DOMINION RIFLE ASSOCIATION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15707, 8 March 1913, Page 10

DOMINION RIFLE ASSOCIATION

TRENTHAM MEETING. . FINAL DAY; JAMES WINS THE KING'S PRIZE. (Pes United Peess Association.) TRENTHAM, March 7. A fine day's shooting commenced in glorious weather, with a lairly moderate steady breeze. Soon, howovcr, the sky clouded over and tho wind increased in strength, but became more puffy. However,. the afternon turned out gloriously fine, and, although the wrnd was tricky, during .tho firing of the King's Prize, the conditions otherwiso were favourable. During tho afternoon there was a largo number of visitors to the camp, including Mrs Massey, the Hon. R. H. Rhodes, Mr C. Sykes, M.P., and members of the Empire Trade Commission.

When the men went to the mounds to fire off for the Service Championship Montgomery, with 225, was three points ahead of the next man, M'Calmont. Then followed Kummer (219), Masefield (216), Sandford (216), and Melville (212). The first range hrought disaster to Kummer, Melville, Green Mackay, and Soffe, none of whom registered a single hit.' On tho other hand Sandford, Hunt, M'Alister, and Halshaw rang on possibles of 35, while of tho other leaders M'Calmont put on 28. Sandford was now in the lead with 251. M'Calmont, being 1 point behind Montgomery with 246, was next, he having recorded 21 at this ranges Hunt and M'Alister, with . 241 and 240 respectively, l were also in th« running. The next rango saw Yeo, who had failed at 200 yards, put on the fine score pf 45. This marksman earlier in the meeting put up 34 out of 35 in the Rapid Shooting contest at 500 yards, and as he also won this ovent at the recent Auckland meeting he is evidently a specialist in this particular class. - Sandford and Masofield put on 41 and M'Calmont 38, Sandford now being 4 points 'in the lead. Montgomery only recorded 28, and Hunt and M'Alister 35, The contest was now, barring absolute disaster, confined to Sandford and M'Calmont., At the final range M'Calmont fired in the first scction, putting on 20 out of 30. Sandford thus required 17 to win, and this he accomplished with 5 to spare, Montgomery with 18 retaining tho third position. Halmshaw, of Christchurch, shot exceedingly well, and putting on 35, 30, and 22 improved his position from .thirty-ninth to eleventh. Dalziell, who at the start was in the forty-third plaoe, finished up fifteenth, putting on 21, 37, and 25. On tho other hand Kum.mer, with 33 and 18, dropped from third to fourteenth, and Melville dropped, from sixth to twenty-sixth. Of the 50 eligible to shoot Cox (198), Oliver (196), Hubbard (192), and Simmonds, Rutherford, and West_(each 182) did not fire in the contest, having left for their homes. Sandford's win was a most popular one. The United Service Match, as anticipated, resulted in a ootnfortable win for .a Rifle Club team. President Masefield, of the Sounds tca-m, put on' tho respectable score of 98, the next best being Patrick's 92. The Rifle Club team put up the highest aggregate at each rauge. Tho staff team included several officers who have done but little shooting latterly, and, all things considered, they did very well. Aiter the conclusion of the Un-ited Service Match Chapman, Montgomery, Jones, and Eyles shot off for the fifteenth place in the King' 6 Prize, and Chapman, with three outers, was successful. Tho ' other three shootista scored . 5 apiece. After lunch everything was made ready for tlie King's 50. James had 60 commanding a lead'that he was generally considered unbeatable. This proved to be the case, although it only wanted an extra good score from Marenzi, Loveday, il'Murray, or one of the next three' men to have displaced him. James was drawn to shoot with Williams (Ohura), and, as it turned out, he could not have had a better man to shoot with. James started off with 2 for a sighter, which he declined. Williams got an-inner, and made it a counter. James then got 4 and then 2 as against 4 and s'' by Williams. James then raJig on two good inners and two magpies, and 5, 3, 5. James 600 red 4 and 2, and Williams 5 and 3. Williams was shooting so consistently that Jame6 should have done better. At the niuth shot James rang on a bull's-eye, but with the last shot- ho missed the target altogether, and finished with 31 and a grand total of 499. Williams rang on three bulls to finish, i -and this made his tally 44—a very good 1 performance. His target showed so little variation that James could not have had a better guide. When James was about half way through, and the other lea'ders were failing, it was ovident that James could not lose now unless he missed nearly ' every shot. Marenzi, who at the start was runner-up, only scored 12 with the first five shots, and when his next. two shots ■missed the target James's principal source of danger was gone/ Marenzi's was certainly a disappointing exhibition. Attention was then riveted on M'Murray and Loveday, but their mound mates, Cox and Bruce,- were of little assistance to them, and they suffered accordingly. . Cox started off with seven consecutive misses (including the sighter), so M'Murray gained nothing from his company. Brace's Bieley shots were 0, 2, 0, 5, 0, 3, 2, 0, 3, 3, bo erratic a performance that Loveday, got himself into difficulties through watching him and going by his scoring sliots. Meanwhile Cameron, on No. I target, had' started with a leeway of 16 points to make up, and ho started off with a miss, increasing his margin from James to 20. He, however, kept doggedly to . his task, and with seven shots gone was still well down tho list. However, he then rang on three consecutive bulls and, being the last man to finish, upset all calculations by running into second pace.

Almost every one had by then proceeded to tho place where the prizes were going to be presented, and when Cameron was called on for tho runner-up prize everyone looked amazed. He,-however, thoroughly deserved his position, as ho had fired most pluckily. Roots met with disaster early, getting an outer and a, miss in the first five ehote, while two magpies a little later also helped to keep him out of the first three places. Frank and Milroy both shot steadily, each 6coring with all t'neir shots, but M'Murray missed the target twice when bull's-eyes would have put him in a likely position of winning the belt. Keene started off with two outers, then rang 011 eeven successive bulls, but finished up by miesing the target altogether. Fisher, by steady shooting, put on 50, but no others outside those already mentioned got within 10 of the possible. Only Williams, Frank, Milroy, CuthbertsonFisher. M'Alister, Ching, and Marshall succeeded in finding the target with every shot. Drenna.ii started off with eight consecutive misses. Ilalmshaw missed the target altiget'ner seven times, Duncan and Balk 6 each. Cox' and Elliott five eadh, Leatham, Bruce, Logan, and Goodall four eaoh; six others missed three times, 16 twice, and 10 once. At the conclusion of the match the winner was, as is customary, oliaircct and photographed. Roots and Frank fired offl for fourth place, and Mikoy and M'Murray for sixth place, the first named in each instance proving successful. Williams, by scoring tho highest in the King's Prize Match, took the Rifle Challenge Cup. D. Si. M'lntosh (Opaki), by making the his'nest individual score in the C.A.C. Cup Match won the sporting rifle and 250 rounds of ammunition presented by the C.A.C. Company. M'Calmont won the gold medal for the grand aggregate in all matches. The following are tho prize-winners:—

KING'S PRIZE. 1000 yards. Ten allots. Rifleman F. H Jnmcß (Okawa R. 0.), The " Batlinger" rifio champion belt,. n-old medal, gold badge, and £30, ?65—^244334250 —31 199 Rifleman A. J. Cameron (Opaki R.C.), £15, eilvcr star, and D.R.A. badge, 452-0553553555-41 493 Rifleman W. K. Williams (Ofmra R.C.), £10, silver star, and D.R.A. badge, 448-4535355545-44 ... 492 Rifleman D. Roots (Patca), £7, silver star, and D.R.A. badge, 455— 4255055334—36 49f Sergeant-major Frank (N.Z. Staff, Clrrietcliurch), £b and D.R.A. badge, 454-2344534543-37 ... ... .• 49] Rifleman J. Milroy (Nelson R.C.), £5 and D.R.A. badge, 450—5435544442— 40 490 Rifleman A. M'Murray (To Awaniutu - R. 0.), £5 and D.R.A. badge, 459— 4030353454—31 ; ... ... 490 The following each win £5 and. D.R.A. badges :— M'Abnont (Opaki), 454 —35 ... 489 Henderson (bounds), 456 —31 ... ' 487 Lovwlay (Woodvillo), 459—28 ... ... 487 Marenzi (Kaitawa), 461 —25 ... 486 Koene (Ekctahuna), 447—39 ... ... 486 The following each win £2 and D.R.A. badge: — , (Juthborteon (Tuamarma), 448—35 ... 483 Fisher (Wellington Suburbs), 443—40 483 M'Alister (Junee, N.S.W.), 451—30 ... 481 Reynold, 449—32 ... 481 Randall (Linton), 448—33 ... 481 Jl'lntosh (Opalci), 452—28 ... 480 Goverclook (Linton), 446—34 ... _ 480 Uuinoy (Uhristchurtih), 450—29 ... ... 479 Ureig (Upper Hut-t), 447—31 478 (jooaall (Wellington Suburbs), 477 Brydon (Kaiapoi), 451—26 ,477 King (Opaki), 442—33 .475 Kelts (Waimangaroa), 446—29 ... 475

Tho lollowing each win £1:— Swinard (Oamaru), 452—22 ..." ... .... 474 Logan (Blenheim), 452—22 474 Mace (Greymouth), 442—32 474 J. Potter (Auckland), :. 474 Uhing (Wellington), 442—32 • 474 Moslem (Kaeo), 454—19 473 Craw (Linton), 443—30 473 Matthews (Folding), 442—31 ■ 473 Marshall (Karori), 441—32 473 Kait (Uisborne) 446—26 472 Comrie (Akarana), 442—23 ..; 470 Banks (Kimbolton), 443—27, 470 Purnell (Wnnganui), 446—23 469 Maingay (To Aroha), 442—27' 469 Halmahaw (Veterans, Christdrurch), 456—11 467 Bruco (JN'ew Plymouth), 448—18 ... ... 466 Duncan (Westport), 452—14- 466 Duncan (Wcstport), 452—14 ...'... 466 Chapman (Wellington Suburbs), 440—26 466 Belk (Woodville), 449—15 ... 464 Patrick . (Auokla.nd), 443—21 46f Croxton (Karori), 441—23 464 Cox . (Auckland), 448 —14 i 462 Letham (Akarana), 444—15 ... 459 Elliott (Akarana), 441—16 457 Drennan (Wanganui), 442—6 .... ... 448- ■ SERVICE CHAMPIONSHIP, open to 50 highest scorers in the service matches; first -rang© 200 yards, snapshooting head target exposed five times, four seconds each exposure, each bit scoring seven points; second range 500 yards, • first- , class figure target, 10 shots in 60 seconds; third range 600 yards, six shots first-cla£6 target, first shot counting double. Saodtord (Christchurch), £10 and gold medal 314 1 M'Calmont (Opaki), £8 and silver medal, 308 2 Montgomery (Dunedin), £5 and bronze medal, 292 ' ... ... ... ... 1 ... 3 Yeo. (Auckland), £3 10s and bronze medal, 288 ... ■ ... ... 4 Hunt (Wellington), £3' 10s and bronze medal, 288 ; 5 Maeefield, (Sounds), £2 and bronzo modal, 287 6 Devore (Auckland), £2 and bronze medal, 285 ... ... 7 M'Alister (Juaee) 282, Rydor (Okawa) 280, Nareby (Eltham) 276—£2 each; Halmshaw (Christohurch), Duncan (Westport) 273, Randell (Linton) 271, Kummer (Mauriceville) 270, Dalziell ■ (Linton) 267, Bel-k (Woodville), Matthews (Feilding), Swinard (Oamaru)' 265—£1 cach; Russell (Petone), Sfceonson (Glenavy), . Andereon (Wanganui), Frank (Christchurch) 264— iOs each ' .

The following oomprise tho remaining aggregates: Ching- (Wellington), M'lvor (Te Awamutu) 263, Churnside (Karori) 261, Melville (Akarana) 260, Soper (Tuamarina) 256, Sanders • (Patearoa) 255, • Barltrop (Feilding) 254, Tumcr (Christchurch) 253, Powell (Akarana), Elvidge (Upper Hutt) 250, Given (Suburbs) 249, Fisher (Suburbs) 248, Chapman (Suburbs) 247, C. Williams (Ohura) • 246, J. Cox (Auckland), 1 Roots (Patea) 245, Speek (Stratford) 244,. M'lntosh (Opaki). 237, Soffe (Ohura) 235,-Potter (Auckland) 233, L. Oheeseman (Tuamarina), Mackay (Dunedin), Butler (9th Reg'mc-nt), 231, Greon (Wcstport) 228.

UNITED SERVICE MATCH, 10 men aside; seven shots at 300, 500, and 600 yards; prizes—Dawson Shield and £10 cash to winning team, Rifle'.Club Team-. 300 500 600 yds. yds. yds. Tl. Masefield 34 33 31 — 98 Patrick 33 29 30 —92 Moeolin 23 32 26 —91 Milroy 32' 30 28 -90 Reynolds 31 32 27 -90 Williams 30 28 31 -89 M'Murray ... ... 29 '27 32 —88 Marengi 32 30 22 —84 Roots 32 28 23 -83 James 30 '28 25 —83 Totals 316 297 275 888 Termtoiual Team. Mavheiv ... ...• ... 31 29 31 —91 M'intosh 29 32 29 —90 Bryden 30 32 28 -SO Potter ...■ 29 33 28 — 9,0 Devore 30 28 26 —84 Duncan 30 26 26 —82 Nareby i ... 31 24 27 —82 Lovcday ) ... 29 32 20 -81 Hudson ' ' ... 30 27' 24 -81 Macc 25 26 24 — 75 Totals 294 289 263 846 Staff Team. Denton ... ... ... 29 33 28 —90 Ching < ...' : 28 31 30 -- 89 King • ... 28 31 29 -88 Franks ... .... 29 34 25— 88 Montgomery ' ... ... 29 29 30 —88 Rose 29 29 . 26 —84 M'Comish 26 26 28 -80 Richardson ... : 23 30 26 —79 Grant ... ... ... 27. -29 23 -79 Bond ... 30 24 16 -70 Totals 278 296 261 835 ' PRESENTATION OF PRIZES. CONCLUDING SPEECHES. Beforo the presentation of prizes Colonel Collins welcomed the Hon, Mr Massey.on his first visit to Trenthaitn Rifle Raoige. Ho thought Mr Massey must realise what a valuable asset this range was to the dominion. He himself had visited .most ranges in the southern hemisphere, and was positive that Trentham was tho finest of them all. It certainly at times had baffling winds, etc., but theso only tended to improvo the markraanship. Possibles had been put on at all tho ranges. Many competitors carno to this meeting simply to meet old friends and renew old friendships, knowing all the time they had little hope of success. Colonel Collins expressed appreciation for the.Government's assistance. The Government gave £750 cash, 100,000 rounds of ammunition worth., £500, and provided markers , and tents. Ho expressed appreciation of Capiain Wallingford's supervision of the sen-ice matches,' and said it was largely due to Captain Wallingford that these matches were now being favourably regarded by competitors instead of being disliked as was previously tho case. , Colonel Collins said that rifle shooiers and tho defence foroe generally owed a deep debt of gratitude to the press of Now Zealand, not only- on'account of its reports of rifle shooting meetings, but also because of its advocacy of . tho defence scheme. Generally speaking much of the success of tho defence scheme was due. to the hearty co-operation of tho press of New Zealand. He concluded by voicing the opinion that a Territorial who could march and drill was not much value to tho country unless he could shoot.

After Mrs Massey had presented the prizes Mr Massey congratulated Colonel .Collins and his staff on the success of the meet-, ing, and the competitors on thoir excellent performances. He knew even the unsuccessful competitors would take their defeat a's sportsmen, and the country owed a deep debt of gratitude to the riflemen and tho defence foroe generally.' It was a matter of pride that when the Empire a few years ago was in need of assistance Now Zealand had been tho first to offer .and give assistance, and he know it could bo depended on to do the same again should occasion arise.: -He hoped to visit tho range oiv many more occasions. The Hon. R. H. Rhodes endorsed Mr Mas&ey's congratulations. , Referring to the decrease in the entries, ho said there would bo no veteran shpofcieta in tho Territorials for . some timo to oorne. . He himself was the patron of many rifle clubs on Banks Peninsula, and. always took-a keen interest in rifle shooting.' lie had read tho comments in various newspapers on this meeting, but ho was sure Major-genera! Godley took as keen an interest, in rifle shooting as in'other brandies of tho defence octane. When the difficulties usually associated with the now scheme were'overcome thoy would find all would be well. ,It migTit bo gene,ia,llv admitted that 80 per cpnt. of a soldier's training was shooting, but that did not necessarily mean target shooting. They must bo taught shooting under nil conditions. They would find as timo wont on tint the cadets would bcoomo more ollioieut, shots. In this oonnoctrion he eulogised tho recent weds of Mrs God'.ey in raising a substantial sum for encouraging rifle shooting among Senior Odcts, Regarding these musketry instructors .who luid not been able to doVote 'their whole timo. to musketry iretruction, Mr Rhodes said a scheme was mow tinder confederation .and would bo disousoed with General Godley on his return to Wellington. He thought the upshot would bo that there would bo musketry irstructors appointed to eadh district, and these officers wonld devote the whole of their timo to this branch of the sorviee. Then he hoped to seo the Territorials carry out musketry practice' in their own districts and lot Trentham bo the Mecca of dliampions. ■ After Ooloricl Collins had thanked Mrs Massey and had expressed appreciation of tho work of tho staff, tho gathering dispersed with thnoo cheers for Mrs Massey. To-night tlio camp is deserted, oxoopt for a few prcssmoti naw 0110 or two others.

in the competition. Ho was tho only New Zealander to get into tho Bisley Territorial aggregate, and also the only Now Zealander to get into the service riile championship, which is firod over all the rangte, including dio.pid _ fire.- Ho has twice"visited- Australia, and in 1909 ho got l seventh place in tho New South Wales King's Prize competition, and the same year in Melbourne ho Avon the £100 David Syme aggregate, the blue ribbon of Viotorian shooting. He also visited Australia. 011 his way baok from BisIcy, and got fifth place in the. New South Wales King's and David Syme aggregate. Ho won the Wairarapa championship in 1908, and in 1912 ho got twenty-first place in the 50 at Trentham last year. His success was most popular, and ho was the recipient of many, congratulations > Rifle-man A. J. Cameron, runner-up' for tho King's Prize, was born, at Bidbford 39 years ago. He first started shooting at the age of 16, starting with tho Wellington Navals, when ho won a few C Class aggregates. In 1905 he secured , the Wellington District Volunteer Championship. Later he went to Napier, where ho joined the Napier Guards, with whom he was very successful, winning their championship three years in succession, and then running-up for it tho following year. . Ho attended the Otago Boys' High School, and in his second year won several good prizes.' He first shot in open company at tho New Zealand meeting at Napier in 1891, but was not in the final _50< In 1894, at the New Zealand meeting at Ohristchuroh, Cameron finished ninth for tho Belt, and in 1906 ho finished tenth. He was a member of the New Zealand team in Sydney in .1907, and was successful in getting, into. both the King's and the long range aggregate. Cameron was for some time during the 1907 meeting leading for. the Belt, but ..cracked up at the finish, and [finished some considerable way down the list. . Taken' on. the whole Cameron l»s shot with more than average success, and is considered a ■,good.-tram man. He neither drinks nor smokes, and is a successful,sheep farmer in the bush district.

Rifleman E. F. Sandford, winner of the Service Champions!"ip, was born in-Christ-, church 33 years ago, and hag been shooting since he was 16 years old, when he joined the Christchurch City. Guards,' remaining with that'eorps 15 years; He wns champion shot - of the - Guards' one year,, and twice occupied the position of runner up at Trentham. In 1903 he finished fifth for the Belt, and -next-year -came.fourth. . He accompanied the 1904 team to Bisley, but at li'ne commencement of the' meeting shot indifferently, and was not picked in the Kolapore Cup' team." ■ He tli'on'' discovered a flaw in his rifle barrel,' aiid. using- a new rifle for the rest of the meeting,' lie put up some brilliant performances. He won the Colonial Aggregate, this-, being the only occasion this , match has been won by a New Zealander. He finish rd at the head of 2000 competitors in the King's Prize, 600 yards, winning a, rifle and £5. lie .shot his way into the King's Fifty, and fiir'shed eigihth. only 3 points behind tho winner. His prizes for' this- mfcetfnjj included a rifle, a bronze medal, a silver beaker, a silver salver, and £80 cash. He was a member of the Empire team which represented New Zealand against Australia at Trentham in 1911, and also a member of the New Zealand team which in tlie same year iron the Gordon Highlanders' trophv-. in a competition agiinst the other Australian States. Sandford for some time met with but moderate snoecss until 1912,-when lie ram©'fourth in the South Island Championship, and second in the Christchurch Rifle Club .Championship, losing the championship by 1 point. He was asrain unsuccessful by 1 point in the Club Championship this war. but won berth Service and Belt Championship at the South Tsland meeting this year. Sandford is a pihoto-ongraver, and is in charge of the process department of the Weekly Press. He is a total abstainer and only a light smoker. He ia generally considered one of the best team shots in the dominion.