CLASSIC RIFLEMEN

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12396, 16 March 1926, Page 8

CLASSIC RIFLEMEN

DOMINION’S BIG EVENT ALL READY AT TRENTHAM LARGEST ENTRY SINCE WAR (“Times” Special Reporter.) TRENTHAM, March 15. What are the prospects for the morrow? The question is being repeated by over 350 riflemen, who are to-night safely ensconsed in their ‘‘hinnies” at Trentham —the inecca of New Zealand riflemen —where so many hard havj been fought, and where the 1920 classic rifle shooting event of the Dominion will commence to-morrow morning. The weather is threatening, but hope springs eternal in the breast of the rifleman, and the majority are confident of fine weather. Riflemen from all over the Dominion ii- iheir characteristic motley * garb, are hero for the annual chainpionship meeting of the National Rifle Association, which is to commence in the morning, and for which the en- > tries are larger than in any year since the war. Who is going to win the championship? They have hardly yet commenced to speculate, . because they were not settled till fairly late. -Many anxious eyes were turned skywards after dinner this evening, however, as the sky blackened and then rain fell in torrents. . If the weather breaks fine m the morning, there will be some great shooting, because all the cracks are here, including young D. J. Anderson, of Kaituna. last year's championship winner. On the other hand, if Dame Nature fails to smile favourably upon the marksmen, more than ono surprise can bei expected, as there are men here who are capable of putting on big scores in ro.igh weather. TRENTHAM’S FISH-TAIL Riflemen, who have come from the Oevtown (Papawai) meeting know that they have something different to contend with here, as the Trentham fish-tail keeps them juggling with wind gauges all tl tough the meeting, ft is frequently found that those who do well over ‘'the hill at Wairarapa meet iheir Waterloo here-, and conversely tho.se who Jail at Papawai frequently shoot among the top-noteners here. v One such was Anderson, last year's winner, who did not do well at Grevtown. . , , _ If th> weather is rough anybody might carry off the belt, hut in reasonably good conditions it is the conman who will return the good cards.. And there are too many consistent shots in New Zealand to allow even a presumption to be made before the meeting commences. A new shot is frequently unearthed at gatherings of this nature, and some of the younger riflemen might pun the youthful championship holder quite close this time. The name of Ballinger figures prominently again this year, and W. H. Ballinger, nephew of the veteran champion A. E. Ballinger—who was only nassed in the last few shots a+ the Papawai meeting—can be relied j,rr).i to give a good account of bimR<df.- Eric Ballinger, if-he shoots, will bo almost a certainty for a place in the final fifty. OLD BELT-HOLDERS Other first-class shots whose consistency has already proclaimed itself, and who will probably aspire successfully to a place in the King's Fifty, .are the Feist brothers, of the Wairarapa, who captured a useful sum of prizemoney at their home meeting last week; D. J. Gurney, of Wellington, who dropped into third place in the championship last year;. J. C\ Carter, one of the cracks from Manawatu, who usually gets there; and D. Roots from Pa tea, who always shoots well at the big meeting, and who captured the King's Prize in 1022. Other previous belt winners who will fire to-morrow are: E. E. Vennell, of Te Wharau (1921); H. Y. Croxton, Karon (1920); R. J. King, Opaki (1919); W. N. Masefield, Marlborough (1914); F. H. Janies, Okawa (1013); R. M. Irvine, Nelson (1913). All these are reported to be shooting well, and should not be far behind when the cafl comes at the end of the week for the finalists to go down at the 1000yds range. The camp again greets the veteran of many summers. Lieutenant J. Ross, who turns up at Trentham annually with unfailing regularity. Lieutenant Ross was the winner of the Carbine Champiowwhin Belt outright in 1888, and since that time has shot consistently and well. Ho has with him his wife and daughter, and is confident that if he docs not take the belt home with him, he will relieve some of the younger shots- of their share of the prize-money. SIMMONDS BACK AGAIN The opinion in camp seems to be that Captain Simmonds, the brilliant Wanganui shot, and winner of the belt two years ago, will take the snapshooting honours in the services matches, an accomplishment which he has achieved for tho past two years. He will also be well up in the contest for the belt. To-morrow morning will be devoted to tho rapid stuff in tho services matches, for the Simmonds Cup, "which do not count for the championship.The services matches include 10 rounds rapid at 300yds, snap-shooting at 300yds, tile competition (five rounds at 200yds), and moving target at 200yds. The aggregate in the four matches will comprise the se/vices championship. There is also the champion service teams match, open to members of tho Emnire forces. In the rifle championship there is a big programme, and a varied one. The da?/'.fication is divided into three grade:*. ‘‘.V’ grade comprises nil who have been in the King’s fifty or who hare won a single prize of £2 or over; grade embraces all remaining entries other than tyros; while a tyro is he who has never won a prize of £1 or more at a or State meeting. The prizes in the “A" grade nr4 open for all, but thofic in the “B“ and tyro grades arc reserved for those ofily. Each match is therefore divided into grades, and the prizes allotted accordingly.

Tho Ivina’s fifty arc tho fifty highest aggregate scorers in tho Marlborough match ften shots at each of 300 and 500 yards), Wellington match fton shots at each 500 and 600 varrls), Can torburv match (ten shnte at GOO vards). Otago match (ton shots at each «00 ami .900 yarUa). Hawke’s Bay match (ten shoti at 900 yards), and Taranaki match ‘"ten shots at 800 yards), as well ns in the King’s Prize match (ten shots at 9CO yards). ■

In addition to tlieso matches there are numerous aggregate matches, and contests for cups ami shields, calculated upon tho aggregate in certain matches. There is tho tyro aggregate, and also

tho Senior Cadet aggregate, for the cadet compiling tho highest aggregate in all matches at tho mooting. The wind gavo trouhlo at the ranges this afternoonn, when tho riflemen tested out their rifles, hut an entirely different story might ha\e to be told by the time they go down to-nnSrrow morning. It is hoped that tho meeting will be concluded by the end of tho week, but this is largely dependent upon the weather, and if a few days of heavy rain is experienced, somo delay will probably bo occasioned*