RIFLE SHOOTING

Southland Times, Issue 19184, 1 March 1924, Page 13

RIFLE SHOOTING

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION’S MEETING. Preparations for the big meeting, and the annual competition for the Ballinger Champion Rifle Belt are well in hand. In order to reduce the cost to the competitor, the Executive has decided to reduce the ammunition from one shilling to sixpence per packet. This, together with the free return railway warrant, will appreciably reduce the individual cost, particularly to those coming from a distance. In addition, it has been decided to add £2OO to the prize list as appearing in the programme. This is based only on the entry of 260. It is expected that the entries this year will reach 300. In the case of entries exceeding 260, a still further increase will be made in the prize list. Arrangements have been made for the same first-class catering as last year, at the reasonable charge of five shillings per day. Camp equipment including bed, palliass, blankets, and ground sheet will be issued to each competitor at a charge of five shillings for the meeting, so that a man need take \*ery little into camp. Most of the well-known range officers, together with some new ones, will be attending the meeting. In order to encourage the younger shots, the Kiwi Rifle Club of Dunedin have kindly presented a gold medal, and the Wellington Racing Club £5 5/- to go to the highest aggregate compiled by a Tyro. Other special prizes include the two Match Rifles given by the Birmingham Small Anns Company of England. These valuable tropries are allotted to the Bisley and Trentham aggregates respectively. In the Grand Aggregate, comprising all matches in the Service Series, and matches 1 to 9 in the B Series, three medals are allotted. In addition to these new features the whole of the Association’s well-known shields and cups will be competed for. In order to encourage cadets to take part, their entrance fees have been reduced to half price. As a number of cadets are now making very good shooting in the various rifle clubs, it is expected that some of them will be trying their skill in open company. The Association is indebted to the Defence Department for much assistance in regard to the meeting. The competitions commence on Tuesday. March 18, and are timed to finish with the final on the following Saturday afternoon. This will give the public an opportunity of witnessing the final struggle for the Belt. Arrangements have been made for the ranges to be open for practice on Monday, March 17, when no doubt the visiting competiiors will take the chance of a practice over the long ranges in particular.