Southland Rifle Association.

Southland Times, Issue 13936, 29 December 1897, Page 3

Southland Rifle Association.

The third annual gathering was held at Grasmere on Monday, when 42 competitors took part in the matches, all of which were keenly contested. The veteran Craigie won the championship handsomely. The weather conditions, especially in the 600 yards’ matches, proved very difficult to negotiate by the bulk of the competitors. Considerable interest was taken in the teams match for the Caledonian Society’s cup. The Bluff Club won this event last year, and were strong favourites, and had they succeeded this time the cup would have become their own.

The clubs and corps represented at the meeting were the Invercargill, Bluff, and Wyndham Clubs, G Battery, Gore Rifles, and Kiversdale Rifles. The shooting was excellent, and Whitney’s “ December, 1897 " ammunition gave general satisfaction. Montgomery (Bluff Club) last year’s ohampion, was handicapped in the 600 yards matches, having to hurry owing to business engagements. Appended are the prize winners. 200 Yards (7 shots)—W. Reuben (Wyndham) 32, H. Marshall (Wyndham) 32, J. Grant (G Battery) 32, G. W. Shelton (Bluff) 32, W. Craigie (1.R.C.) 31, A. R. Wills (1.R.C.) 31. Counted out —Huffadine (Invercargill), Shanks (Gore), Kightly (1.R.C.) 500 yards (7 shots) —R. McNab (1.R.C.), 33 ; Q.M.S. Lennie (G Battery), 32 ; Captain Mackenzie (do), 32; W. Craigie (I.R.C) 32 ; J. S. Murphy '(do), 31 ; H. Marshall (Wyndham), 30. Counted out — Reuben (Wyndham.) 600 yards (7 shots) —J. Grant (G Battery), 29 ; Sergt. O'Toole (do), 29 ; R. McNab (1.R.C.), 28 ; J. Shanks (Gore), 28 ; W. Craigie (I.R.C), 28; A. R. Wills (I.R.C), 26. Champion Match (7 shots at 600 yards)— W. Craigie (1.R.C.), 32, 91—123 ;H. Marshall (Wyndham), 30, 86—116 ; R. McNab (1.R.C.), 26, 90-116 ; Segrt. Shanks (Gore), 27, 88-115; A. R. Wills (1.R.C.), 27, 85112.

Last Try (10 shots at 500 yards)—Joe Johnston (1.R.C.), 45 ; A. J. Campbell (Wyndham), 45; W. Bannerman (1.R.C.), 43; R. Kightly (1.R.C.), 42. CALEDONIAN SOCIETY’S CUP. Invercargill Club.

[There appears to be an error in the details of Mr McNab’s score for the Cup, as supplied ; these add up two more than his total.]

200 yds. 500 yds. 600 yds. Total W. Craigie... 31 32 28 91 R. McNab 31 33 28 90 A. R. Wills 31 28 26 85 J. Gray 28 29 25 82 E. Huifadine 31 25 24 80 Joe Johnston 29 21 25 75 W. Bannerman ... 22 25 23 70 R. Rightly 31 26 13 70 W. Smith 25 21 17 63 Jno. Johnston 23 21 15 59 ■ ■ *280 2G1 Bluff Club. 224 765 W. B. Montgomery 29 29 25 83 G. W. Shelton ... 32 24 25 81 W. Johnston 20 29 25 80 W. G. Cato 29 29 20 78 F. Jones 27 28 19 74 W. M. Wakclin ... 26 24 23 73 W. Parlane 26 27 19 72 W. A. Brookes ,,, 24 26 19 69 Capt. Macdonald ... 25 22 20 67 G. A. Whealler .. 29 16 13 58 273 254 G Battery. 208 735 Bomb. Grant 32 28 27 89 Sergt. O’Toole ... 31 24 29 84 Q.M.S. Lennie 30 32 18 80 Gun. Wilson 28 23 27 78 Gun. Johnson 29 29 15 73 Capt. Mackenzie ... 20 32 16 68 Sergt. Lennie 28 24 15 67 Bomb. Anderson ... 23 21 22 66 Corp. Boyce 18 17 11 56 Sergt. Jaquiery ... 22 15 8 45 261 255 190 706