RIFLE SHOOTING

Southland Times, Issue 23210, 27 May 1937, Page 8

RIFLE SHOOTING

(By

BULLSEYE)

The Southland Rifle Association is holding a one-day meeting at Otatara on June 9, when three matches will be fired, 10 shots at 300, 500 and 600 yards. The competition will be divided into two grades, A grade and tyros. A tyro is one who has not won more than ten shillings at any association meeting. Shooting will commence at 9.30 a.m. The entry fee will be 2/6 a match and 2/6 for the aggregate with a further 2/6 to defray expenses, markers, etc.Each grade will have its own separate prize list. Competitors must provide their own ammunition, and bring their own lunch, but hot water, tea, etc., will be provided. Post entries will be accepted but clubs are 'advised to send to the secretary Mr-MacWilliams the number of competitors they are sending so that arrangements can be made for sufficient markers.

The Invercargill Club fired the semi-final of its club championship last Saturday in good weather conditions. The ranges were 500 and 600 yards, 10 shots at each. Some excellent scores were registered and the leading man, S. L. Wall, retained his lead. W. Milley who was second had to give way to his son, R. M. Milley, who shot brilliantly at both ranges for a total of 95 and is now in second place, one point behind Wall. The leading aggregates now are:—S. L. Wall 291, R. M. Milley 290, A. A. Ford and W. Milley 288, A. R. Wills and D. Collie 282 A, Lyall 281 and J. Clark 279 . The winner should come out of one of the leading four, but as there are 10 shots at 300 yards and 15 shots at 600 yards to be fired next Saturday, if conditions are at all difficult competitors within ten points of the leader have a fighting chance. The final should be a very interesting one.

A Possible to W. Milley At 500 yards W. Milley made the possible of ten bulls, and there were three 49’s made by R. M. Milley, J. Clark and S. L. Wall. A. Lyall and A. Ford also shot well at this range for 48 each, while W. A. Diack and N. Price with 47 each also performed well. W. Milley’s diagram is here shown: —

5 5 5555555 5=50

At 600 yards A. R. Wills and D. Collie each made 49 and tied for the top place, each dropping a point on the eighth shot. Five 46’s were made by R. M. Milley, S. L. Wall, A. A. Ford, W. D. Henderson and J. Archer and this was good scoring •at this range. Wills’s and Collie’s diagram is as follows:—

555555545 5=49

The best aggregates were R. M. Miley’s who counted out S. L. Wall who also scored 95 each. Wills, Collie and Ford made 94, J. Clark end W. Milley 93 and A. Lyall 92. The City Guards Club completed its championship last Saturday, ten shots being fired .at 500 yards, and 15 at 600 yards. The winner was W McChesney who averaged 47.6 over the nine ranges. This was a splendid performance and beat his last year’s winning score by six points. McChesney has been shooting consistently well during the season and his win was well deserved. The fact that he won by eight points from the second man shows what a task ne set the other members of the club. J. Tansley shot well during the series to finish in second place. W. J. Murray who was third in the A grade looked like having a chance at one stage but a 41 at 300 yards, and a 42 at 500 yards last Saturday spoilt it. Murray, however, showed fine form in the final at 600 yards where he only dropped two points in the fifteen shots, his two inners coming on his sixth and eleventh shots. <■ This was an excellent performance and is seldom beaten anywhere. B. Broomfield, who had missed some of the series, shot splendidly on Saturday, making 49 at 500 yards and 69 with the 15 shots at 600. McChesney and Tansley both made possibles at 500 yards. Their diagram was as follows :—

555555555 5=50

Murray’s score at 600 yards was: — 55555455554555 5=73

R. W. Henderson won the B grade championship of the City Guards Club with the excellent score of 440. This young promising shot topped all the A graders in the first competition with the fine score of 145 out of the possible of 150. Henderson should be well up with the best of the A grade by the end of next season.

Teams Match

The Gore and Mataura Clubs fired a teams match on the Gore range recently when the Gore team won by 37 points. Mataura was without the services of J. A. Munro and A. Falconer two of its best shots. The conditions were 7 shots at 300, 500 and 600 yards. Some good individual scores were made. The best range scores were:— 300 yards, W. D. Milne (Gore) 35 (possible), H. Windle (Gore) 34, J. Burnett (Gore) 33; 500 yards, J. Burnett 35, S. Preece and H. Windle (Gore) 33; 600 yards, W. D. Milne (Gore) 33. W. D. Milne’s possible at 300 yards is here shown:—

5 5 5 5 5 5 5=35 J. Burnett’s possible at 500 yards was as follows: —

5 5 5 5 5 5 5=35

The best individual aggregates were: _ W. D. Milne 99, J. Burnett 98,

S. Preece and H. Windle 97. This was good scoring. The Miniature Range

Messrs W. and P. Mcßride of the newly formed Mossbum Club were present at the Invercargill Club’s shoot last week and Mr J. Patterson of the recently formed Drummond Club was also present. At the Invercargill Club’s shoot last week there was another very large attendance. J. Braxton scored the possible 80 and A. Ford, A. Pomeroy and R Graham made 79 each, while 78 s were made by B. Darroch, C. Daily and J. Keelty. The Fortrose Club also had a f-ie attendance but the scores were below the usual average. The Power Supply Club members are showing good improvement and a number of creditable scores were registered last week including a possible 80 by A. Rutherford. J. A. Luxton 78 and B. Henderson and I. D. Anderson 77 each also shot well. The Thornbury Club is a live body and its scores are well up to standard. The Wyndham Club is now doing well and had 24 members at its last shoot which was won by J. Dunstan. The best scores off the rifle were:— W. Frame 77, A. Smith 76 and T. K. 75 The Drummond Club held its opening shoot recently when nearly 40 members fired. Mr D. G. Davies, president of the Southland Miniature Rifle Association, and representatives from the town clubs were also present With such an enthusiastic membership this new club should soon be heard of. Tlie R.S.A. Club held its usual weekly shoot when scores were well up to average. The best were:— H. Henderson 79, J. Reeves and W. T. Hannon 78, J. Mcllwraith and J. B. Doake 77. At the City Guards last shoot J. Tansley made a possible 80 and there were seven 77’s. The Mataura Club had a fine attendance at its last shoot which A. Falconer headed with a possible 80. L. Dicke 78 and J. P. Quilter and R. Barclay 77 also shot well.

The weekly practice of the Police Club revealed improvement in the scoring. L. Woodsford 78 and B. Broomfield 76 had the best scores. At a later shoot B. Broomfield headed the list with 79.

The Boys’ Club now has a large membership and an improvement in the scoring in being shown. At the last shoot, F. Penman and J. K Harland 76 and J. Luxton and G. O’Toole 74 were at. the top of the list.