RIFLE CHAMPIONSHIP.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 10302, 9 March 1905, Page 4

RIFLE CHAMPIONSHIP.

(Per Press Association.) TRENTHAM, last night. The weather was fine throughout the d«y and) great interest naturally centred upon the championship, because in addition to the character of the event, the choice of learn to defend the Kolapore Cup at Bisley to a. large extent depended upon the result. There was a large attendance of visitors. The Premier and Sir Joseph Ward, who arc absent from Wellington, were unable to attend, and Major-General Babington was too ill to be present. ■ Mrs Seddon represented her husband in the presentation of prizes. The Hon. Hall Jones and Lady Ward were also present. The fifty men to take part in the King's Prize mustered- at the squadding posts at 3.15. Meltroy opeuedi his account with five for a slighter, which he luidi to discard, getting three for his first business shot. This lie followed by four on the left. Correcting the sight he got a four on the right with good elevation. Loveday placed a. three for his sighler, following it up with 5, 4. 5, placing him within six points of the leader. Martin opening with a. bullseye for* a, sightur, got an outer near the top of the target for his next, but his next was an 0. This practically put him out of the hunt. In the meantime Melroy was working hard at Ids target, but his next hit only raised the outer disc. Loveduy put up a. good shot which placed him within three points of the leader. Melroy 'responded with 5, followed' by 3 aiming to the right, but Loveday came up with 5 and 5 thus reducing Melroy's lead to on© point. The excitement ran high, and the interest in the other competitors had' practically ceased. Martin was unable to make 'up the ground he lost by his miss. Melroy made a. bullseye with his next shot, and Loveday responded with, another bullseye. Each man got 4 with his next shot, which Melroy followeiS with a. 5, thus regaining one point on his lead. Then, each scored 4, and 1 the excitement was as keen as ever. At Melroy's twelfth shot it was seen that unless Melroy had very bad luck lie must win, ami the result of interchange of sliots between him and' Loveday left Melroy a,s champion by six points, with an aggregate of 607 points. Martin, had in the meantime been, .vte.adily plodding along with no hope of overtaking the lenders. His total was 49, and hi* aggregate 486. Captain Craw, of Charleston, to whom little attention had been paid', had been steadily putting on hits, and totalled up 64, "which placed liim third. in the aggregate with 489. T. Jock, Linwood, ivas another who had been overlooked in the interest attaching to the two leaders. His score card showed that he had shot witli remarkable consistency amli but for a break-up earlier in the* meeting would have made close running . for the belt. His range total was 69, which gave him possession of the rifle- cup for one year. The scores were : r- .

Melroy, Nelson, champion belt, gold) medal and £30-^47—60 (3, 4, 5, 2, 5. 3. 5, 4, 5, 5, 4, 5, 4, 4, 3), 507; W. Loveday, Mauriceville, silver star and £25 — .438— 63( 5, 4, 5, 5, 5, 5, 4, 4, 5, 5, 2, 3, 5, 3, 3) 501 ; C.. Craw, Charleston, silver .star and £20-^425—64 (3, 4, 4, 5, 2. 5, 5, 3, 5, 3/ "5, 5, 5, 5, 5) 489; T. Jack, Linwood, silver star and £12 — 419—69, 488 ; H. Hawthorne, Karon, 425 —62 487; J. Franklin, Weber, 424— 62, 486; Martin. Timaru, 437—49, 486: G. Hyde, Opaki. 424—61, 485; White, Patea, 422—62, 485 ; G. Hawthorne, Karon, 425—59, 484; Pearson, Timaru. 424 —60, 484 ; Sandford, Christclmrcli, 422— 62, 484, Drummondl, Dannevirke, 428—^ 55. 483; W. Randall, Petone, 425—58, 483; P. Brown, Waihi, 424—59, 483; Ching, Nelson, 424—59, 483; Shaw, Ohinemuri, 429—52, 481; Skinner, Auckland, 423— 57, 480; A. Hyde, Hawke's Bay, 423—57, 480; F. Wilkie, Upper Hutt, 428—51, 479; Dewar, Oamaru, 426—53, 479; King, Opaki, 418—61, 479; A. McKenzie, Oamaru, 415—63, 478.

When the shooting was over, Colonel Collins advanced to Melroy, and, testing his rifle to see tliot.it would pull the proper weight, lie declared him champion of New Zealand 1 for 1905, amidst the cheers of the on-lookers.

At the presentation, of prizes by Mrs Seddon, Colonel Collins read a congratulatory telegram from Mr Seddon, and said that the Government would do all possible to encourage rifle-shooting. The Hon. Hall Jones .«aid that rifle shooting was a thing which the Government ought to encourage. The winner of the belt was decorated with it and' photographed. By an error in the calculation T. Jack was presented with the third prize, but it turned out that Crow hod beaten him by one point.