RIFLE SHOOTING

Southland Times, Issue 21073, 3 May 1930, Page 18

RIFLE SHOOTING

(By

Spotter.”)

The Otatara range is now available to rifle clubs and the two local clubs are arranging programmes for the winter months. Last week the Invercargill Defence Club held shoots on Wednesday and Saturday, the Wednesday members fired a seven shot practice over 300, 500 and 600 yards and the Saturday members fired their final stage of the Thomson Cup competition, the Wednesday members having fired their last course some time ago. The City Guards were not out on Wednesday but the Saturday men fired 10 shots at 300 and 600 yards. A. R. Wills headed the list of the Invercargill Club on Wednesday with the score of 95 for the three ranges. Wills’ range scores were 31 at 300 yards and 32 at both the long ranges, at the 600 yards he was running for a good 33 but failed at the last shot, finishing with a four. C. ll.’ Wilson put on a nice 34 out of the possible 35. lie got an inner with his fifth shot, but finished out with two bulls. C. H. Cunningham put on the highest score at the Invercargill Club’s shoot last Saturday when the last range for the Thomson Cup, ten shots at 600 yards was fired. Cunningham put on 46 which is a good score at this range. He was running for 48 but a high three for the last shot spoilt the chance of this good score. At 600 yards last Saturday the light was failing and Cunningham made a mistake when he raised his elevation after getting a low bull for his ninth shot. The dull light would have kept, him in the ball, without any alteration. In fact the place to keep the bulls-eyes last Saturday was below the watenine. The scores of the other Invercargill Club members were not very high, although the conditions were good. None of the others managed to break 40 and more than inners should have been put on under the conditions. . . The Thomson Cup .competition, which was fired over six ranges, ten shots at each, resulted in a win for C. H. Wilson with the score of 278 which included four points handicap. The Thomson Cup winner for 1930 is an experienced shot who has been out of the game for some years and only took it un again last season when he joined up with the Invercargill Club. Prior to coming to Southland Wilson was one of the crack shots in the Caversham rifles in the old volunteer days and has quite a number of valuable trophies which were won in competition with first-class marksmen. This year he renroduced some of his old form and has some fine scores to his credit. Wilson is to be congratulated on his win as he took the lead at the beginning of the competition and staved there and his last three range score of 143 over 300, 500 and 600 yards was that of a winner. ■

The City Guards Club fired ten shots at 300 and GOO yards last Saturday and some good shooting was witnessed, especially at the 600 yards range. At 300 yards 44 was the main, W. McChesney and J. Ure obtainin that score. There were two or three 43’s and some of the younger shots made inners and one or two over. The conditions were —'od last Saturda” and there should have been some 46's, 47’s or even 48’s put on but this is often the case when conditions are easy. However, at 600 yards there was some good shooting. That promising young marksman, A. Ford, put on a fine shoot and was top for the' day with 4S. His eight bulls were all near the centre and the two fours were just outside the IS inch circle. The first two shots were bulls, then an inner, three more bulls, an inner for his eighth shot and the last two were bulls. This same rifleman also obtained the highest aggregate for the day; his score of 01 for

300 and 600 yards is one*that is not often beaten at Otatara. .R. Urc put on a good 47 at 600 yarns last Saturday. Bob is shooting well this season, and this City Guards member is unquestionably one of the most reliable shots in the province. Wet day or fine, windy or calm, practice shooting, team shooting, competition shooting or at association meetings he is always to be fount! very near the top of the lists. J. Padget’s 85 at 300 and 600 yards was a good steady shoot last Saturday and it will not be long before the City Guards club will have another first-class shot for team shooting. Padget was one of the best shots in the old Invercargill City Guards company when the volunteers were disbanded and he is now taking the game on steady with the new'club.

S. Ayling is showing improved form, and this young member of the new club is responding to the coaching he is receiving and it will not be long before he will be able to hold his own with some who have been shooting for two or three years.

J. Storrie is another of the young members of the new club who is making steady progress. This youthful territorial is now making scores of about inners and as he is keen and has all the necessary qualifications for a marksman it will not be long before he will be extending some of the older hands at Otatara.

The handsome Ladies’ Challenge Shield which was won by the City Guards team at the Otago rifle meeting on Easter Monday is now on view in McGruer, Taylors Dee Street window and is attracting much attention on the part of the public. This is the first occasion this valuable trophy has come to Southland and the young club has received numerous congratulations from prominent men in the province on the success of the team in its first venture away from home. In conversation with Mr J. Flaus, president of the City Guards club, the writer was informed that the club had decided to hand the shield over to the City Council for safe keeping during the time it is in the club’s possession.. This is a wise step as it would be nothing short of a calamity if anything should happen to this valuable work cf art. The shield is insured for £250, but money would not replace the loss of this magnificent reproduction of Milton’s “Paradise Lost.” Mr Flaus also mentioned that the club is showing its recognition of the team’s success by tendering the members a complimentary social. A committee has the arrangements well in hand and everything points to the function being a great success. Mr F. J. Logan, deputy president of the City Guards Club, informs me that the club has arrangements well under way to commence miniature shooting during the winter months. A strong committee has been appointed with Mr A. H. Smith secretary and it is hoped to commence shooting next Thursday evening. Major McHugh has granted the club the use of the miniature range in the Drill Hall on Tuesday evenings, and the installation of a lighting system and the procuring of the necessary equipment is well under way. The club coaches have offered their services in teaching the young fellows how to shoot and will not be competing for any trophies. Mr Logan is of the opinion that in a few months his club will produce a miniature shooting team that will extend the best in the province. Mr Logan wishes it made known that he will only be too pleased to give anyone desirous of taking on miniature shooting full particulars of the methods to be adopted by his club. This week the City Guards are firing the final ranges of the Club’s championship, ten shots at 300 yards and sixteen shots at 600 yards. With seven ranges fired and two to go the position of the leaders is as follows: J. Ure 307, R. Ure 297, J. Padget 294, W. McChesney 290.