RIFLE SHOOTING

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12249, 22 September 1925, Page 3

RIFLE SHOOTING

PETONE CLUB MEETING The Petone Rifle Club held its annual meeting in the Drill Hall, Petone, Mr W. H. Ballinger, president, being in the chair. There was a good attendance, and lively interest was taken in the proceedings. The annual report records with regret the decease of Colonel Collins, chairman of the Dominion Rifle Association, who was a staunch supporter of the riflemen throughout the Dominion. The membership of the club had been well maintained, and a number of very active and promising new members had joined, giving early signs of becoming first-class shots. With assistance from the older members they would safely maintain the high reputation of the club.

The club was represented during the year at the various rifle meetings, members worthily upholding the honours of the club. E. Ballinger was runner-up for the Hawke's Bay championship, and at the Wellington Association meeting the club was well to the fore, occupying many prominent places in the prize-list. At the Dominion meeting at Trentham the club's successes were many. D J Guiney, R. H. Nioholl and W. H. Ballinger were all well up in the fifty, and W. J. Mclver only failed on a ehoot-off for last place. Guiney and Nicholl finished up in third and fourth places after a close finish.

In the eervice championship R. B Nicholl was runner-up and won a silver medal, also a medal for second place in the grand aggregate. In the team competitions the club was right at the front, winning outright the valuable C.A.C. silver shield as the champion team of the Dominion; and also winning the C.A.C. silver cup for the champion long range aggregate. Both these competitions have been won by the club two years in succession, and to win the cup outright same must be won three years m succession, so next season promises to 6ee a very keen interest displayed by those competing. The teams also took prominent positions in the service teams, and short range teams competition.

In the annual competition for the Rifle Union shields the club put »p good fights for both the senior and junior shields, and had splendid' prospects of winning in the coming season. The club championships provided keen and interesting rivalry, and W. J. E. Mclver, in winning the senior championship, after a keen tussle with R. H. Nicholl, was' heartily congratulated by his club mates; as also was F. Kershaw on winningf the B championship, and "Flaws" cup. F. Kershaw, junr., fired well and won the "C" cup. R. H. Nicholl won the service aggregate with some splendid scores. The whole of the series and aggregate competitions were well contested. The club was represented in the "Fleet" match by five representatives, who all acquitted themselves well. The finances of the club were in a healthy and safe position. The thanks of the club are due to the following donors of prizes:—Messrs T. M. Wilford, M.P., E. P. Bunny, C. T. Taylor, W. H. Donovan, Mesdomes A. Weir, S. Knight, T. W. Warhurton, R. 11. Nicholl, F. ICershaw. W. H. Ballinger, and to Messrs A. S. and E. Ballinger, T. W. Warburton, W. H. Ballinger, S. Knight and R. E. Flaws.

The report was adopted. The election of officers resulted as follows:—Patron. Mr T. M. Wilford, M.P. (re-elected); president, Mr W. H. Ballinger j deputy-presidents, Messrs T. W. Warburton and R. E. Flaws: vice-presi-dents, Messrs E. P. Bunny, C. W. T. Taylor. W. 11. Donovan, H. F. Ayson, S. V. Burridge, W. A. Grace, R. C. Kirk, •T. W McEwan, W. T. vStrand, H. S. Langdon, 11. Jay, T. Ballinger, W. H. Ballinger, senr., E. D. Woodward, F. Jonness, E. T. Watkins, Mesdames G. Wilford, A. S. Ballinger, W. H. Ballinger, M. Knight, G. Flaws, R. H. Nicholl, F. Kershaw, E. Scott, T. Warburton, W. Mclver, A. Weir; secretary and treasurer, Mr Jas. Scott; assistant, Mr W. A. Scott; auditor, Mr E. Hogg; handicapper, Mr A. S. Ballinger; custodian of shells, Mr A. “Weir; committee, Messrs A. S. Ballinger, EL A. Ballinger, A. Weir, R. H. Nicholl, F. Kershaw, and W. J. delegates to W.R.A., Messrs W. H. Ballinger and R. S. Flaws. It was resolved to endeavour to cater more for service shooting and long range shooting; to fire two optional sighters at each range; to allow either mark VI, or VII. ammunition to be used; to open the ranges on Saturday, October 3rd, with a practice shoot and teams match on October 10th. A number of new members were elected. With regard to the C.A.C. silver shield won outright at the Dominion meeting, a committee was set up to arrange conditions on which it could be presented to the Dominion Rifle Association for competition, to be approved by the club. The meeting closed with a vote of thanks to the chairman and officers.