RIFLE ASSOCIATION MEETING.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XLIV, Issue 14007, 11 March 1920, Page 8

RIFLE ASSOCIATION MEETING.

(Per, Press Association.) * ", T&ENTHAM," March 10. Another King's Prizotday v has coma and gone, and Karori's, representative, Gi'cxton. maintained the' • position <ho gained m the preliminary- struggle by Hard work and some good luck, iftast ;and JJaikle kept second and th/rd. -places,-' but Feast lost ground to D. Guinev. who came np • from 10th. to -tth petition. Evans and Harris, who, when the match began, lay sth find 6th. both struck trouble, 'and dropped away down the list. . " ilu- ntleniGcir was fine and a lair number of''visitors came from town. Among the official party present were the Hon. J. 0. Coatcs. Acting .Minister of Defence, -and Mrs Coate*; MafjiGential Sir Edwaid Chaj Lor. Genotal I Officer Commanding: Brigridier-Genoral ' G. S. Richardson. General Officer in Charge ct Administration: Lieut.-Col-J. Ij. Sleeman. Director of Alihtary Training. When the meij. went dp.\ n at 1000 vards for the final test the light was bright and dull by turns, with a fair amount of mirage running: in front of the targets when the ='in broke through the clouds. ,while the wind varied from two degrees to ">4 right. Croston at once attracted :.il eyes on No. 12 target. "West, his immediate chaser, being on No. 25, Barkle en No. 1. and Fea=t on No. 2.. The wind was in real Trcntham mood, being as triekv as at any time during the inicTing." Cioxton -got away qiuelly with a magpie for his sighter. which lie rejected, then came 44344. and the T>"ur.- r'tc~ jeekoned the belt was -afe though thev got a bad iar when :Ko next signal* wa= 2 and then another 2. The-e were followed bv 533. making a total for the range 34 and the aggregate 556. Meantime West rind Barkle both 'struck very bad Inck. Wet got an encouraging start with an .neb 4 for ffis sighter, which be. kept. He got another 4 and then fell a- cropper, two misses being signalled. He managed to screw into the bull again, and Blenheim breathed more easily when .4 and 5 followed and the prospect of ic-t-iininsr second place to the prizeman | . "-i-pmed assured. Barkle. right at the other end of the mound, bad had f«.. '" unfortunate kick-off with 2 for a sighter, and then 030 made him to thnik. The wind seemed to have him beaten, but his next two shots found the maspie .rincr. and -thereafter came ,55453, making"3l for the range and 539 ng-o-rewate; West had continued meantime- -a dogged uphill fight, slowly gropino- hi" wav-thrc>u<zh the windy-barrage. He fot 2" and then 3. - and had only ' to hit the target to tie withßarkle, "who when he got goin? rattled Ins shots in at a food rate, while West bad Tost "a lot of time and fired the last shot on the ranee.'which was 4, giving mm the position of runner-up, two points ahead of Barkle. Feast, on No. 2t;\r-o-ct had something' of Barkle's expci'i- ,:„(.(,_.'} -for Sghtpr and then 0442534304. a total of 29. The finest shooting of, ihe afternoon was put up by Hcndcr-' son. of the R0und5—5454454443. a total of 4? which gave him the Challenge Ciin as winncr'of the match. The dc- . tailed scoring in • the' prize -list will ' show bow the other competitors rose and fell as compared with the positions : published yesterday. Croxton's! win was heartily applauded. : The following is the result of, the Kind's Prize Match score at'this afternoon's slioot"over 1000 y:M-ds. added ' to the aggregate (brought forward: — ' Name. -1000 Ag. „ i "yds. [■ £35 and "Ballinger Belt" 1 Gold Medal and- Gold | • D.R.A. Badge.— Rfm. H. 1 V. Croxton (Karon) 34 safe c - £2O Silver Star, and D.R.A. Badge.—Rfm. W. H. West \ (Blenheim) ... ... : ■•■ 3L oil £ls, Silver Star, and D.R.A. . Badge—Rfm. R..C. Barkle (.Suburbs) ... ... .:.-'■ 31 -j39 £l2, Silver Star and D.R.A. Badge.—Rfm. D. J. Gui- % _ nev (Petone) • ••■ 39 oi,b £4 and D:R.A. Badge—Rfm, ■ ; _ W. J. Feast (Opak'O 20, 036 £5 and D.R.A. Badge—Rfm. / A. J. Henderson, (Sounds) 42 534 £5 and D.R.A. Badge—Rfm. L. C. Pe.rrim, Christx church> 33 031 £5 and D.R.A. Badge—Rim. F. J. McDonald-(Suburbs) <tt 531 £5 and D.R.A. Badge—Capt. W. Masefield (Nelson) ... 32 o3L £5 and D.R.A. Badge—Rfm. D. Roots (Hawera) 31 031 £5 and D.R.A. Badge.—Rfm H. Harris (Chrtstehurch) 28 030 £5 and D.R.A. BadgeMlfm. -• - ' A. Goverlock (Linton) ... 28 026 Henderson takes the. Rifle Challenge Cup for the highest score in the match. The presentation of prizes took place immediately after the''championship was fired. ■ Colonel Collins.-in calling upon Mrs Coatcs to perfoiTii the ceremony, said that the meeting altogether had proved a decided success. The ucathaiconditions were not all that could have Keen • desired, but some .very good -'shooting had been witnessed for all that. The Hon, -L G. Coatcs expressed pleasure at being present. Referring to Colonel Collins' suggestion for improvement in the accommodation at the 1000 yds ranges,. Air Coatcs" said ho would not make rash promises, but would do the best lie*could. They must go warily, as the staff buifdingc occupied some of the ground needed. Any promises made bv Sir -las. _Allcn regarding the. provision of rifle ranges in country centres, such as HamiltoTr and Invercargill. would lie carried put. He congratulated the champion and other prize-winners. The prizes were then presented and the function ended with cheers for' prize-winners and the officials.