THE BISLEY TEAM.

Otago Witness, Issue 2665, 12 April 1905, Page 58

THE BISLEY TEAM.

WELLINGTON, April 7. To-day the toam selected to represent Now Zealand at Bi^ley in July next was announced as follows : —Private Clung (Nelson), Colour sergeant Irvine (Nelson), Rifleman Milroy, the champion (Nelson), Rifleman G. Hawthorne (Wellington), Sergeant W. Drummond (Danr.evirke), Private T. Jack (Christchurch), Rifleman C. Craw (CharJton^ Rifleman F. Wilkie (Upper Hutt), Lieutenant Martin fTimaru), Private P. Brown (Waihi), Rifleman W. Loveday (Mauriceville), Colour-sergeant M'Kenzie (Oamaru). The team is subject to slight alteration, bufc oniy if those selected are unable to make the journey. liieutenantcolonel Collins, executive office-- of the New Zealand Defence Forces Association, expresses himself confident that the names above will comprise the team. The team ia regarded as one worthy to represent the colony, though perhaps not representing the full shooting strength of New Zealand, but where long absence from the colony is necessitated never will there be the- best dozen shots sent to fight at Bisley. Lookingup the performances of men at the recent New Zealand "Bisley," they show that th«» chosen men finisher! in the Championship Match as follow : — Milroy first, Loveday second, Craw third, Jack fourth, Martin seventh. G. Hawthorne tenth, Drummond thirteenth, Brown fifteenth, Ching sixteenth, Wilkie twentieth, M'Kenzie twenty-third, Irvine a little lower down. There was not 30 points between the highest and the lowest of those mentioned In the Kolapore Cup the contest is confined to eight men, and if the New Zealand representatives shoot up to anything like their recent form the selection of the team to represent the colony for that cup vrili be a task which will give the officer in charge of the men a few anxious moments. Of those going this year, Ching, Irvine, Drummond, Loveday, and M'Kenzie were among the New Zealanders at Bisley- last year, and of those who were then associated with the-m, H. Hawthorne (Wellington), Sandford (Christchurch). R. J. King (Opaki), Smaill (Kaitangata), and A. Ballinger (Wellington), though asked to go again, found themeelvea unable to accept the Government's offer. G. Hyde, an ex-champion, was also asked to journey Home this year, but had to decline. The team which secured the Kolapore Cup from the Mother Country by 3 points Last July was: — Ching (95), Drummond (92), H. Hawthorne (92), King (90), A. Ballinger (90), M'Kenzie (36), Irvine (88), Smaill (?4),— total, 719. The ranges are 200, 500, and 600 yarde ; seven shots. Lieu-tenant-colonel Collins commanded the victorious team, and was selected to again lead the New Zealanders, but, finding official duties would not permit of a lengthened absence from the colony this year, Major Robert Hughes, one of =Wanganui's most prominent marksmen, has been chosen to go in command. WELLINGTON, April 8.

At the last moment M'Kenzie, of Oamaru, is unable to make the journey with the Bisley team, and Pearson, of Timaru, -who finished in the eleventh position in the- " recent championship, has been selected in his stead. There is still some doubt as to whether Ching, of Nelson, -can manage to get away.