scores are puzzling and inconsistent. In form ho is a brilliant shot who may do exceptionally well on the trip. Parkinson's shooting has been of a good average over all and, if he settles, down to solid training, he will be one df the best in the team. Hitherto a brilliant but erratic shot, Russell has been showing consistent form this season and may be Bowes' most dangerous rival as far as the team is concerned. Simmonds may not be sufficiently, recovered from an operation to be in top form, but if he is he can be relied on to do exceptionally well, especially if the conditions met with call for experience. In the service shooting matches the team is expected to extend the best of the Australian teams. ,