RIFLE CHAMPIONSHIP MEETING

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1610, 7 January 1903, Page 70 (Supplement)

RIFLE CHAMPIONSHIP MEETING

The programme of the New Zealand Defence Forces Rifle Association for the meeting to be held at Trentham on Thursday, sth March next, and the week succeeding has now been in sheet form. This season there are to be six matches of the old style, known by the names of provinces, and in addition there will be nine service matches—open only to sworn-in members of the Volunteer force. In these matches the use of verniers and orthoptics will be prohibited, and only foresiguts Avill be allowed to oe blackened. A match for cadets is amo-ngst the nine, also cover and snapshooting matches. There are five matches for teams on the programme, the most noteworthy of the quintette being the Rapid Firing Competition, open to one non-commissioned officer and nine men from any provincial Volunteer district, or from any battalion or company of .he New Zealand Defence Forces. Distance, 200yds; eight shots per man. Dress, drill order. Magazines must be used. Entrance fee nil. This match is called “The Commander-in-Chießs Match” at Bisley, and the fonowxng are the special conditions:—l. The team will be ek> tended to five paces, each man lying behind a separate cover which will be provided for him. 2. The team commander will order" magazines to be charged when the men are lying down under cover, and when ready will inform the range officer, who will blow a whistle to mark the commencing of the competition. 3. The team will all fire af the same target each time it appears. Each man will watch from the edge of bis cover and on tbe appearance of the target will fire one shot only. 4. The target will represent a head and shoulders, painted khaki, and will be exposed eight times at intervals varying from 5 to 10 seconds; each exposure will be for 3 seconds, and will be at different places along the line of butt. 5. Two officers will be appointed as umpires, and their duty wiil be to Avatch the teams and deduct one point from the total score for each occasion on which any man unduly exposes himself, or his bead-dress, or rifle in Avatchmg for tbe target to appear, or in firing. 6. Rifles must not be brought to the “present” before the target appears. 7. The head-dress must be Avorn throughout the competition. 8. Each bit on the target will count one point, and the total number of bits will be signalled after the Avhole of the shots are fired. 9. Ties for any of the prizes will be decided by the teams concerned firing again under tbe same conditions. The Teams Match has some novel ditions attached to it this year. It'will be open to teams of ten men each from any Volunteer district, battalion or company. Distance, any between 500 and 300 yards. Number of rounds, as many as can be fired in 15sec., tbe time-limit for each outburst of fire. Position, any. To be fired in heats. Tbe method of conducting tbe practice will be as follows: Tayo teams -will compete at a time; the men Avill be extended at, say, about 500 yards, at five paces interval opposite their targets and numbered from right to left. Each man will fire at the target corresponding to his number. The team Avill be brought-to tbe ready, and on the command “Commence” from the range officer Avill fire at their respective targets. After firing fifteen seconds the range officer will sound “Cease Fire,” Avhen each competitor immediately discontinues fire. (Any shot fired after the whistle sounds -will disqualify the team.) If No. of one team knocks his target over, the corresponding number of the other team will be ordered to remain where he is and take no further part in the competition. The range officer will give the command to advance, and the teams will advance about 100 yards in quick time. Competitors will raise tbe safety-catch before moving. Tbe teams will be halted at about 400 yards from the target and get into position, and will recommence firing on tbe command “Continue” from the range officer, who will stop the firing after fifteen seconds, counting from the command “Continue.” The next advance of about 100 yards will be carried out in a similar maimer, and fire AYill be opened out as before for fifteen seconds, the same conditions governing tbe three ranges. The team that has the feAvest number of targets up at. the end of tbe practice "wins the heat. When a member of a team knocks his own target over he may fire at one of the remaining targets of his own team as long as the target corresponding to his oavu number in. tbe opposing team is not knocked down. In the event of two teams having the same number of targets up at the end of the fifteen seconds limit at the 300 yards, a further, fifteen seconds ■ at that distance will be allowed in order to determine the winners of the heat. Should a team knock down all their targets at either the first or second distance the practice will be stopped, and they will be adjudged tbe winner of tbe beat. In tbe matter of catering, arrangements will, if possible, be made to have t scheduled scale of charges arranged with the caterer, an that *v»mrmritors matr

take what they choose and pay accordingly.