RIFLE SHOOTING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23319, 12 April 1939, Page 18

RIFLE SHOOTING

THE SOUTH AUCKLAND TITLE The v weather was ideal throughout the South Auckland Rifle Association's meeting at Matamata last week-end • and the programme attracted 'record entries from all over the province. A rear fish-tail wind prevailed for the most part, with occasional steady patches, and, taken right through, every competitor had a lair share of good and bad. The championship was won by F. Bowes, with the record score of 289, this completing his most successful season to date, as he holds the North Auckland title and Was runner-up at the national meeting at Trentham. A. W. Harris made a great effort to retain the title he won last year and, although he finished five points below Bowes, he had a lead of six points on the two who tied for third place, W- Norris, of Whangarei, and L. Davies. of Rangitaiki, the last-named being the holder of the Auckland title. J. H. Kearney, the City club champion, shot right up to form in winning the Fraser-Smith belt for the first day's aggregate of the matches at 300 yds, 500 yds and 600 yds. After the first two matches on the second day ho was only a point below Bowes and Harris, but at 900 yds he struck trouble and dropped out. Bowes won the aggregate of the 600 yds, 800vds and 900, yds matches on the second day with 147, a score which may never bo equalled under any conditions at Matamata. The teams match resulted in an easy win for the Auckland City club with 372 (Kearney 96, Bowes and Harris 93 and Clark 90), from Matamata and Akarana.

There were no possibles at 300 yds, Bowes winning the match with a sevenbull finish 49. J. Litchfield, of Wlmngarei, won at 500 yds with the same score, his first counter being an inner. There were several scores of 48 at 600 yds on the first day, W. B. Bowmp n, of Ivaitaia, recording 5, 5, 5, 4, 5, 5, 5, 4, 5, 5 for a win on a count back,. In making a possible at 600 yds on the morning of the second day Harris won tjl® honour of making a record on this range, and, carrying on at 800 yds with 5, 5, 5, o, 5, 4, 5, o, 5, 5 49, he won again. At this stage he and, Bowes were together in the lead, but the latter shot a brilliant possible at 900 yds to win decisively. This score is a}so a range reccjrd and is considered by many of the experienced riflemen present to be the finest display of marksmanship they have witnessed.