RIFLE SHOOTING

Southland Times, Issue 21604, 16 January 1932, Page 13

RIFLE SHOOTING

(Notes

by “Spotter.”)

MACKENZIE SHIELD MATCH. That the decision of the executive of the Southland Rifle Association in granting the Gore Club permission to conduct the Mackenzie Challenge Shield competition at their McNab rifle range on Boxing Day was a wise one was in evidence when the large gathering of riflemen from all over the Southland province lined up at the time appointed for the commencement of the match. The entries received constitute a record for the province, sixteen teams being present, all the Southland clubs with the exception of Balfour and Garston being represented. The day was beautifully fine and the up-to-date appointments of the range, together with the pleasant surroundings, immediately found favour with the visitors. After Mr J. Mathews, president of the Gore Club, had welcomed the visitors and Major P. Mackenzie, president of the Southland Rifle Association had briefly addressed the teams, the range officer, Mr J. Shanks took charge of the meeting and

very soon had everything in readiness for a start at the first range. Six sets of targets were available and two teams were allotted to each target, each team firing in pairs alternately, the two odd men from each team firing together at the finish. At the draw for targets all the No. 1 teams were placed in the first draw, the four remaining teams firing in the second round. The range was well flagged, the positions of the flags at the different points showing

that those in charge were well up to the fine points of the game. A light wind blew throughout the "day and varied from one to three o’clock, the changes being plainly noticeable on the flags with the exception of a short period at the GOO yards range there were no variations in wind sufficient to put anyone outside an inner. Coaching being allowed, each team being coached throughout, the coaches were Gore No. 1 J. Mathews, Gore No. 2 S. Preece, Mataura No. 1 S. H. Parker, Mataura No. 2 C. Goodwin, Waikaia No. 1 W. Cook, Waikaia No. 2 J. Moffit, Invercargill No. 1 A. R. Wills, Invercargill No. 2 N. Mac Williams, Invercargill No. 3 M. Sheehan, Invercargill No. 4 C. 11. Cunningham, City Guards Nos. 1 and 2 W. McChesney, Clinton J. West, Tapanui K. Rodger, Nightcaps R. Hazley, Queenstown D. R. Gray. After the first squads were finished at 300 yards it was evident that there was going to be some “hot” shooting, and this proved the case, the marksmanship being of a very high standard indeed. At the first range, Invercargill No. 1 put on a fine shoot of 159, their board reading A. Lyall 34, W. E. Diack 34, W. Wiley 33, A. R. Wills 32, C. H. Wilson 31, City Guards No. 1 were second with 159, Queenstown third with 157, Invercargill No. 3 154 were fourth, and City Guards No. 2, 153, fifth. Invercargill No. 1 had a nice lead of five points from City Guards No. 1, and seven points from Queenstown. The best in-

dividual scores were, A. Ford (City Guards No. 1) 4555555—34, W. E. Diack (Invercargill No. 1) 5455555—34, R. Hazley (Nightcaps) 5554555—34, A. Lyall (Invercargill No. 1) 5555554—34.

At the second range, 500 yards, there was some splendid shooting, City Guards No. 1 put on a big “hit” and were top with 167, their board reading F. E. Wright 35, J. Ure 34, R. Ure 33, A. Ford 33, J. Tansley 32. Invercargill No. 2 were second with 164, Gore No. 1 and Invercargill No. 1 each made 161, City Guards No. 2 160, and Queenstown 158. With two ranges completed the scores of the leading teams were City Guards No. 1, 326, Invercargill No. 1, 325, Invercargill No. 2, 315, Queenstown 315, City Guards No. 2, 313, Gore No. 1, 310.

The best individual scores at 500 yards 'V. r S’.. E X Wri S 11(: < Ci( y Guards No. 1) 5555555—35, E. J. McLauchlan (City Guards No. 2) 5555555—35, “all-buts” (34’s) were secured by S. Thomson (Nightcaps), D. S. McKenzie (Gore No. 1), J. Burnett- (Tapanui), R. C. Anderson (Invercargill No. 2), J. Ure (City Guards No. 1), W. Milley (Invercargill No. 1), W. E. Diack (Invercargill No. 1), H. Mackenzie (Queenstown), and 11. 11. Moss (Invercargill No. 2). Ten 33 s and 17 32’s were also recorded. With one range to go City Guards No. 1 and Invercargill No. 1 with eleven and ten points respectively in the lead of Invercargill No. 2 and Gore No. 1 (who were equal) w’ere looked upon to provide the winners and the shooting of the two teams was followed with interest.

Wills and Milley led off for Invercargill, and Wright and Tansley took the lead for City Guards. Wills made 29 and Milley 34, 63 for the pair. Wright made 33 and Tansley 31, 64 for the two. City Guards were now another point up. Diack and Wilson were second pair down for Invercargill and R. Ure and J. Ure for City Guards. Diack made 32 and Wilson 34, a good 66. R. Ure put on 29 and J. Ure 31, 60 for the two. Invercargill were now four points up with one man to fire and appeared sure winners. A Lyall was last down for Invercargill' and A. lord finished off for City Guards. Lyall started badly, dropping five points in his first three shots and finished with 28. Ford shot steadily and finished strongly for 32 and both teams were level with ’ the fine scores of 482 each, an average of 96 2-5 per man.

The best, score at 600 yards was put on by Gore No. 1, the team making the fine score of 162 their board reading J. Math--34 ’ G ' Bain 34 ' W - Milne 32, C. M. V tlson 32, D. S. Mackenzie 30. Invercargill No. 2 put on 159, Queenstown 154 and City Guards No. 2, 147. The best, individual scores at 600 yards were T; ?’ Menshelwood (Invercargill No. 2, n 3 f55055— 34 C. 11. Wilson (Invercargill No, 1) 5545555—34, J. Mathews (Gore No. 1) 5554555—34; W. Milley (Invercargill No. 555455—34; G. Bain (Gore Ao. 1) 5555455—34 and J. Padget (City Guards No. 2) 5555545—34. The scores of the six leading teams were Invercargill No. 1, 482, City Guards No 1, 482, Invercargill No. 2, 474, Gore No. 1 472, Queenstown 469, City Guards No. 2 460. The Shoot Off, The Invercargill and City Guards teams being top, each with the same score, the question now to be decided was, wno was to hold the valuable trophy for twelve months. The range officer, Mr J. Shanks invited A. R. Wills and W. McChesney, the teams’ captains to a meeting at which were present Major Mackenzie, President J. Mathews and Secretary C. M. Wilson, representing the executive of the Gore(Club. It was decided to shoot off under sub-section C of rule 33 of the N.R.A. Rules and the captains were asked to nominate one man to fire five shots and two optional sighters at 600 yards. Wills nominated W. Milley and McChesney nominated A. Ford. The two contestants were allotted number one target, the others being lowered. Wills was alongside Milley and McChensey was with Ford, the range officer keeping the large crowd of spectators clear of the mound. The toss for order of firing was won by Wills who requested Ford to shoot first. Ford's first sighter was a “bull” and Milley’s was a three. Ford’s second sighter was a three, above the bull. Milley found the bull with his second sighter. McChesney discarded Ford’s two sighters and Wills discarded Milley’s first and retained the second. Milley was now first in the order of firing, his first business shot being a bull. Ford’s first business shot was a 4, close in. Milley was one up on the first shot. Milley’s second was a four, just out and Ford’s was a bull. Two shots gone and again level. Milley’s third shot was a four, just out and Ford got a four, also close in. Three shots gone, and still level. Milley got a good bull with his fourth shot and Ford’s fourth was a four, just on the edge of the bull. With one shot to go Milley was one up and required a bull for his last shot to make it impossible for Ford to win. The wind had dropped a little by now and when Milley was firing his shot it was thought that he might get it on the right, but it was a three, high to the left. Ford had now to get a bull to win or a four to tie. He was seen to make an alteration on his previous shot which was just on the right

edge of the bull. After a long aim he . pulled a steady shot and the marker regis- t tered a bulls-eye, the spotting disc showing f fair in the centre. The markers’ signal p brought forth a hearty round of applause | from the spectators and Milley and Wills E were the first to congratulate Ford and MeChesney. K

The young City Guards marksman was heartily congratulated by the officials and fellow riflemen on his fine performance. Milley was also congratulated on his fine shoot. The shoot-off was a splendid duel between two marksmen of the first class and it was a memorable finish to one of the finest competitions ever held in the province.

The arrangements made for the fixture and the control throughout left nothing to be desired. Everything passed off without a hitch and the Gore men proved they are capable of cairying out such fixtures. President J. Mathews kept in touch with everything that was going on and C. M. Wilson, the club’s secretary was the right man in the right place. Mr J. Shanks as range officer quickly gained the confidence of the competitors and had their co-operation throughout. S. Preece was here, there and everywhere always willing to do anything he could for the visitors. Undoubtedly the Gore men made a good impression and they can look forward with confidence to the riflemen of Southland supporting any fixture they may promote in the future. The markers did their work efficiently and well, the results being signaller! quickly and accurately. Visitors were a bit at sea for a while owing to the markers’ style in marking the shots. Bullseyes were narked on the waterline, as also were inners. Many a time a visitor thought he had a dreaded “mag” when he saw the disc going half way up the target and heaved a sigh of relief when the scores called out “five.” The N.R.A. rules are definite in stating that a bullseye shall be signalled by placing the marking disc at the right hand bottom of the' target and an inner by placing the disc at the left bottom corner. This is tendered to the Gore markers in the best of spirit for the writer has not anywhere experienced quicker and more accurate marking than that shown by the Gore boys on Boxing Day. Two possibles were recorded during the match, both being made at 500 yards. The coveted honour falling to F. E. Wright and E. J. McLauchlan, both of the City Guards Club. This is the first occasion on which cither rifleman had notched the possible and there is no better occasion for such a performance than in a teams match. The shooting at 500 yards was as good if not better than anything the writer has witnessed outside a Trentham meeting. An idea of the high class markmanship can he formed when two possibles, eight 34’s, ten 33’s and seventeen 32’s were registered at this range.

W. Milley’s 33, 34, 34—101 was a fine effort and was top score for the day. W. E. Diack with 34, 34, 32—100 was second, then followed F. E. Wright 31, 35, 33— 99, A. Ford 34, 33, 32—99, D. R. Gray 33, 33, 33—99, T. E. Hensbelwood 31, 33, 34—98, J. Ure 33, 34, 31—98. There were three 97’s, four 96’s and four 95’s. The performances of W. Milley and W. E. Diack in the three competitions which have been held for the Mackenzie Shield will take some beating. In the three contests Milley has put on 102, 99 and 101 and Diack 98, 102 and 100. These scores would take some beating in any three shoots in one competition. English ammunition was used by both men. Deciding a Tic. The method in which the tie in the Mackenzie Shield match at Gore was decided was evidently considered in certain quarters as being unnecessary. In regard to the National Rifle Association rules the following apply to ties. “Team competitions in which each shot is separately signalled: Rule 33.— “(a) If at one distance, by the aggregate range totals in inverse order, commencing with the longest. “(b) By the aggregate total of the last and each other shot, successfully in inverse order, of all the members of the team. “(c) By a member of each team, nominated by his captain, firing five shots at the longest or only range, and, if still a tie, by such members firing single shots until the tie is decided.”

The application of these rules rests entirely with the controlling body, the executive in charge, the competitors having no voice in the matter. The tie in question was decided under sub-section (c) at the request of the officers in charge, which was the right and proper course to adopt. A correspondent in the Southland Times signing himself “Honour Where Honour is Due” states that the Invercargill Club’s team actually won the shield on the tie according to N.R.A. rules, Bisley rules or Australian rules of shooting, which provide that in the event of a tie, the team making the best score at the longest range wins, and this the Invercargill team did, and but for the generous sporting action of Mr Wills, in agreeing to a shoot off, when approached by the range officer, his team would have won the shield for the third time. The correspondent is wrong in his contention. The award could only be made under sub-section (a) (the count out) in the event of exceptional circumstances arising. In the event of it being unable to fire a shoot off through weather conditions, lateness of hour, one of the teams (or both) having left the range, or any other conditions which would render a shoot off impossible, then the executive could apply sub-section (a), the only course to take. The Invercargill team could not claim the match under sub section (a), and to say that but for Mr Wills, the team would have retained the shield is placing the Invercargill Club’s president in a false position. Both captains agreed to the shoot off, and the request came from the officers-in-charge. “Honour Where Honour is Due” complains in the same letter that in the report of the Gore shoot there were omissions and inaccuracies and the report "was unfair and was written by one who was against giving the Invercargill Club any credit, even when they deserve it.” The report in the Times complained of was supplied by “Spotter” and was accurate. “Spotter” does not mind criticism; he can stand it, he is case hardened. Every club and every rifleman gets what the writer thinks is a fair deal in this column. The writer does not claim to be infallible, neither does he profess to know much about rifle shooting, and any assistance in this direction from “Honour To Whom Honour is Due” would be appreciated by “Spotter” and would be published in the column for the benefit of other riflemen.

The ranges at Otatara this week are 500 and 600 yards. To-day the Invercargill Club is firing the first stage of the H. &

J. Smith Cup and the City Guards Club is firing the second stage of the A Grade championship and Witcomb and Caldwell Cup.