DOMINION RIFLE ASSOCIATION.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 57, 8 March 1913, Page 5

DOMINION RIFLE ASSOCIATION.

THE CHAMPIONSHIP FOR 1913

(Per Press Association.)

Trent ham, March 7. The weather was cloudy and there were strong puffy rear winds' for the final day’s shooting. Proceedings were commenced with the Service Championship, which provided a spirited contest between Sandford (Christchurch) and McCalmont (Opaki), the former eventually winning by six points. After lunch to-day the clouds cleared away, but the wind increased somewhat, and, becoming very puffy it was very disconcerting to the fifty men who fired for the King’s Prize. The Hon. W. F. Massey and Mrs Massey, Hon. R. H. Rhodes, Mr G. R. Sykes and Dr. A. K. Newman, M*P.’s, and members of the Empire Trade Commission were among the visitors at the range. Before the prizes'were presented by Mrs Ma ssey, Colonel Collins addressed those present. He welcomed the Hon. W. F. Massey on his first visit to this range, whicu he thought was the finest in the southern hemisphere, and as a training ground for marksmen was a most valuable asset to the country. Many" competitors came simply to meet old friends and renew old acquaintanceships, and many gave no thought to the prize money. Colonel Collins expressed appreciation of the Government's generosity. The Government, he said, not only gave them a grant of £750 and 100,000 rounds of ammunition(valued at £500), but also supplied markers and tents. Colonel Collins spoke of the good work done by Captain Wallingford in the supervision of the service matches, and said that under Captain Wallingford’s direction the value of these matches had gone up considerably in the estimation of the riflemen. Colonel Collins, after expressing the view that the soldier who could drill and march but could not shoot was not of much value to the country, eulogised the services rendered by Colonel Hughes and other officers, markers and other assistants, and the press. The Premier, who was accorded a hearty reception, congratulated all ■oncerned in the success of the meeting. The country owed a deep debt of gratitude to all participating in any rrancli of the Defence scheme. It was always a source of pride to him to remember that when the Empire needed assistance New Zealand was foremost in giving and offering help, and he was sure she would do so again should the occasion arise. The Hon. R. H. Rhodes endorsed Mr Massey’s congratulations. Referring to 1 the decrease in the entries, he said they could hardly expect to find experienced shots in the Territorials just yet. He was sure General Godley took as keen an interest in shooting as in other branches of the defence scheme, and they would find when the scheme was in thorough working order that all branches would receive equal consideration. He eulogised the work done by Mrs Godley in promoting a fund to encourage shooting amongst cadets. He hoped shortly to see musketry instructors devoting the whole of their time to that brafich of the service. Then the Territorials could practice musketry a'nd let Trentham be the Mecca of champions.

Details of the shooting:— KING’S PRIZE: ten shots at 1000 yards, the winner holding for one year the Champion Rifle Belt and winning a gold medal presented by the Minister of Defence, and the gold badge of the Association, the runner-up taking a silver star and D.TI.A. badge. James (Okawa), £3l ... 31 490 Cameron (Opaki), £ls ... 41 493 Williams (Ohura), £lO ... 44 492 Roots (Patea), £7 ... 36 491 Frank (Canterbury), £5 ... 37 491 Milroy (Nelson), £5 ... 40 490 McMurray (Te Awamutu),£s 31 490 Henderson (Sounds), £5 ... 31 489 McCalmont (Opaki), £5 ... 35 489 Loveday (Woodville), £5 ... 28 487 Marenzi (Kaitawa), £5 ... 25 486 Keene (Eketahnna), £5 ... 39 486 Cuthbertson (Tuamarina), £3 35 483 Fisher (Suburbs), £2, ... 40 483 McAlister (Junee), £2 ... 30 481 Reynolds (Christchurch), £2 82 481 Randell (Linton), £2 ... 33 481 Mclntosh (Opaki), £2 ... 28 4SO Govenlock (Linton), £2 ... 34 480 Guiney (Christchurch), £2 29 479 Grcig (Upper Hutt), £2 ... 31 478 Goodall (Suburbs), £2 ... 23 4.77 Biyden (Kaiapoi), £2 ... 26 476 King (Opaki), £2 ... ... 33 475 Kells (Waimangaroa), £2 ... 33 475 Swinnard (Oamaru), £1 ... 22 474 Logan (Blenheim), £1 ... 22 474 Mace (New Plymouth), £1 23 474 Potter (Auckland), £1 ... 25 471 Citing (Wellington), £1 ... 32 474 Moselm (Kaeo), £1 ... 29 473

Craw (Linton), £1 ... 30 473 Matthews (Feilding), £1 ... 31 473 Marshall (Karon), £1 ... 32 473 Rait (Gisborne), £1 ... 26 472 Connie (Akarana), £1 ... 23 470 Banks (Okawa), £1 ... 27 470 Purnell (Wanganui), £1 ... 23 469 Maingay (To Aroba), £1 ... 11 167 Halmshaw (Veterans), £1 ... 11 167 Duncan (Westport), £1 ... 14 466 Bruce (New Plymouth) ,£l IS 466 Chapman (Suburbs), £1 ... 26 466 Bulk (Woodville), £1 ... 13 461 Patrick (Auckland), £1 ... 23 46! Cox, J. (Auckland), £1 ... I I 460 Loth am (Akarana), £1 ... 16 456 Elliott (Akarana), £1 ... 16 456 Drennan (Wanganui), £1 ... 6 4is

SERVICE AGGREGATE. Sandford (Christchurch), £lO ... 314 McCalniont (Opaki), £8 ... 308 Montgomery (Dunedin), £5 ... 292 Yeo (Auckland), £3 10s ... 288 Hunt (Suburbs), £3 10s ... 288

UNITED SERVICE MATCH: ten men aside; seven shots each al 300, 500, and 600 yards; for the Dawson Shield and £lO cash. Rifle Clubs 888 Territorials ... ... 840 Staff team 835 TARANAKI PRIZE-WINNERS. The following Taranaki competitors at Trentham touched prize money on Thursday, in addition to those whose names appeared in yesterday’s paper: Hawke’s Bay Match.—Rfm. C. H. Speck (Stratford), 45; Corp. Mace (Newj Plymouth), 45; Rfm. D. Armstrong (Whangamomona), 43; eacii took £l. Among the tyros Rfm. Bacon (Whangamomona) 41, Rfm. Palmer (Patea) 41, each £l. Taranaki Match.—Rfm. D. Roots (Patea), 42; Lieut. Hartnell (New Plymouth), 41; Sergt. Delhi (NewPlymouth) , 39; Rfm. H. C. Evans (New Plymouth), 39; Rfm. W. Bruce (Now Plymouth), 38, each £l. Tyros: Rfm. A. Saugstor (Stratford), 38, £l. Rfm. C. E. Bacon (Whangamomona), 35; Rfm. 1). Plight (Whangamomona) 34, each 10s. Judging Distance.—Rfm. A. B. Harrison (Kaponga), Rfm. W. Bruce (New Plymouth), Rfm. N. Gilsbnan (Patea), each 18, 17s; Rfm. D. Roots (Patea), 17, 12s.

Running Man.—-Rfm. D. Roots (Patea), 25, £l. Rfm. W. Bruce (->ew Plymouth), 25, 17s; Rfm. W. Oliver (New Plymouth), 20, 10s; Lieut. Narbey (Eltham), 20, 7s 6d. Bisloy Aggregate.—Rfm. W. Bruce (New Plymouth) 245, and H. C. Evans (New Plymouth), 244, each £l. TEAMS MATCHES. In the Champion Teams Match, New Plymouth, with 429, were twelfth on the list. In'the Rifle Teams Championship, New Plymouth were twelfth with 2122, and Whangamomona 27tP with 1870. There were twenty-seven competitors. In the teams match for long-range shooting, New Plymouth were eighth with 1133.