THE RIFLE CHAMPIONSHIP.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1204, 29 March 1895, Page 33

THE RIFLE CHAMPIONSHIP.

WON BY W. H. BALLINGER.

Trentham, March. 20. The Last Try Match, 10 shots at 500yds, was fired this morning, and was won by Eleridge, Port Victoria, with the score of 49. The other principal scorers were— Lieutenant Okey, New Plymouth, £4- 10s, 49; Hobbs, Hamilton, .£3 10s, 47; Newell, New Plymotith, .£3, 47; Smith, Port Chalmers, £3, 47; Spinley, Ponsonby, .£2,47; Chicken, Woodville, .£2, 47 ; Dodds, Port Chalmers, £2, 47; Trooper Sommerville, Alexandra Cavalry, £2, 46. Amongst those who win £1 each are McCardle (Pahiatua), Feist (Featherston), Johnston (Marton), Matthews (Masterton), Speedy (North Wairarapa), Hooker (New Plymouth), Paine (Petone), Izard (Greytown), E. Whiteman (Upper Hutt), Parkinson (Marton) and Walden (Greytown). For the Nursery Match, 10 shots at 500 yards, the following were the leading prizetakers:—McCardle, Pahiatua, £6, 50; Chapman, Wairoa, £4, 10s, 49; Meyers, Whangarei, .£3 10s, 47; Cox, A Battery, .£3, 47; Hollard, Petone, £l los, 47; Willoughby, Petone, .£1105,47. Those who win £1 each include':—Sykes (Upper Hutt), Kibblewhite (Masterton), 46; W. Loveday (Woodville), Parsons (Woodville), 45;. Hyde (Pahiatua), G. Loveday (Woodville), Winslade (Wanganui), Pring (Manaia), Bunny (Petone), 44; Ingpen (Woodville \ Sinclair (Featherston), Gray (Marton), McKenzie (Wanganui), Izard (Greytown), Paine (Petone). The District Representative Match, seven shots at 500 and 600 yards, was fired next. The Wellington district won, and takes the Exhibition Shield, Hobson's Cup and .£lO. The scores were:—W. Ballinger, 65 ; Howe, 66 ; Wilkie, 46 ; Bairstow, 57 ; Kirk, 63; Hollard, 48; Trevethick, 57; Grace, 63 ; Smith, 55; Avery, 58 ; Cameron, 60; Hyde, 55; Kummer, 59; Burns, 49; Taylor, 52; Williams, 65; A. Ballinger, 64; Greenwood, 58; Ghik-v 59; Jackson, 55 : total, 1154. In the Volley Firing Match, seven volleys at 500 yards, three teams competed —Canterbury, O.tago and Southland, and Wanganui, Hawke's Bay and Taranaki. The prize money amounted to .£35, given by the Defence Minister. The Wanganui, Hawke's Bay and Taranaki team won, with a score of 427. ■

THE CHAMPIONSHIP. The championship contest commenced at three o'clock, by which time there was a large number of visitors from town and the district surrounding Trentham. Captain Ballinger, at No. 17 target, Opened the proceedings, and brought up the magpie disc, following it for the second sighter with an outer, neither of which he would accept. By this time the interest of the spectators was at concert pitch, and crowds could be seen behind the mounds on which Ballinger Bros., Richardson, Kirk and Brown were firing. Kirk opened badly with the sighters, getting on an outer and a magpie, while A. Ballinger did even worse, missing the target with his first shot and bringing up an ; inner with his second, which he accepted. Richardson's opening was awaited breathlessly, and when the disc registered a bull's-eye it was considered that the old stager from Dunedin was about to give the Wellington men all their time to beat him off. His friends were jubilant when, with his second sighter, he again rang on a bull's-eye. Another representative to whom much attention was paid was Corporal Brown, of Auckland, and as the men were lying down to fire it was whispered that 700 yards-was a range on which he had registered several good scores. However, his first was marked an outer, and he got off the target with his second. But these were only sighters, and did not appear to nonplus the marksman at all.

Sergeant Wakelin, of Christchurch, opened with a bull's-eye, but his next skipped past the target. ' Winslade, Wanganui, also started badly with the sighters •—a magpie and an outer —which he declined.

Head and Ross each had a couple of outers for sighters and asked for them to be rubbed out ; but Chapman, who was ninth, got on an outer and an inner, and accepted the latter. Doughty missed his first shot, but with the second found the target. When the first three shots had been scored the positions of W. Ballinger and Richardson were equal with 507, while Kirk, who had missed a shot and unsuccessfully challenged it, fell away to fourth, giving place to A. Ballinger, who had brought up nine with his first three counters. Richardson's next three shots were an outer, a magpie, and an outer, while W. Ballinger's amounted to 10, which gave him an advantage of three over the Southerner. Arthur Ballinger was also improving, and, by getting on an outer, an inner and a bull, was quickly overhauling Richardson. Kirk, on I the other hand, after his miss, brought up a magpie, and then missed again, and it was evident that his chance of the belt had gone. Corporal Brown, who started with an inner and a bull, missed his fourth shot, and with the remaining hits ruined his chance. When eight shots had been fired W. Ballinger led his brother by three points with 525, while Richardson was only five points off the leader, Winslade, with the same number of shots, running close for sixth position. W. Ballinger wound up with a couple of inners, and his grand aggregate was then 532, 36 ahead of the score which won the belt last year, though Volunteer Kruse's score of 538 in Napier is still the record. ~ ' • _ _ It was then seen that Richardson could »ot possibly win, and a glance at the sheets proved that the only danger was from A. Ballinger with his aggregate of 622, and two shots. It was a hard thing to set a man to make two consecutive bulls at 700 yards, but Arthur Ballinger proved to be the genuine shot he is regarded oy

all marksmen ; and when one bull and then another came up amidst cheers, it was soon known all over the camp that the Brothers Ballinger had, after one of the most exciting struggles ever seen on the rifle range, tied for the championship; and perhaps never in the history of shooting have two brothers, and both ex-champions too, ever finished in a similar manner. Richardson, with an inner and outer for his last two shots, finished third. Kirk, who opened with a couple of misses in his first four shots, got in with his seventh in the centre of the target, and for the next two shots held there, but finished with an outer, and takes fourth place. Lieutenant Kirk has shot very steadily throughout the meeting, and deserves every congratulation for holding the leading position for so long. The following is the prize-list:— Champion Match, 10 shots at 700yds, the scores in the match being added to the aggregates. Captain W. H. Ballinger, Petone Rifle Club, Champion Rifle Belt, gold medal given by Defence Minister ajid.£2s ... 532 Vol. A. Ballinger, Wellington C.G., silver star and .£l7 10s ... - ... 532 Vol. Richardson, N. Dunedin Rifles, silver star and .£l2 10s ... ... 526 Sub-Lieutenant Kirk, Petone Navals, silver star and .£8 , ... 524 Sergeant Wakelin, Christchurch, silver star and.£6 ... ... ... 520 Volunteer Winslade, Wanganui, .£4... 520 T. H. Head, Whangarei Rifle Club, £4 518 J. Ross, Waipukurau, £4< 514 Sergeant-Major Perry, Alexandra, £'4 511 Corporal Brown, .£4 ... 511

Sergeant Doughty, Auckland, 508; M. Chapman, Wairoa, 507; Volunteer Scott, Manchester Rifles, 501; Volunteer W. B. Scott, Christchurch, 497 ; Sergeant Purnell, Wanganui, 496; T. Kummer, North Wairarapa, 496 ; W. Smith, Taueru,

495; Captain Speight, Dunedin, 495 ; Sergeant McFarlane, Christchurch, 494 ; Lieutenant Jack, Dunedin City Guards, 493; Gunner Taylor, A Battery, 493 ; J. G. Wilson, Woodville Rifle Club, 492; F. W. Okey, New Plymouth, 490 ; Gunner Howe, D Battery, 489; Sergeant Parslow, A Battery, 488; A. J. Cameron, North.Wairarapa, 487 ; Volunteer Churton, Wanganui Rifles, 487 ; Corporal King, Oamaru Garrison Band, 487; J. Burns' Karori Rifle Club, 484; C.P.O. Williams, Wellington Navals, 483; Volunteer Humphries, Hastings, 483; G. Robinson, Port Victoria. 482; Captain Plyger, 482; Captain Smith, Dunedin..4Bo; Volunteer Guise, Wellington, 478; T. H. Steadman, Whangarei, 478; J. C. Taylor, Pahiatua, 478 ; P. Wales, Dunedin, 477 ; P. Parsons, Woodville, 476 ; Sergeant Jackson, Wellington, 474; Volunteer Kruse, Wanganui, 474; P. Ingpen, Woodville, 473 ; G. Hyde, Pahiatua, 473 ; Volunteer T. Robinson, Christchurch, 472; J. Home, Woodville, 472; P. Bunting, Petone, 472; W. Grace, Petone, 471; Sergeant Parker, Christchurch, 467 ; Lieutenant Sandford, Christchurch, 467; Corporal Lavery, Christchurch, 466. Corporal King, Oamaru, being the highest scorer at the range, holds the Rifle Challenge Cup for one year. FIRING OFF THE TIE. The excitement over the Championship increased as the brothers Ballinger laid, down to fire off the tie for the belt. Captain W. H. Ballinger was at No. 17 target and Arthur at No. 14. The former was the first to finish, and with 5,5, 5,5, 4, or within one of the possible at 700 yards, the issue was not long in doubt. This was the winning score, though his J brother made a gallant effort to get up, and his score of 4,4, 5,4, 5, at this range is seldom headed. '

That they received the hearty congratutions of friends goes without saying. The champion in a few words told those assembled that he and his brother had often fought out ties, and being of opinion that something like this would happen, they had last night decided to divide the prizemoney in the event of a win and devote £5 towards the funds of the Association. The brothers were then carried shoulder high round the camp. Captain Ballinger won the belt in Nelson in 1879, and Arthur Ballinger secured it here a couple of years ago.

Wakelin and Winslade tied for fifth and fired, off, Wakelin gaining the place. The champion is exceedingly popular in shooting circles. He was one of Te Aro School Cadets, and thus began his career as a rifleman. He is 36 years of age. PRESENTATION OF PRIZES. The formal presentation of prizes took place on March 20 at the Drillshed, The trophies were displayed upon a table around which the prize-winners and spectators were ranged in the form of a hollow square, the prize-winners in their varied uniforms standing in a double row immediately opposite the table. His Worship the Mayor (Mr C. M. Luke) occupied the chair, and Mrs Luke presented the prizes, Captain Collins calling out the names. Major Sommerville (the veteran secretary of the New Zealand Rifle Association) stood by Mrs Luke's side as she presented the prizes, and seats near at hand were occupied by Colonel Hume (UnderSecretary for Defence) and LieutenantColonel Newall (officer in charge of the Wellington district), Captain Bowron, of the staff, being also in attendance. Through some unexplained cause, the Garrison Band was absent, and the proceedings were therefore divested of the additional eclat which the inspiring strains of martial music might have furnished.

Major Sommerville, in opening- the proceedings, said this was the third or perhaps the fourth occasion on which the New Zealand Rifle Association had met in the Wellington Drillshed for the presentation of prizes. The Mayoress (Mrs Luke) had done the Association the honour of attending on a rather disagreeable night for the purpose of presenting the prizes. The shooting this year had been t>o good that he thought it was almost a record, not only for this Colony, but also for the whole world. (Loud applause.) The money prizes, which took the form of cheques sealed up in envelopes, were presented first. Many of the prize-winners were not in attendance and in every such case Major Soinmerville took charge of the cheque. As each man stepped forward and received from the hand of the Mayoress the reward of his skill as a marksman, the assemblage gave him a round of applause. Especially warm was the reception accorded to Sub-Lieutenant Kirk, of the Petone Naval Artillery, who led through six matches for the Championship, Captain Smith of the Dnnedin Rifles (champion shot of last year), Captain Harman and Sergeant Wakelin, of the Honorary Reserve Corps, Christchurch, Private Robinson, of the Port Victoria Rifle Club (dubbed " Possible " Robinson from the number of times this year he has made the hig-hest possible range score), Sergeant Richardson, North Dunedin Rifles (who finished third for the belt, and has competed oftener for the Championship than any other marksman), Volunteer Rowell, Nelson Rifles (who wore the champion belt of his corps or district), Corporal Browne, A Battery (who also wore a district or company champion belt), Gunner Howe, D Battery (who wore the champion belt of his corps), and the various ex-champions of

the Colony, viz., Sergeant Doughty, A Battery (Auckland), Volunteer Churton (Wanganui Rifles), Lieutenant Okey (Taranaki Rifles), Sergeant Parslow A Battery (Auckland) and Sergeant Kruse (Wanganui Rifles). Chief PettyOfficer Williams, of the Wellington Naval Artillery, was the only exchampion who was not present to respond to his name. Quite an ovation was given to the brothers W. H. Ballinger and Arthur Ballinger (both ex-champions), who had tied for the championship, and to Sergeant Hawker, of the Victorian Field Artillery, Melbourne (winner of the Queen's prize in Victoria), and Private Steward, of the Victorian Militia. Each of these competitors was received with loud cheers.

After this, the prizes for the companies' teams match were distributed, and then came the presentation of the various cvips and the district shield, Sergeant Mooseman (Wanganui) receiving the Carbine Cup, Sub-Lieutenant Kirk (Petone) the Kynoch Cup, Sergeant Doughty (Auckland) the Union Cup and Corporal King (Oamaru) the Rifle Challenge Cup, while the Hobson Cup and District Shield were presented to the Wellington District Team. This is the second time these district trophies have come to Wellington. Finally, amid great enthusiasm, Corporal W. H. Ballinger, of the Petone Rifle Club, was invested with the Champion Belt, and had pinned upon his breast the gold star which accompanies it. Twice now he has borne off these coveted distinctions, the first occasion being so far back as 1879. At the call of Major Sommerville three hearty cheers were given for the champion. Exchampion Arthur Ballinger (Wellington Guards), who ran his brother so closely for the championship, received amid applause his silver and gold star, and the third and and fourth and fifth highest shots—Vol. Richardson (North Dunedin Rifles), Sub-

Lieut. Kirk (Petone Naval Artillery), and Sergeant Wakelin (Honorary Reserve Corp, .Christchurch) also received their silver and gold stars amid much applause. Major Sommerville called for three cheers for last year's champion—Captain E. K. Smith, of Dunedin—and the call met with a very -warm response. Major Sommerville explained that the Premier would have been very glad to be present, but had been prevented by another appointment. This, he must admit, was his own (Major Sommerville's) fault, for the Premier would have been there had he been invited at an earlier period. In conclusion, he called for three cheers for Mrs Luke, which were heartily given. His Worship the Mayor, in acknowledging the compliment paid to his wife, said he j was delighted—and he was sure Mrs Luke I was—at being present. It was the first I time he had known Mrs Luke to deliver so ( many speeches. The presentation of prizes competed for by *the marksmen of the Colony was an occasion of very great interest and importance. The higher our reputation lay with regard to shooting—the larger the proportion of good marksmen we could claim in this colony—the gi eater was the assurance afforded to the country of the efficient training of its defenders for their particular purpose. He believed that some of those who had come forward ' that night to receive their prizes were men who could hold their own on any field of shooting in any part of the world. (Loud applause.) He was sure it must afford the residents of Wellington and Peton© additional pleasure to find their local men occupying such prominent positions. He could anderstand persons being more or less fortunate under certain circumstances, but to maintain a standard so high as had I been maintained by the Messrs Billinger 1 I and Mr Kirk and others attested their I

ability as marksmen, and was not the result of accident or of any haphazard chance. He expressed his admiration of all who were there for the spirit, which he felt sure they possessed, to stand forward in the name of their Queen in defence of their fellow-citizens and their country. He believed that should the occasion ever arise that the British had a foe to resist, and a demand were made on the Volunteer forces of New Zealand, they would be found not shirking their duty, but quite ready to take up arms in defence of their homes and fellow-citizens. (Ap-. plause.) The assemblage then dispersed.