THE BISLEY TEAM.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXVII, Issue 5559, 10 April 1905, Page 6

THE BISLEY TEAM.

A GOOD SELECTION. TOT; MM HERS’ PERFORM A NCI'S. Thoir shooting at Trentham last month, combined with th-o knowledge they gained at Bisley last year, would have justified the inclusion in this year’s Bisley tciim of the eight men who fired for tho coveted Kolaporo Cup last year. Only four of them, however, could make the trip, King, Sinaill, A. Ballinger, and McKenzie being unable to join I he team. Although twelve men are sent Home, only eight fire in the Kolnporo Cup Match, ami out of last year’s team Domlgan, Cos, Shanks, and Sundfonl it-ei-o t-ho four men who had to stand mil:. Dornigan and Cox turned out Ihe weakest, and neither of them shot into the final fifty at Trontliam this (■ear. Snndford,, however, did some brilliant shooting at Bisley, winning more prize money (£7B) than any other member of tlio team. Ho was well up in the aggregate last month, and it is unfortunate that ho cannot make tho trip to Bisley this year. As Shanks was not a competitor at Trontliam this year, his selection was out of tho question. There are, therefore, four marksmen in tho team who fired for tho Kolnporo Cup Inst year, and out of the other eight men selected, there should bo four who will shoot up to the form displayed by tho excluded members. Milroy. this year’s champion, T. Jack, Wilkie, C. Craw, i’. Brown, and Loveday have all good reputations, and there is no apparent reason why the Kolaporo Cup should nob find its way to Now Zealand once more. Major Hughes, of Wanganui, who is to have charge of the team, is a volunteer of some twenty-five years’ standing. FTo was one of Wanganui’s “crack” shots in the flays gone by, and had the reputation of being a good teams’ man. Tins is a good qualification for the captain of a rifle tram. After about twenty years of shooting, Major Hughes nut up his riflo six or seven yoa’rs ago. but has maintained his interest in shooting, acting in the capacity of range officer at the annual meetings. Ho is very popular among shooting men. Ho knows all the fine points of shooting, and from his long experience as an officer should easily maintain discipline. Tho Government grant to each member of tho team is £125, out of which all expenses have to bo paid, including £6O passage money. Tho expenses at Bisley for six weeks amount to about £25. Therefore, after the shooting concludes each man should have a sum of about £4O to draw. The amount is , sufficient for single men to make the trip, but is not adequate for a married man ; hence tho refusal of some of our host marksmen to make tho journey. I’he Nelson citizens are raising subscriptions to assist Milroy, Ohing, and vineTho team wilt leave Wellington on the 24th hist, by tho Corinthic, and will bo able to have about six weeks' practice before tho meeting commences on July 10th. Tho following are some particulars of tho team. Tho men are taken in the order in which they finished at TrenIhiun last month : Milroy, this year’s champion, has been shooting for about eighteen years. In 1003 ho attended an association meeting for tho first time, and on thpt occasion tied with Oiling and Irvine, last year's champion and “runner-up” respectively, for twelfth place. In tho shoot-off, Clung dropped out, Milroy and Irvine tying again. In tho final contest Irvine obtained twelfth place. Last year Milroy finished fiftieth for the belt. Milroy is a blacksmith by trade, and a member of tbo Nelson Defence Riflo Club. He is thirty-six years of age. Rifleman W. Loveday (Mauriceville), who was “runner-up” at Trentham last month, has been shooting for tho past fourteen years, learning tho art while .1 member of the one-time famous Woodrillo Rifle Club. For tho past eleven years ho has been a competitor at New Zealand association meetings. Three times he has been among the top twelve ‘ for tho Championship, winning silver stars in 1901 and 1902. He was a member of the 1902 Bisley team, and was second highest scorer in the New Zealand team lor the Kolapore Oup. He .won prize-money in several individual matches, and is considered one of the soundest and most consistent riflemen in Now Zealand. His brother, Private Georgio Loveday. -Auckland, is equally well known, and although unsuccessful this year, was close up at last meeting. He was also a member of the 1902 Bisley team. Rifleman O. Craw, of the Ohorlton Rifle Club, finished third for the belt ■ this year. He has competed for three years at New Zealand association meetings. He finished fourth for the South Island championship at Christchurch recently, and second for the aggregate at the Greytown meeting. He is considered a most reliable shot. Private T. Jack, of Linwood, Christchurch, who made such a sensational score in tho King’s Match at Trentham last month—starting eleventh, 28 pointy below the leader, and finishing fourth, 19 points behind—is considered one of the best shots in Canterbury. Ho has shot at association meetings for several years. He finished fifteenth for tho “King’s” last year. Ho obtained fifth position recently at the South Island association meeting. Lieutenant Martin, of the Timdru Rifles, has been a marksman for the last twenty years. He finished sixth in the Now Zealand championship last month. ' The first association meeting he attended was at Wanganui—the last meeting held by tho old , association. He shot in tho final fifty for the belt, his position being thirty-fourth. In 1903 ho competed at Trentham, but did not obtain a plaoo in the final fifty. He -lid not; attend in 1903, but was a competitor last year. He did not touch prize-money, nor was he in the final fifty. Lieutenant Martin is forty years old, and is improving his shooting as ho advances in years. He has always held 'op position when shooting for his company. Tho brothers Hawthorn, of the Karori Riflo Club, are ivell-known marksmen, both having represented the colony at Bisley—Harry in 1897 and 1902, and George last year. Harry, who finished fifth for tho bolt this year, is unable to make tho trip, but Georg© is included in the team. Ho is a brilliant shot, and a great acquisition to tho team. Private Pearson, Timaru, the last man selected (in place of Colour-Ser-geant McKenzie, who could not get leave), is, as far as consistency is concerned, a second Arthur Ballinger, and should do well at Home.

Sergeant Drummond, Danncvirkc, was a member of last year’s team, and shot well lip to form at last month’s championship meeting. Ho should again tie one of the eight to fire for the Kolaporo Ctij). Private P. Brown. Waihi, Auckland, is a, well-known shot, and lias been shooting for the past fifteen years. Ho was a member of the famous A Battery team that won team matches for ,a. number of years at Now Zealand!Association meetings. Firing for the King’s Prize at Sydney in 1893 be came third. For the hist four years bo has been in tho final fifty at association meetings. Ho is the present bolder of tho South Auckland ill fie Association’s championship. Private Cliing, who is a member of tho Waimea Rifle.-. Nelson, attended his first championshin meeting at Auckland in 1884, and also that at Wanganui two years later. He did not compete again until the Wanganui meeting of 1901. He has fi-'l ‘b- Inst four meetings at Trontliam. He won the. Belt hist year, ami was a member of tbo l-ist- Bisley team, and wen £33 | n prize-moneys Ho was top-scorer in the Kolaporo Cup match. He returned to New Zealand via Canada, where he won tho Dominion championship. F. Wilkie, of the' Upper Hntt Rifle Chib, has attended association meetings for the last eight years. Several times ho obtained a place in the final fifty, and hot year, and on an occasion previously, was one of the final ten. He has always won prizes. Ho is a most consistent shot, and his inclusion in tho team is a matter of much satisfaction to local marksmen.

Colour-Sergeant Irvine, like Cliing. is a member of the Waimea (Nelson) Rifles. Ho was a competitor at the Auckland meeting in 1897. and has attended two subsequent meetings. In 1903 he (ired into twelfth place for the Belt, and last year was “ rnnner-np,” when his corps-mate won the championship. Irvine was not high up in the aggregate this year, hut his health was poor. Ho did some excellent shooting at Bisley last year, winning £54 in prize-money, tin finished fifth for th© King’s Prize, and at tire 1000yds range was leading. He won the N.R.A. medal allotted to New Zealand through affiliation, and a bronze cross for obtaining a position in tho grand aggregate for tlie service rifle. (Cliing and Hawthorn also won a bronze cross.) He was sixth in the colonial aggregate, Cliing and Irvine being seventh and' eighth respectively. He made tho nossilile in Hi© “ Graphic ” match (a onerange event) and in the fire-off received fourth place. Irvine also won a badge for obtaining sixth piace in the St. George’s match. Hawthorn, who made th© same score, also received a badge.