RIFLE SHOOTING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22824, 7 March 1936, Page 7

RIFLE SHOOTING

NATIONAL MEETING COMMENCED OVER 250 ENTRIES (Pkb United Press Association) WELLINGTON, March 6. Leading marksmen from all parts of the Dominion and two from Australia are competing at the annual meeting of the National Rifle Association, which opened at Trentham to-day, when one three-range match and some of the compulsory service matches were fired in fine weather. The entries total 254, an increase of 54 on last year, and the best entry the association has had since 1930. Several changes have been made in the programme and conditions this year. One of the most important of these is the adoption of the Bisley time limit of one minute per shot from the time the target is exposed. By the enforcement of this rule it is hoped to avoid undue delay on the ranges, and competitors exceeding the time limit will be warned for the first infringement of this rule, and in the case of a second offence the shot will be disallowed. This limit is 15 seconds Monger than that operating in Australia, where the time limit is 45 seconds, and it is intended to have it strictly enforced.

Most of the rifle clubs in the Dominion are represented at the meeting, the competitors including last year's champion, F. Bowes (Auckland City), and 10 former champions, some of whom have won the Championship Belt more than once. Australia is represented by H. V. Bear, of the Launceston, Rifle Club. Tasmania, and by Major P. J. Wain, ot the Edgecliffe Ciub, Sydney. Bear, who has shot in every State in the Commonwealth, is over here on holiday, but found the opportunity to attend the championship rifle meeting and participate in his favourite sport. On three occasions he has finished third in the Tasmanian King's Prize, and on another shot into third place in the Queensland King's Prize. Wain, an ex-New Zealander, who has been a resident of Australia for some years, ha ß had pre-war experience of Trentham. Before leaving the squadding posts for the firing points, the competitors were welcomed by the president of the association (Captain A. P. R. Crawford, of Invercargill). Changes made in the service series of matches, involving the elimination of the title competition and the moving target practice at 200 yards and the substitution in their place of application and snap-shooting practices at 600 yards, were referred to by Mr Crawford. He said that these met with the approval of the Defence Department when the numbers of competitors were larger. A total of 50 had fired in the final matches for the King's Prize and Service Championship, but the number had been reduced to 40, because of straitened circumstances. The execu« tive had decided to increase the number to 50 once more, but there would not be any prize-money for the extra 10 marksmen. However, it was thought that the last 10 should have an opportunity of competing in the final matches, and when the finances improved the former system could be restored in its entirety. MiCrawford appealed for the co-operation of the competitors, without which he and his executive would accomplish little. He wanted to see the association restored to its former prosperity, and, although the entries were creeping up gradually, he personally would not be satisfied until they were back attain somewhere near the old 500 mark. Firing in the King and Henry Match, which required seven rounds at 300 yards, 500 yards and 600 yards, monopolised the morning. This match does not count for the belt, but gives' the competitors the opportunity of a try-out at the short ranges, over which they will fire for the Championship later in the meeting. With the sun behind the targets the first men to shoot encountered elevation troubles, but most of the shooting at the two shorter ranges was done under perfect conditions. Back at 600 yards a fresh breeze blew from the left, later swinging around to the left front. The winner of the match was A. H. O'Donnell, Petone. with a score of 102. - The original intention was to fire all the practices in the service series of matches during the afternoon, but as the day advanced it was realised that this would be impossible. The only match of the series completed waß the No. 2 Service Match, comprising application, snapshooting and rapid fire practices at 300 yards. The winner was D. S. M'Kenzie, Opaki, with 82 out of the possible of 100. Shooting was completed in the 300 yards snapshooting practice of the No. 3 Service. Match. Application practices, at 500 yards will be fired to-morrow afternoon. After the completion of these practices the 50 highest scores will be compiled and the marksmen obtaining these will constitute the Service 50, who will take part in the final match for the Service Championship on Wednesday morning.

The results are:— KING AND HENRY MATCH (Seven rounds at 300, 500 and 600 yards.) £5 and King and' Henry Trophy.—A. H. O'Donnell (Petone) 102. £4—C. J. Nix (Featherston) 102. £3 each—R. H. Nicholl (Petone) 102, J. Jeune (Gisborne) 102. £3 each—W. Norris (Whangarei) 101, F. T. White (Owaka) 101, S. E. Farley (Wanganui) 101, I. L. Ford (Wanganiu) 101. Thirty-four took £l each and 14 10s each. The winner of the B Grade was J. H. Maedonald (Alfredton), with 101. No. 2 SERVICE MATCH.

Five rounds application, five rounds snap-shooting, and 10 rounds rapid, each at 300 yards.) £4_D. R. M'Kenzie (Opaki) 82. f3—A. G. Devore (Akarana) 01. £2—W. J. Burton (Owaka) 81. fl each—H. W. Feast (Greytown) 80. A. R. Tantrum (Levin) 80, H. Simmonds (Auckland) 79, D. Rankin (Karori) 78, W. N. Masefield (Blenheim) 78, F. Hiscock (Christchurch) 76, W. J. M'lver (Petone) 76. H. King (Opaki) 76, I. L Ford (Wanganui) 76, J. A. Munro (Mataura) 76, .T. E. Farley (WangaC. H. Gower (Wanganui) 74. S. C. Parkinson (Auckland City) 74, H. Frankland (Karori) 74. Sixteen others took 10s each.