RIFLE SHOOTING.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11866, 27 February 1913, Page 3

RIFLE SHOOTING.

DOMINION RIFLE MEETING. (Per Press Association.) Trentliam, February 27. The Dominion Rifle Association's annual meeting was opened this morning under favorable w-eather conditions. Prior to commencing shooting, Lieut.Colonel Collins addressed the competitors, and said he was disappointed with the entries. In 1911 there were 600 competitors, and he then thought tho total was soon to reach a thousand. Then the change in the volunteer system caused a setback, and in 1912 there were only 296 entries. There was » slight, improvement this year, the entries totalling 354, comprising 79 Territorials (including reservists) and 275 riflemen. There were 69 tyros. Lieut.Colonel Collins attributed the fall in entries to tho lack of encouragement to rifle clubs. He wa3 pleased to notice tlmfc the majority of rifle clubmen present had entered for service matches. A start was then made with the Loophole Cover Match. In the Loophole Cover Match, COO yards, figure target, 30secs exposure; 7 shots, W. Cox (Auckland) is so far top, with 32; Cassels (Karori) 31; .Masefield (Sounds), 30. In rapid shooting, 500 yards, 7 shots, Yeo (Auckland) is leading with 34. Both matches are proceeding slowlv. For the Loophole firing, Roots (Kaponga) is leading -with 33. Half of tho men have yet to shoot. For the rapid firing Yeo is still loading. The match is proceeding;.