FAVOURABLE CONDITIONS

New Zealand Times, Volume LI, Issue 11783, 20 March 1924, Page 9

FAVOURABLE CONDITIONS

DOMINION RIFLE MEETING AT TRENTHAH BRILLIANT SHOOTING UNDER EXCELLENT CONDITIONS RIFLEMAN JAMES. OF NAPIER, LEADING FOu BELT A NOTABLE GATHERING “Times” Special Reporter. TRENTHAM MILITARY CAMP, March 19.

Conditions were practically ideal today for the second day of the National Rifle Association’s meeting. This was reflected in the scoring, quite a number of possibles being obtained by marksmen both in the morning and afternoon. The day was occupied in matches for the rifle championship. One extra match was also added to yesterday day’s programme. A splendid performance was put up by the Karori representative, Rifleman D. Caldwell, in winning the Canterbury match at 600 yards with a possible. There is every indication that Rifleman F. H. James, of Napier, is heading the agrregate so far for the belt. He has only dropped eight points in the three matches. When shotting commenced at 8.30, bright, warm sunshine, greeted the shootista, but this did nbt remain long. The sun clouded over. It remained out of sight with the exception of short intervals practically all day; consequently, the light was almost ideal. There was no complaint on that score. The wind, whioh veered from the left, coming from “8 o’clock” (south-west) and, at times, from even ‘‘6 o’clock” (south), did not occasion a great deal of difficulty, during the morning, though in the afternoon it was decidely tricky, and even occasionally, somewhat troublesome. It could be characterised as tricky and fishtail. Rut on the whole, conditions throughout tihe meeting so far have been highly satisfactory and a matter for muoh congratulation on the part of the executive, when it is remembered what unfortunate weatfier was experienced for the whole of the army meeting last week. FROSTY NIGHTS. Although to-day was a typical dull grey Hutt* Valley day, there was no suspicion of train, and it is to be hoped that the zest of the gathering will be favoured with suoh ideal weather. Both Monday and Tuesday nights were oold. with frosts following, and although last night was not so chilly, there is every promise for another fine day. Tuesday night was so cold .that a supply of an extra blanket each was issued to the senior oadets at present undergoing a refresher course at Trentham. ENTERTAINMENTS. There iq a varied assortment of entertainment for Trentham’a extra 250 visitors, under the direction of Major Mabin, the Gamp Commandant and entertainment officer. The Y.M.C.A. authorities, through Secretary F. E. looking after the comfort of the visitors, nave placed the billiard rooms at their disposal, also the exoellent acoemmodation available in the social, reading, and writing rooms. A picture entertainment is screened every evening. Although some of the older marksmen refrain from- this pleasure, as they believe it does not tend to improve their eyesight when competing in a championship meeting, it is, nevertheless, a popular rendevous for the senior cadets and. territorials and the many others who go to make up Trentham’s miscellaneous population. The Maoris employed at the oamp and in its vicini ty sure entertaining the visiting riflemen at a concert this evening. Last night was oocupied by the annnal meeting of the National Rifle Association of New Zealand. The morning was more than filled yesterday by the Marlborough match. The other matches were the Canterbury and Auckland events, and an extra match for ■sirich there was keen competition. Although not as heavy a day as on Tuesday, when the opening events were got well under weigh, Wednesday was well occupied. By to-mor-row more interest will be manifested in the belt contest, as some indication will them be available as to the respective positions of the leading competitors. SOME GOOD SHOOTING. Some indication of the standard of shooting yesterday will he gained' from tee fact that Deputy President R. J. King and H. V. Groxton, both exchampions, and Captain. Simmonds, the Service champion, all put up possibles on the 300 yards range during the afternoon. D. Caldwell, of the Karori Club, won the Canterbury match with ft possible, at 600 yards. Possibles were also obtained during the morning’s shooting by Captain Simmonds, and Ki Hem an Connor, Whiteman H. Harris, and McLean at the 300 yards range, and by H. Cromie at the 500. Dr tteekm also obtained a possible at the THE MARLBOROUGH MATCH.

The diooting in the Marlborough match the first of the day, was of an exceedingly high order. The distances were 300 and 500 yards, with ten shots f«*. each “Stance. The winner of the A grade proved to be Rifleman M. C. Uonnor, of the Okawa (Hawko’s Bay) Club. His score of 99, was one point below the possible. He started with a possible at 300, and at 500 ho got six “Ac 4, and three 6’s. The Upper tiutt shot, Rifleman Fred Whiteman came second with 98, while Vice-Preei-A. W. McPherson, of Tapanni, Rifleman J. C. Carter, of Linton, ami Rifleman J B. Bairstow, of O.reytown. each registered 97, as did also RifleSi 0 ' 11 Si- anies » of Napier, who toak £l. The two Opaki represent a tivo«, the jjeteran Deputy-President (and ex King’s Prizeman) R. J. King, and Lieutenant George Hood, formerly of the R.A.F., were among the 90’s. H. V. Croxton, of Karori (and another ex-King’s prizeman), entered the same eoore, and took £l, likewise Captain Simmonds, of Wanganui, .who shot so well on the first day, and carried ofE the service championship. The ,( B” grade list was headed by Rifleman S. F. MoLean, of the Suburbs Club, with 97. Rifleman W. Heney. of Kaiapui, Rifleman J. S. Blackwood, of Timaru. Rifleman G. H. Cross, of Hawera, and Rifleman L C. Harrison, also of Hawera, each returned a score of 91, and al Itook £l. Rifleman J. R. Veadie, of Ashburton, won the tyrorj evevifc, with the same score. Others v*ho returned this total were Rifleman John ium, of East Coast. President E. .I', Lentfer, of Frankton. On dot L. S Hare, of mb Co-peny. V-lW.rr«r«. <mvl Bombadier I’. P. T Battery. The *ti r. --e**. i-pni, throughout tlio mnich. and

the wind was by no meana satisfactory the scoring was highly satisfactory. Donations towards this event were given by Mr W. Girling, M.P., Mr E. Parker, and Mr W. J. Poynter. AN EXCELLENT PERFORMANCE. The next results in, those from the Canterbury match at GOO yards, of ter. allots, showed a very meritorious performance on the part of the winner. Rifleman L. A. Caldwell, of the Karori Club, who obtained the possible 50. Rifleman F. H. James, of Napier, who has been firing consistently throughout the meeting, and gives every indication of holding a very satisfactory place in tlis final fifty, was second with 48. Rifleman F. C. Standidge. of the Old Navals, E. S. King, of Wanganui, and G. Tj. Evans, all registered 47 in tihe “A” grade Good performances were put up by Cadet L. S. Hare, of the 60th Senior Cadet Company, Wellington, and Cadet F. A. Keane, of Hamilton, who put up 47 and 46 respectively. Cadet Keane did exceedingly well at the recent Army meeting, and is a promising young shot. President MassSold, of the East Ooaet, secured £1 with 45; Rifleman W. K. Osborne, of Karori, took the “B” section with 46; Rifleman J. E. McLadhlan, of Frankton, being exactly two points behind. Vice-President Erickson, of Kaiapoi, and Riflemen J. MoKay and J. G. Feast all registered the score of 44. G. Miller - , of Dunedin, with 44 headed the list of tyros, others with the same total including W. Moßain (Old Navals), M. Lawson (Patea,), D. Oalder (Patea), and G. E. Hubbard (Inangahua). 'A donation of £lO 10s towards the prize-money for this match was given by Mr W. Ballantyne. THURSDAY’S MATCHES. To-day was not a trophy day. There wore no awards in this direction. The matches for to-morrow (Thursday) will probably be the Wellington, Hawke’s i3ay, arid Otago events, which will mean .mother fifty shots for the Belt. THE AUCKLAND MATCH. Tie concluding event of the day was tbe Auckland match, 300 and 500 yards, with ten shots at each distance. The points in this match counted, of course, for the belt. The proved to be Rifleman James, of Napier. This well establishes his lead in the aggregate, for he. has shot most consistently throughout. His score was 97 out of a possible 100. Captain Simmonds made the same to|al, and took £4, while Rifleman C. CorkEill, of Waipukurau, was one point less. Rifleman A. R. Barker, of Liukwater, H. T. Boon and H. V. Croxton, of Karori Club, all registered 95. In the “B” grade. Rifleman J v McKay, of Greymoutb, was firsff with the satisfactory total of 93. Rifleman F. H. Cross, of Hawera, was second with 90. The tyros list was beaded in this event by Rifleman John McOallum, from tbe West Coast, with 90, while Rifleman H. R. Boyoe, of Blenheim, was second with 89. The extra match at 900 yards was won by Rifleman G. H. Taylor, with a score of 24 out of a possible 25. Some fifteen competitors took £1 each. REBULTS To-day's results were:— MATCH NO. 2, MARLBOROUGH. 360 and 500 yards, ten shots at etch distance. £s—Rifleman M. C. Connor (Okawa) 99 £4 —Rifleman Fred. Whiteman (Upper Hutt) 98 £3—Vice-President A. W. McPherson (Tapanui) 97 £2—Rifleman J. C. Carter (Linton) ... 97 £2—Rifleman J. B. Bairstow (Greytown) 97

At £l—F. H. James (Napier) 97, H. A. Cromie (Ashburton/ Dep.-President R. J. King (Opaki) 96, Lieutenant George Hood (Opaki) 96, D. Roots (Patea) 96, W. K. Osborne (Karori) 96, H. V. Croxton (Karori) 96, President (Dr) Reekie (Kaitangata) 96, T. Orr (Oreytown) 96, C. J. Nix (Featherston) 96, Vice-President Pietersen . (Auckland City and Suburbs) 96, Captain H. Simonds (Wanganui) 96, H. Harris (Christchurch) 96, W. J. Swaysland (Napier) 95, H.. C. Trotman (Greytown) 95, S. Bllio.tt (Akarana) 95, R.. C. Barkle (Akarana) 95, V. Jones, (Kimbolton) 95, G. L. Evans Christchurch) 95, Captain A. Neilsen (Napier) 95, P. J. Nicholls (Greytown) 95, 33. C. Russell (Stoke) 95, and A. R. Barker (Linkwater) 95.

"B" GRADE. £2—Rifleman S. F. McLean (Suburbs) 97 £l—Rifleman W. Heney (Kaiapoi) ... 94 £1 —Rifleman J. S. Blackwood (Timaru) 94 £1 —Rifleman G. H. Cross (Hawera) ... 94 £1 —Rifleman L. C. Harrison (Hawera) 94 At 10s—President F. J. Silvius (Kiwi) 94, W. J. Feast, junior (Greytown) 94, F. C. Hogg (Linton) 94, 11. Head (Koitaia) 94, President A. G. Robertson (Hawera) 93, P. J. Tobin (Whangarei) 93, Deputy-President T. Whiteman (Upper Hutt) 92, R. Breingan (Gisborne) 92, J. F. Hallignn (Okawa) 92, and T. A. Marrett (New Plymouth) 92. TYROS. £l—J. R. Yeaudle (Ashburton) 94 £1 —John McCallum (East Coast) 94 £1 —President B. J.'Lantfer (Frankton) 94 £l—-Cadet L. S. Hare (30th Co., Wn.) 94 £l—Bombardier T. R. Lewis (Bth Bat.) 94 At 10s—A. B. Balfonr (Greytown) 93. J. Bills (Christchurch) 92. C. Corkill (Waipukuran) 92, G. To Wahiti (Featherston) 92. A. E. Hughes (Akarana) 92, R. G. Varlow (Karori) 92, W. M. Holland (Ashburton) 92, G. F. Joblin (Opotiki) 91, Rifleman Ingley (Opaki) 91, O. P. George (New Plymouth) 90. NO. 5 (CANTERBURY MATCH). (600 yards, ton shots.) £s—Rifleman L. A. Caldwell (Karori) 50 , £4—Rifleman F. H. James (Napier) ... 48 £3—Rifleman F. C. Standidge (Old Navals) 47 £2—Rifleman E. S. King (Wanganui) 47 £2—Rifleman G. L. Evans (Chch.) ... 47 At £l—J. W. Paynter (Blenheim) 47, Cadet L. S. Haro (Wellington) 47, S. Elliott (Akarana) 47. F. J. Soler (Wanganui) 46, J. H. Cheesman (Taumarunui) 46, F. Yato6 (Napier) 46, Cadet F. A. Keane (64th Co., Hamilton) 46, H. T. T’onn (Karori) 46. W. H. West (Okawa) <5, 01. E. Pearson (Dargavillo) 45, J. A. r* l ’p,rkwood (Timaru) 45, J. Bell (Kaiapoi) (5. J. Preart (Suburbs) 45, H. A. Cromie (■’ »Mn’r!on) 45. P. C. Hamilton (Wangn-Dep.-President. J. G. Turnbull rriii.-iT, <4, Jr r. Trotman (Greytown) ( D. 0 Bsrklo (Akarana) 44, J. Kyle (T.;-.:!on> 4K President Robertson (Christ-

church Working Men’s Club) 44, and J. L. Christianson (Omana) 44. B GRADE. £2—Rflmn. W. K. Osborne (Karori) 46 £l—Rflmn. J. B. McLuchlan (Frankton) 44 £l—Viee-Pres. T. Erickson (Kaiapoi) 44 £1 —Rflmn. J. McKay (Greymouth)... 44 £l—Rflmn. J. G. Feast (Greytown) 44 At 10s—Pres. D. F. Weir (Ashburton) 44, D. Rait (Gisborne) 43, P. Petersen (Hawera) 43, John Peterson (Wanganui) 43, Major G. S. Taylor (Karori) 42, P. J. Nicholls (Greytown) 42, S. F. McLean (Suburbs) 42, President P. Munro (Utiku) 42, Fred Whiteman (Upper Hutt) 41, and L. R. McKelvie (Rangitikei) 41. TYROS. £l—G. Miller (Dunedin) 44 £1 —W. Moßain (Old Navals) 44 £l—M. Lawson (Patea) 44 £l—D. Calder (Patea) 44 £l—G. E. Hubbard (Inangahua) ... 44 At 10s —C. D. Arnold (New Plymouth) 44, F. Hood (Featherston) 43, J. Walters (Wawhereiti) 43, B. Holmes (Wanganui) 43, C. Booker (Kaituna) 43, K. Anderson (Kaituna) 43, J. Burnett (Tapanui) 42, S. S. Napier (Alfredton) 42, J. H. F.razer (Kaitangata) 42, and C. Corkill (Waipukurau) 42. AUCKLAND MATCH. (Points to count for Belt. Ten shots at each 300 and 600 yards.) A GRADE. £5—F. H. James (Napier) 97 £4—H. Simonds (Wanganui) 97 £3—C. Corkill (Waipukurau) 96 £2—A. R. Barker (Linkwater) 95 £2 —H. T. Boon (Karori) 95 £1 —H. V. Croxton (Karori) 95 R. J. Gillick (Kiwi) 94, S. Elliott (Akarana) 93, VV. It. Williams (Ohura) 93, W J. Feast (Greytown) 92, J. F. Sunnex (Flaxbourne) 92, W. H. Ballinger (Petone) 92, H. Feast (Petone) 92, G. L. Evans (Christchurch) 92, R. EL Hester (Suburbs) 92, J. A. Blackwood (Timaru) 92, F. J. Soler (Wanganui) 92, H. Reynolds (Christchurch) 91, G. J. Nicholls (Greytown) 91, W. J. Green (Okawa) 91, L. G. Loveday (Linton) 91, D. F. Kerr (Ashburton) 91, F. C. Standidge ■ 'ld Navals) 91, O. G. Miller (Dunedin) 91, C. J. Nix (Featherston) 91, W. G. DeihJ (Wanakei) 91, W. H. West (Okawa) 91.

B GRADE. £- —J. McKay (Gireymouth) 93 .£l—F. H. Cross (Hawera) 90 £l— F. Mnnro (Utiku) 90 •Al —J. T. Gillon (Dunedin) 89 £l —J. C. Feast (.Greytown) 89 At 10e—R. Sneddon (Old Navals) b 9, N. W. Wilkie (Upper Hutt) 88, G. E. Pearson (Dargaville) 88, J. Kulsen (Kanieri) 88, E. S. King (Wanganui) BS, W. Hudson (Wanganui) 87, J. E. Mo Lachlan (Frankton) 87, M. Carey (Patoa) 87, H. Hughes (Wanganui) 87, J. KyU> (Linton) 87. TYROS. £l —J. M. CallUTii (East Coast) S 3 £l —H. R. Boyce (Blenheim) 89 £l— T. R. Lewis (Palmerston N.) ... 89 £l— W. M. Bain (Old Navals) 88 £1 —K. G. Varlow (Karori) 87 At 10s—S. S. Napier (Alfredton) 87, E. J. Lentfer (Frankton) 86, F. Hood (Featherston) 85, G. Cromie (Rahaia) 85, D. J. Alabaster (Old Navals) 85, P. W. Evans (Chritschurch) 85, W. C. Webb (Karori) 84, J. Burnett (Tapanui) 84, B. Holmes (Wanganui) 84, A. H. O'Donnell (Petone) 84. EXTRA MATCH, 900 yards, five shots. The • following each take .£l-G. H. Taylor, 34; A. C. Gawith, 23; M. Field, •23; T. Orr, 23; C. D. Arnold, 23; R, H. Nicholl, 23; S. Mayhew, 23; J. W. Gardner, 23; C. Whiteman', 23; D. Roots, 23; C. J. Karisen, 23; J. Hubbard, 23. for~the_belt A SPLENDID SCORE F. H. JAMES IN THE LEAD. It was ascertained to-night that F. H. James (Napier) heads the aggregate ■with, a ecore 242 (97, 48, 97) out of a possible of 250. This is a particularly fine performance, and indicates what consistency Rifleman James has shown in his firing throughout the meeting. The other positions are:—

F. H. James 242 8. Elliott 235 H. V. Oroxton 234 A. R. Barker .... 234 u. L. Evans 234 H. Simmonds 234 H. T. Boon 233 P. J. Solar . 231 J. A. Blackwood 231 <:. Corkhill 231 M. C. Connor 230 Jb. A. CaldnveJl 230 W, H. West 223 U. E. Hester 229 w Molver .......... 228 H. A. Cromie ............ 228 C J. Nix 228 P J. Nicholas 228 B. J. Gillick 228 T Orr 227 W. K. Williams 227 R, J. King ...... H. Ballinger ...... 227 W. 227 A Wilson 227 H. Harris 228 w. 226 H. Feast 226 r> F. Keir 228 E. S. King 226