RIFLE SHOOTING

Southland Times, Issue 20633, 3 November 1928, Page 19 (Supplement)

RIFLE SHOOTING

(By

“Bullseye.”)

Territorials busy getting through their musketry courses. Rifle Club members having a spell in consequence. The date of the N.R.A. meeting at Trentham has been fixed for February 7, and the meeting will last the usual six days. By all accounts the Invercargill Rifle Club will be strongly represented again. A meeting of the soutnland Rifle Association was held on Tuesday evening when arrangements were put in hand for the running of the Annual Prize firing to be held on Wednesday and Thursday of December 26 and 27. The programmes will be on issue very shortly. A team of 18 members from the Invercargill Club journeyed to Nightcaps last Saturday and fired a match with the promising young Nightcaps Club. Although defeated, many members of the young club showed promise, and more matches with outside clubs will do them a power of good. The next time the Invercargill Club fires against Nightcaps, I would suggest that the members of the town team coach the members of the young club and thereby give them some information and a few hints that might be of assistance to them. J. Wilson who topped the list for Nightcaps is not a new hand with the rifle, and his experience enabled him to compile two steady twenty nines at 300 and 500 yards. R. Schoen who made 28 and 29 also shot steadily and more should be heard of this marksman before the season is through. W. Excell also shot consistently by compiling 28 at each range, and steady practice for a few weeks should add a few pointe to these totals. R. Marlich who made a total of 54, was top for his side at 500 yards with 31, which was a creditable score under the conditions. This is a marksman who should also show considerable improvement as the season advances. C. Roberts, who also made 54, is an old hand at the game, having done a lot of shooting in the land of the heather. He first fired with the aperture sight last Saturday, and as he gets used to the new style of sighting, he will probably be a pretty Lard nut to crack. H. Kitto with 40, did not shoot up to his usual form. I have seen Rifleman Kitto do much better than this, but with some steady practice this marksman’s name will probably be found among the prizewinners at Otatara on Boxing Day. The remaining members of the Nightcaps team all showed keenness and enthusiasm and with coaching and practice they should all make efficient marksmen. On the Invercargill side, 62 was top score. This should have been at least three points higher, even although the conditions were inclined to be a little rocky. The veteran A. R. Wills, counted out R. Ure with this total. At 300 yards R. and J. Ure made 32 each, L. Neil one of the Club’s colte following closely with 31. At 500 yards A. R. Wills was easily top with 33, his nearest attendants being W. Henderson, W r . O’Brien and W. McChesney with 31 each. L. NEIL Shot well for a tyro, his 61 being a most creditable score under the conditions. W. Henderson 28-31, W. O’Brien 28-31, J. Tansiey 30-29, and W. H. Cunningham 29-28, all did well for the young brigade. W. Cook 28-30 returned a good team score, but is capable of another couple or three points at each range. W. McChesney had a day off and shot much below his usual form—looked like want of practice. H. H. Moes was another of the old hands who was off colour on the day, but this marksman will probably be found making much larger totals before the Boxing Day meeting comes round. Three new members of the club, H. Edmonds, W. H. Long, and G. Weithers, also fired in the team and all showed promise of developing into first class marksmen. The Miniature Club has closed the season and a summary of the competitions is as follows:—Championship—G, H. Smith with an average of 72.5 1; W. S. Ayson 71.6, 2; W. McChesney 70.6, 3; J. Ure 70.3, 4. Aggregate Handicap Cup.—G. H. Smith, average 72.5 1; W. McChesney 72, 2; W. S. Ayson 71.6, 3. Own Handicap Aggregate Cup.—J. Ure, average 74.3, 1; G. H. Smith, average 74, 2; P. H. Morey 72.3, 3. Medal Competition.—J. Ure 1, G. H. Smith, 2. Highest Score off Rifle.— (possible 80) A. R. Wills 78, J. Ure 78. Ladies Highest Aggregate.—Mrs. P. H. Morey, average 68.7 1; Miss Fogarty 56.2, 2; Mrs. Baker 47. 3. Ladies Championships.—Miss Barry, average 67, 1; Mrs. Morey 66.9. 2; Mrs. Maher 65.2, 3. Highest Score off Rifle.—Mrs. Morey 76, Mrs. Hicks, 74. As there was some doubt as to the accuracy of the different rifles used by the Miniature dub, the scores made by the three rifles make an interesting comparison. The score is the highest made by each rifle on thirteen nights—No. 2 Rifle, 956—N0. 3 Rifle, 949, No. 1 Rifle, 937.