SYME CHAMPION

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 6970, 9 November 1909, Page 5

SYME CHAMPION

THE SUCCESS OF SERGEANT

JAMES. Writing of the firing for the Syrao champion aggregate, the Melbourne “Argus” of October 30th says:— The finish for the £IOO first prize in the Syme Champion Aggregate was exciting. On Thursday G. Bradley (Queensland),,Lieutenant Long(A.i.O.), Sergeant James (New Zealand), A. Cutler (New South Wales), S. Edwards (Melbourne), J. H. Williams (Melbourne), Sergeant Munro (Now Zealand), and G. A Turner (Railways) wero at tho head of affairs, only a few points separating the first and last. The Sargood match, at 800 and JUU vards, fired yesterday morning, com-iplet-ed the series of eight ©vents, and foft the little New Zealander James, in front. Bradley met- with his first break of tho meeting, and was quickly out of the running, while Lieutenant Long, who won in 190-1, did little hoytor. It was early seen that James and J. H. Williams were to fight out a duel for the biggest money prize of the meeting. Williams scored 63 points, and was one of the first to finish. James required to score 32 points at 900 yards to bent him. Ho succeeded, cleverly taking advantage of the good patches of weather, and hurrying off shirt after shot as soon as he could get the target. It was practically ‘rapid fire conditions, but James’s judgment was need, for in a few moments the wind increased in volume, and switched about irregularly. Williams, the King s Prize winner, as mentioned, was second, S. Edwards (Melbourne) and Lieutenant Long (A.1.C.), both previous winners, nest, and G. Bradley followed. . The £IOO winner os a sergeant in the Napier Guards, and is thirty years of ago. He has been shooting with varying success for about sis years, during which time ho has won three district championships, at Wellington, Hawko’s Bay, and Wairarapa. He was a member of tho New Zealand team that fired in the Empire match in Sydney a fortnight ago, and finished seventh in the King’s Prize, three points behind the winner, after getting a miss with his second host shot. On no fewer than six occasions J aims has scored 100 or over at 200, 500, and 000 vards, and last week put on 102 points at 800, 900, and 1000 yards. James is a lock and gun smith by trade, and is paying his first visit to Australia. He uses a Wesley-Richards “peep” sight, though ho fixed this to his rifle for the first time in Sydney, ‘ioli, ves: it will come in handy, remarked James, with a smile, on being congratulated. “It’s just about ten times as much as I ever won in a lump before.”