RIFLE SHOOTING

Southland Times, Issue 23512, 19 May 1938, Page 12

RIFLE SHOOTING

By

BULLSEYE

The Invercargill Defence Rifle Club will fire its service championship on May 28. Members of the volunteer forces are included in this competition. Next Saturday members will have an opportunity to have a practice with their service sights. The City Guards’ Club completed its championships last Saturday when J. Tansley, who has been shooting in good, form all the season ran out the winner with an aggregate of 444. His scores in the final competition were excellent ones. With 10 shots at 500 yards he made 48, and with 15 shots at 600 yards he scored 71 out of the possible 75. Although Tansley has always shown good form in the club competitions and is one of the best shots in the club, this is the first occasion on which he has taken the championship. G. Moreton, who was second with 439, shot splendidly throughout the series; but was unfortunate in dropping to a modest 43 at the last 500 yards range. He topped the list in the long 15 shots at 600 yards with 72, made up of 12 bullseyes and three inners which was a brilliant performance. However, he is the winner of the B grade title. The Gore club fired the final competition for a trophy given by Mr P. Mallon. Ten shots each were fired at 300 and 600 yards. Conditions were favourable and some excellent scoring was registered. F. Norton was in excellent form and compiled the splendid total of 96 of the possible 100. Norton made 48 at each range. W. D. Milne also shot well for 94, his range scores being 48 and 46. G. Bain, who is showing much better form than he did earlier in the season, had the best counting score at 300 yards with 48. J. Burnett and L. Lumsden also shot well at this range for 46 each. Bain’s diagram is here shown: — 300 yards

At 600 yards F. Norton’s 48 was easily the best, while H. Windle 46 and J. Burnett 45, also performed well. Norton’s diagram is as follows: — 600 yards

The trophy was won by G. Bain with an aggregate including handicap of 284. F. Norton was second with 281 including handicap. P. Mallon won Mr S. Preece’s Cup with a score including handicaps, of 1114, H. Redman was a close second with 1113, and W. D. Milne was third with 1112. The latter is leading for the club’s championship, which will be decided next Saturday by firing 15 shots each at 600 yards. The Invercargill club fired the final competition for the Lennie Cup last Saturday by firing 10 shots each at 600 yards. The light was very dull with a fresh north-westerly wind. Some fine scores were registered, the best being 49 by J. Clark, a brilliant score at this range under the conditions. As he held' the lead in the first competition, his fine performance on Saturday won for him the cup which he holds for 12 months. His aggregate for the three ranges was 141 which was a good one under the conditions. Clark has been shooting in excellent form during the season. J. G. Wilson shot splendidly for 48 on Saturday and was second at this range, while R. M. Milley, J. W. Doake and S. L. Wall also performed well for 47 each. A. Ford and J. Reeves made 46 each, and six competitors made 45 each. Clark’s diagram is as follows:— 600 yards ,

555555545 5—49 The best agregates were:—J. Clark 141, W. Milley 137, A. A. Ford 136, A. R. Wills 136, E. Grieber 136, J. G. Wilson, R. M. Milley, J. Reeves and A. Lyall 134 each. A practice was also fired at 500 yards, S. L. Wall heading the list with a good 49. J. B. Doake, A. A. Ford, E. Grieber, R. M. Milley, Mrs J. B.' Doake and A. Lyall also did well by making 47 each. Wall’s diagram is here shown: — 500 yards

554555555 5—49 The local miniature clubs are still without a range and only the Returned Soldiers’ Association and the Boys’ clubs are shooting. The countiy clubs are all getting on with their competitions. At the last shoot of the Mataura club A. McQuillan made the possible 80. T. Gaudion, D. Henry, P. Hay and A. T. Falconer were also in good form and made 79 each. R. Barclay and J. L. Dickie made 77 each. A teams match was fired between teams from the Mataura Defence club and the Mataura miniature club and resulted in a win for the Defence Club by two points. The Mossburn club has opened a new range with accommodation for 10 targets. At the opening shoot T. R. Healy made top score with 79. J. Healy and T. Reid made 77 each.

At the Gorge Road club’s shoot last week the best scores were:—P. Beck 76, G. Morton 74 and L. Lobb 73. The Fortrose club had a good muster at its last shoot. W. Blair was top scorer with 78, closely followed by Miss J. Anderson and J. Speden with 77 each and F. Fitzharris and C. T. Ruddenklau with 76 each.

At the Wyndham club’s last shoot J. Winton and W. Frame tied for top place with 78 each. A. Arnott made 77, J. Mitchell, A. Kiddey and A Johnstone making 76 each. The Glenham club had more than 40 members at its last evening competition. R. Robinson had the best score, 78. off the rifle.

The Thombury club had a. good average standard of scoring at its last shoot. A. Couling and G. Buchanan made 78 each, J. Ronald and L. Haywood 77 each, H. Haywood 76 and O. Fallow 75.