RIFLE SHOOTING.

Otago Witness, Issue 3860, 6 March 1928, Page 24

RIFLE SHOOTING.

NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS. MOUNDS SOAKED WITH RAIN. THE KING’S FIFTY. TRENTHAM. February 27. The conditions at Trentham this morning were similar to those of last year, when the Wellington Match was fired, the competitors being soaked on the mounds. The last men to go down at the 600yds range had to contend with heavy rain, the targets being a blur. Results: — WELLINGTON MATCH. 50Oyds and 600yds. 10 shots each (possible 100). A GRADE. 100a —A. E. Wilton (Blenheim) 94 80s—A. Graham (Dunedin) 94 80s —A. Swanson (Karori) ... 93 60s—A. Barker (Linkwater) 93 60s —E. King (Wanganui) 93 The following take 40s each: —A. MSLeod (Australia), J. Hay (Sydenham), W. West (Renwick), J. Armstrong (Australia), H. Feast (Greytown) 92. The following take 20s each: —James 91; Jackson, Koppert, Atkinson, O’Donnell, IRamsay, Nix, Green, K. M'Kenzie, Powell Piper, Hartnell, Righetti (Victoria) 90: M'Bain, Cox, Orr, Butler. Turnbull, Hun ter, Treak. Jeune, Lovell. MTntosh, Gold finch, Guiney, Andrew’s, Reynolds, Boon. Kibblewhitc, Harris, Hare, Carter, Kidd 89; Patterson, M'Kay 88. Counted out: Kenning, Dunn, Marett, Devore, V. Jones, Channon (Australia), Hawthorne, Wilessmith (Australia), Hood. B GRADE. 60s —A. Patrick (City and Suburbs) 91 40s—F. Hodge (Christchurch) .... 91 The following 20 divide £l3: Hudson, Kershaw, Ashton 88, Bills, Percy, Johnston, Goldinagh, Pearson 87, Schumacher, Nicholson, Ogg, Hanson, Frankland, Tombs, Waddington, Bring, Haase, Wills, Thomson, Mitchell 86. Counted out: Kearney, Marenzi, Frazer, Facer, Chapman, Bairstow’, 11. King, Johnson, Atkins. TYROS. 40s —F. Graves (Dunedin)' 90 The following divide £l5: Porter 88, Beard, Berry, M Gill 87, Luxford, Eves, Thomson 86, Gillies 85, Rush, J. Donald, R. Ure 84, Truman, Shepherd, Stent, M'Pherson, Hodder, Rowling 83; Pearson, Wells, Willis, Quarrie 82. Counted out: Coker, Austin, Farrow, Bellaney, Gray. TRENTHAM AGGREGATE. Awarded to competitors for their respective scores at 300, 500, and 600 yards ranges, D Series, Highest Aggregate. B.S.A. gold medal and cup and 100 s—H. W. Feast (Greytown) .. 418 80s —F. James (Napier) .. .. .. .. 414 60s—W. West (Renwick) .. .. .. 413 60s —E. King (Wanganui) .. 413

The following take 40s each: O’Donnell, Nix 412, Dunn, Ching 409, Powell 408, Paterson 407.

The following take 20s each: Hargell, M‘lver 406. Hood, Tims 405, V. Jones, Johnson, Carter 404, Hester, Boon 403, Simmonds, Piper, E. Ballinger, Hancock (Victoria) 402, Bryden, Masefield, Patrick, Goldfinch 401, Thompson, Guiney, Green, Munro, Jeune, J. Fraser, Barker, Channon (Australia) 400, Harris, Hay, Holmes, Barlow, Cox 399, Nichol, Kearney, Hunt, Greeu, Croxton, Luxford, Porter 398, M'Bain, Taylor, Hudson 397. Counted out: Boyd (Australia), W. Ballinger, Kidd, Haase, Reynolds, Lovell. February 28. After the gale and heavy rain of the night, .the morning was fine and cold. The executive decided to fire the 800yds Taranaki match instead of finishing the Otago match. Shooting commenced at 9 o’clock. _ The trouble marksmen had to contend with was the changing light. Con ditions otherwise were good. The wind was puffy, and sighting varied from 3deg: right to 2deg. left. No mirage was m evidence.

At a representative meeting of the association Colonel F. B. Creswell (Christchurch) was elected president, vice Colonel P Hughes, resigned. The club representatives on the executive are:—Otago, F. Silvius; Canterbury. Captain Masefield; Wellington, W. _ M'Bain; Auckland, A. Patrick; Territorial representatives— Colonel Hughes (Wellington), Captain Simmonds (Auckland), Surgeon-captain R. Crawford (Otago), W. Fellingham, secretary. Competitors eulogised the efficient services of the statistical staff under Captain Guy Felton. The Gordon Highlander trophy proved an easy win for the New Zealand team. This service match is open for competition by all the Australian States and includes the New Zealand Colonial Ammunition Company’s shield, which was won outright in 1925, and was re-presented for competition. It is now known as the Pctonc Shield, and was again won by that club, which also takes the Colonial Ammunion Cup for the fourth time in 11 years. Following is the prize list:— TARANAKI MATCH. Ten shots at 800yds. A Grade. 80s—R. Caughley (Karori) 50 80s F. Bolton (Opaki) - 50 80s—C. Bramley (Ashburton) .... 50 80s —W. MTver (Petone) 50 60s—A. Elgar (Hawera) 49 The following take 40s each:—J. Feast, K. M'Kenzie, Simmonds 49, Grave, Gower 48. The • following take 20s each:—Keir, Hare, Helmshaw, Gregor (Victoria), H. Feast, Harris (Victoria), Righetti (Victoria), Taylor, Carde 48, Percy Kidd, Russell, Carter, Croxton, Taylor, Hunter, Barlow, Waddington, Munro, Ferguson (New South Wales), M'Keich, Bailev, M‘Donald,» D. M'Kenzie, Nix, Clark 47, Truman, Eyles, Orr, Devore, Robertson, Gillick, Blackburn, Haase, Paterson, Powell 46. Counted out: ~W. Ballinger, Cromie, Bryden, Kyle, Hood, Forge (New South. Wales), Bruce (Victoria), James (Te VVhiti), : . -

B Grade. 60s—L. Braithwaite (Napier) .... 48 40s—E. Booth (Hawera) 48 The following take 20s each:—Ramsay, Pring. Walden, Mosley, Oldhill. The following divide £7:—M'Chesney, Atkins, Nelson, Mitchell, Higgs, Kershaw, Hodge. Bairstow, Patrick, R. Jones, Pearson, Munro 45, Banks, Taylor 44. Eighteen with scores of 44 were counted out. Tyros. 40s—R. Farrow (Tararua) 47 The following take 20s each: —Eves, Rush. Thomson, Huston, Hodder, Meads, Walsh, Stent, Murdoch. Eleven with scores from 44 to 43 divide £6. The match was won in 1927 by W. Barrett (Sydenham. OTAGO MATCH. Ten shots at 800yds and 900yds. A Grade. 100s —R. Piper (Christchurch .. .. 91 80s —C. MKeich (Kiwi) 91 80s —W. MT ver (Petone) 91 60s —K. Lovell (Marlborough) .... 91 60s —W. Johnston (Petone) 90 The following take 40s each: —E. King, James 89, Forge (New South Wales). Barker 88, Hood 87. The following take 20s each: —Reynolds, Cromie, Thomas, Sigvertsen, O’Donnell, Thompson 87, Taylor (New South Wales). Earle (Victoria), Anderson, Welch, J. Feast, Bruce (Victoria), Shepherd, Paterson 86, Ferguson (New South. Wales), M'Chesney, Andrews, Wills, Head, Duncan, Masefield, Spread (Victoria), Robertson, R. Donald, Keir, Jackson, Cox, Butler 85, Ching, Jeune, Facer, Carter, Swanson 84. Counted out.—Wood, Boon, W. Ballinger Hunt, M'Neill, Ashby. B GRADE. 60s —W. Haase (Suburbs) 90 40s—P. Munro (Utiku) 87 The following take 20s each:—MTver Carde, Hanson, Hill 83, Colquhoun R Jones 82. Fourteen divide £7. Three were counted out with a score of 80 each TYROS. 40s —L. Rush (Wanganui) ... 87 The following take 20s each:—Potts 83, S" Tf®’ - 82, S. Knight, Thomson, on Hammond 81, Richards, Kcrnick 80. Twelve divide £6. IMPERIAL AGGREGATE. The following is the Imperial aggregate for competitors in the Marlborough, Canterbury, Otao, Taranaki, and Dominion m aches:— 200 s and Club Coffee Cup—H. R. Hunt (Suburbs) ZQo 160 s—R, Piper (Christchurch) ... ... 385 120 s—E. King (Wanganui) ... ... ... 383 106 s—J. Paterson (Wanganui) 379 100 s—H. Cromie (Ashburton) . 377 BGs—II. Croxton (Karori) ... . 377 86s—F. Hood (Featherston) 386 80s—H. Croxton (Featherston) 376 80s —L. Braithwaite (Napier) 386 60s—W. Masefield (Blenheim) 385 60s—James (Napier) 335 60s —N. Harris (Christchurch) ' 374 60s —W. Haase (Suburbs) ... 374 The following take 40s:—O’Donnell, Nix 574, Boon, MTver, Bryden, Nichol 373, W.

Harris (Victoria), Bruce (Victoria), Sproat J[V ictoria) 372, W. Ballinger 371, F. Bhing 370, J Feast 369, Barker, Lovell, Cai ter 368 Sixty-two had scores of 367 to 357, leaving five counted out. PETONE RIFLE CLUB CHAMPION AGGREGATE SHIELD. (Winning members receive replica.) Petone Rifle Club No. 1 (W. Bal- T ° tal ‘ linger 470, MTver 491, E. Ballinger 474, Guiney 462, Nicholl „ 464) 2361 r eatherston ~ 2336 Wanganui A .. .. .. 2334 Karori, No. 1 .. .. .. .. 2332 Gre-town ~ ~ 2332 Linton 2322 Suburbs No. 1 .. .. 2321 Petone No. 2 2303 Christchurch No. 1 .. .. .. 2294 Karori No. 2 .. .. 2275 Linton B .. 2258 Blenheim 2248 Ashburton . , 2246 Akarana .. 2243 Suburbs No. 2 2242 Christchurch No. 2 2229 Wanganui B 2226 New Plymouth 2215 Petone No. 3 .. 2187 Karori No. 3 .. 2045 Old Navals 1960 Invercargill .. . 1821 COLONIAL AMMUNITION CUP. (Long range aggregate.) Petone No. 1 833, Opaki 818, Karori A 815, Wanganui A 811, Linton A 808, Linton B 805, Suburbs No. 1 805, Greytown 805, Petone No. 2 804, Karori B 798, Christchurch 786, Invercargill 782, Akarana 777, Christchurch No. 2 771, Ashburton 762. Blenheim 760, Wanganui B 756, New Plymouth 743, Upper Hutt 712, Karori C 667, Old Navals 578. GORDON HIGHLANDER TROPHY SERVICE MATCH. Eight-men team, snapshooting, 300yds, 10 shots, bulls and inners to count. New Zealand aggregate 205 New South Wales 106 Victoria 102 HAWKE’S BAY MATCH. 90Oyds. Ten shots. A GRADE. 106 s—E. Mawley (Opaki) 47 80s —J. Feast (Greytown) ;-... 47 80s—Lovell (Northbank) 46 60s—A. Robertson (Opaki 46 60s—R. Benton (Featherston) ... 45 The following take 40s each:—Potter, Caldwell, Boulton, Roots, M'Donald. Thirty-six take 20s each. B GRADE. 60s—E. Booth (Hawera) 43 40s—W. Hudson (Wanganui) 43 Six take 20s each, and 14 divide £7. TYROS. 40s —M. Gray (Marton) 44 Eight take 20s each, and 12 divide £6. BISLEY AGGREGATE. (Awarded to competitors with scores at the 800yds and 900yds belt series. 80s—Piper (Christchurch 177 60s—James (Napier) 176 E. King (Bolton), 175, takes 50s, and M'Keich, MTver 175, Barker 173, Ferguson (N.S.W) 172, take 40s each. Forty with scores from 171 to 165 take 20s each. AUSTRALIAN OPTIONAL AGGREGATE. 140 —King (Wanganui) ... ... '. 697 100s —James (Napier) 695 80s—Piper (Christchurch) 691 60s. —Paterson (Wanganui) 687 40s—O’Donnell (Petone) ... 687 Twenty-nine take 20s each, including four Australians B GRADE AGGREGATE. (Highest scores; belt series). 100 s, M'Leah Gold Star, and Barton Cup, A. Patrick (Auckland) 569 60s—L. Braithwaite (Napier) ' 567 The following take 40s each:—Johnson 564, Haase 563. Eight with scores from 561 down to 553 take 20s each. ' TYRO AGGREGATE. (Belt Matches). 100 s, Kiwi Gold Medal, and Simmonds Cup—C. M'Keigh (Kiwi). 564 60s—S. Hartnell (New Plymouth) ... 559 The following take 40s each: —Luxford 552, Grove 559. Eight with scores of 548 down to 538 take 20s each. , , „ James with 727 is 15 ahead for the grand aggregate.

THE KING’S PRIZE. TROPHY WON BY E. S. KING. WELLINGTON. February 29. The King’s Prize for 1928 has been lost and won. D. Roots, Patea, who-was successful with 519 last year, did not get into the second 50. After a dull, cold morning there was a bright afternoon with a front wind and changing light. Through some misunderstanding the North v. South Island match was not fired. At the conclusion of the shooting the Erizes were presented by the Minister of iefence. ~ ■ King, the winner of the King’s Prize, who commenced shooting at Wanganui in 1911, has attended a number of nganui in 1911, has attended a number of national meetings, and on the last five occasions has secured a place in the final 50. In 1925, Caldwell’s year, King finished third, and he w’as nineteenth last year. He won the North Island championship in 1912, and has held a number of provincial championships. Captain M'Leod (manager of the Australian team) expressed the opinion that there were not sufficient flags on the range to gauge the force and direction of the wind. He also advocated a glass aperture on the rifle for more accurate sighting. Results:— KING’S PRIZE MATCH. £so—Ballinger Belt, gold medal and gold badge—E, S. King (Wanganui) 538 £25, silver star and badge—F. N. James (Napier) .... ... 534 £l5, silver star and badge—A. O’Donnell (Petone) 531 £lO, silver star and badge—J. C. Carter (Linton) 531 The following each take 100 s and a badge:—W. Masefield (Blenheim) 524, R. Piper (Christchurch) 523, J. E. Feast (Greytown) 519, H. Feast (Grevtown) 516, F. Ching (Karori) 516, W. West (Renwick)

The following take 80s and a badge:—W. Iv ® r ( Petonc > 515, H. Hunt. (Suburbs) 514, J. Paterson (Wanganui) 514, H. MawK* Lovell (Northbank)

t Th ?, j'JS take 60s and a badge :—C. Lovell (Northoank) 512, V. Jones (Kimbolton) 512, E. Ballinger (Petone) 512, R. Hester (Suburbs) 512, A. Patrick (Auckland) 512.

The following take 40s and a badge: — i Lolton (Opaki) SH, N. Harris (Christchurch) 510, F. HooJ (Featherston) 510 A. Preece (Victoria) 509, H. Taylor (New South Wales) 509. r3 b V°j° ™ ak ? 208 each:—Boon 509, So ’ 6^ d °r’ <, Ta ylor (New South Wales), oiJo, Orrj Croxton, Johnston, Barker 507 T homson 505, Haase, Benton 504 Hiif Reynolds, Nix, Ramsay 502, Sproat (Victoria), W. Johnson 501 UV I<Kei V’ Ballinger 5W 499, J Thompson 497, Robertson 496 HIGHEST AGGREGATES .=S 769 ' C ° Ui “ °“P ««<■ H. Hunt (Suburbs) silver medal 753 716 b ' K ' ng ( Wan Sanui), bronze medal, RIFLE CHALLENGE CUP. I S , C °/4 3 iu Kin s’ s Prize—L. Lovell (Northbank) 47. CHAMPION TEAMS MATCH Champion Teams Match, 300yds, 500yds and 680yds. Seven shots. £2O and shield—Petone No. 1 (E. Ballinger, W. Ballinger, O’Donnell Nicholl, MTver) 473 £lo—Wanganui No. 1 '. 471 £6—Napier 450 £s—Suburbs No. 2 ’ £3—Christchurch No. 1 455 The following take £2 each:— Akarana 463, Linton A 462, New Plymouth 460. Also competed.- Suburbs No. 1 459, Opaki No. 1 459. Ashburton 458, Petone No. 2 455, Greytown, Old Navals, and Karori ho. 1 454, Blenheim 452. Keatherston A 449, Featherston B and Opaki 448, Karori No. 2 446, Linton B 445, Kimbolton 444, Wanganui B 442 Upper Hutt 441, Kiwi 438, Invercargill and Christchurph No. 2 436, Petone No 3 434, Tararua 431. Won last year by Christchurch, with 476.

Rifleman C. H. M'Keich, Kiwi D.R.C., the w’inner of the tyro aggregate (which carries with it the gold medal presented by his own club’ and the holding of the Simmonds Cup for one year), is 21 years of age. and commenced shooting in the 1922-23 season. This is his first visit to a National Rifle Association meeting at Trentham. He comes of a shooting family. The late Lieutenant R. M'Keich (killed in the Boer War) first fired at the big meetings in , Oamaru in 1888, exactly 40 years ago, and was a competitor almost every year until going to South Africa with the 9th . New Zealand Contingent, from which he never returned. Rifleman C. H. M‘Keich’s father, Rifleman W. E. M‘Keich, has visited TYentham on several occasions since the competitions were revived after the Great War.

EMPIRE TEAMS’ MATCH. WELLINGTON, March 1. An Empire Match of 10 shots at 300, 600, 800, and. 900yds was fired at Trentham today. 'lhe teams were as follows:—Victoria—C. Henderson, L. Righetti,' G. Bruce, J. Harris, R. Reseigh, W. Sproat, W. Harris, A. Preece, H. M'Gregor, H. Hancock. New South Wales.—F. Stockbridge, E. Channon, O. Boyd. H. Taylor, A. Ferguson, A. Latimer, W. Fulton, E. Wilesmith, E. Forge, B. Freak. New Zealand.—F. James, H. Hunt, F. Hood. \V. Masefield. W. MTver, W T . West, R. Hester, C. Nix, H. Feast, E. Ballinger. Shooting was commenced at 9 o’clock and continued into the afternoon. The morning was windless, but sighting was difficult on account of the sun glare. At 3Ooyds New South Wales opened well, but at the conclusion of this range New Zealand was equal with a total of 431. Victoria was 422. At 600yds New Zealand forged ahead, Victoria overhauling and passing New South Wales. The scores for the two ranges were, New Zealand £65, Victoria 855, New South Wales 852. Feast (49) topped the individual score at 600yds. New Zealand increased their lead at BGoyds, the aggregates for the three ranges being:—New Zealand 1329, Victoria 1306, New South Wales 1292. Ferguson and Channon secured possibles. The aggregates at 900yds were NewZealand 412, Victoria 405, New South Wales 396. The grand aggregates were as follows:—New Zealand 1741. Victoria 1708, New South Wales 1688. For the shooting at 90Oyds the wind was exceptionally tricky. . Hester “plunked” in six bulls in succession, followed by a miss, and then two finishing bulls. The best individual aggregates were Feast 187 and James 184.