RIFLE SHOOTING

Southland Times, Issue 23406, 13 January 1938, Page 12

RIFLE SHOOTING

HUGE PRIZES OFFERED (By BULLSEYE)

The dates of the New South Wales National Rifle Association’s big meeting are from February 5 to February 12. Entries closed on December 15 and more than 1500 were received. This will be the largest rifle meeting ever held in the southern hemisphere and probably in the world, and the first prize in the King’s Cup (£525), is certainly by far the biggest first prize that has ever been offered on any range in the world for marksmanship. The competition for this splendid prize will be a most interesting struggle between the world’s finest riflemen, including the winner of the King’s Prize at Bisley, England, last July. The British rifle team received its ,second defeat when it was beaten in Western Australia in a match with 14 men aside, having been beaten on the way out by South Africa. The conditions of the match were 10 shots each at 300, 500 and 600 yards. The West Australian team scored 1945 points to the Britishers 1921, thus winning by 24 points. Two West Australians had j better scores than the best Britisher. E. C. Gare who is considered among the best of Australian marksmen, headed the list of 28 riflemen with 47-48-49—144, while W. Mellows, - who was a member of the recent Australian team that competed at Bisley, was next with 48-49-46—143. The top British score was made by Captain R. E. Johnston, who made 47-45-49—141 and counted out R. Fulton, D. L. Birney (winner of the Bisley King’s Prize last July), R. D. Greig, and L. E. Hoddle who also made 141 each. 11l luck dogged the Britishers in this match, as one member put a bullseye on a wrong target and at 600 yards another member of the team lost 10 points by putting two bulls on a wrong target. Had they put these points on their own targets, , it would have reduced the margin of < defeat to nine points. Members of a team such as this should not be guilty of throwing away points in this manner. At Adelaide the British team met a very strong South Australian team of fourteen men and avenged their two previous defeats by winning with the substantial margin of 43 points. The conditions of this match were 10 shots each at 300, 500, 600 and 900 yards, thus giving the visitors their first try-out at a long range. They came through well, their 14 men averaging 187.4 out of the possible 200. The total scores of the teams were:—Britain 2622, South Australia 2579.

Captain Johnston again led the British team with 48-48-49-47—192, D. L. Mcßirney being next with 191. The best South Australian score was A. B. Potts with 48, 47, 48, 48—191 which was also a good performance. The Britishers will probably fire a match against Victoria before reaching Sydney, and by the time the big meeting starts at the beginning of the month they should be at the top of their form. According to an Auckland paper the Auckland City Rifle Club is sending a team to the big meeting at Sydney. At the Auckland Rifle Association’s annual prize-firing the championship was won by E. J. C. Reston of the Akarana Club.

The Invercargill Club was unable to complete the Denham Cup competition last Saturday because of heavy rain setting in soon after the second range was started, and it was decided to postpone till a later date. The 300 yards range was completed in conditions that were not conducive to high scoring. W. Milley and F. G. Henderson shot well to make 34 each. N. Mac Williams 33, R. M. Milley, R, B. Wood, E, Wilson and A, R. Wills 32 each also did well under the conditions. W. Milley had the best counting diagram as follows:—

300 Yards

5 4 5 5 5 5 5—34

F. G. Henderson’s 34 was made as follows:' —5 5545 5 5. At 500 yards the first two or three down before the rain increased started well. W. A. Diack made 34 while G. Wilson and W. Milley made 33 each with six bullseyes and a magpie each. Their shot for shot scores were:— Wilson 5 5 5 3 5 5 5. Milley 5 5 5 5 5 5 3. W. A. Diack’s diagram is here shown:—

500 Yards

5 5 5 4 5 5 5—34

Diack is shooting very well at present and with a fairly liberal handicap he has a good lead for the cup. Mrs J. B. Doake is also shooting much better than her handicap indicates and she is filling second place. There are a dozen competitors 140 and over so' that the final should be open and interesting. The Gore Club fired the final of the A. C. Gormack trophy last Saturday in unpleasant conditions at the 300 and 500 yards ranges. At 300 yards P. R. Mallon and H. Windle with 45 each were the best and at 500 yards J. Burnett shot well for 48. The trophy was won by H. Redman with a total score of 188 including his handicap. J. Burnett’s diagram is as follows:—;

500 Yards

555545545 5—48

The Wakatipu Cup match for teams will be fired at Otatara on Saturday when a dozen teams are expected to compete. Arrangements are well in hand and given fine weather very interesting competition should result.