WITH THE RIFLE.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 March 1920, Page 5

WITH THE RIFLE.

NEW ZEALAND BISLEY. THE KING'S PRIZE MAM. ' A VICTORY FOR CROXTON. ■ i By Telegraph.—Press Association. ' Trentham, Last Night. Another King's Prize day has come and gone, and Karori's representative, Croxton, maintained his position gained in the preliminary struggle by hard work and gome good hick. We'st and Barklc kept second and third places, but Feast lost ground. ]). Gulney came up from tenth to fourth position, and livans and Harris, who, when the match Began, lay fifth and sixth, both struck trouble and dropped away down the list. The afternoon was fine and a fair number of visitors came from town. Among the official party present wero the Hon. J. G. Coates, Acting-Minister for Defence, and Mrs. Coates, Major-Gcneri-.l Sir Edward Chaytor (General Officer Coramianding), Brigadier-General G. >S. Richardson (General Officer In Charge of Administration), and Lieut.Colonel J. L. Sleeman (Director of Military Training), When the men went down at the iOOO yards for the final test the light was bright and dull by intervals, a fair amount of mirage running in front of tl n targets when the sun broke through the clouds. The wind varied from two degrees left to 14 right. Croxton at once attracted, alittyea on Xo. 12 target. West, his immediate chaser, being on 25, Ba'rkle on KTo.' 1, and Feast on a. The wind .Was »n a real Trentham mood, as tricky »s at any time during the meeting. Croxton got away quietly with a magpie, for a sighter, which he rejected. Thin came 4, 4, 3, 4, 4, and Karori-Ues reckoned the Belt was safe, though they got a bad jar when the next signal 1 was 2, and then another 2. These were'followed by B, 3, 3, making a the range of 34 and for the aggregate-of 556. • ;':,..

In the meantime, West and Barkle Ijotu struck very had luck. Wesft got an encouraging start with a four for c sighter, which lie kept. Ho got another four, and then fell a cropper, two misses being signalled. He managed to screw into the bull a»nin, and Blenheim breathed more easily when a 4 ah\t a 5 followed, and the prospect of retaining second plncc to the prizeman seemed assured.

Darkle, right at the other end of the mound, had had an unfortunate kick off with a two for a sig.hter. Then 0, 3;;0 "made him to think." The wind seeing; to have him beaten, but the nex't tiyo found the magpie ring. Tlieii came 5, 5, 4, 5, :j, making 31 for the range and 539 for the aggregate. West )iad continued in the meantime a dogged uphill fight, slowly Roping his way through a windy barrage. He got. aHwo and then a three, and had only to hit the target to tie with Barkle, who, when he got going, rattled his shots in at a good rate, whilst West had lost a lot of time, and fired the fast siiot on the range, which was a four, giving him the position, running up two points ahead of Barkle.

Feast, on No. 2 target, had something of Barkle's experience. He got a three for a sighter, and then 0, 4, 4, 2 5 3 4 3, 0, 4, a total of 20. ''■.''

The finest shooting of the afternoon was put up by" Henderson, of the Sounds, with 5, 4, 5, 4, 4, S, 4, 4, 4 3 total 42. which gave him the Challenge Cup as the winner of the match.

The detailed scoring in the prize list will show how the other competitors rose and fell as compared with the positions published yesterday. Croxton's win was heartily applauded. Following is the result of the King's Prize match (the score at this afternoon's shoot over lOOf) yards is added to the aggregate brought" forward) :

1000 Agte. £35 ami "Bollinger Belt," (Mil Medal, and Gold DR.A. Badce— Rflm. H. V. Croxton (Karor!) .. 34 558 £2O nnd Silver Star—Rflm. W. H. West (Blenheim) 31 541 £ls and Sliver Star—Rflm. R. c. Earkle (Suburbs) 31 539 £l2 nnd Silver Star—Rflm. D. J. Gulnoy (Petoiie) 39 538 £s—Rflm. W. J. Feast- (Opakl) .... 29 536 £s—Rflm. A. .T. Henderson (Sounds) 42 534 £s—Rflm. h. C. Pimm (Ohch.) .... 33 531 £s—Rflm. F. .1. McDonald (Suburbs) 33 531 £s—Rflm. D W. N. Roots (Hawera) 31 531 £s—Capt. W. X. Minefield (Nelson) 32 531 £5--Rm. H. Harris (Chrlstehurch) 28 «M £s—Rflm. A. Covenlork (LlnJon) .. 2S 520 £2—Bllm. H. H. Donald (Opakl) .. 3(1 524 £2—Rflm. O. A. Eyles (Donnevlrke) 33 522 £«— But. H. C. Evans (Te Kulti) .. 18 521 £2—Rflm. P. Foden (Tlmaru) .. 29 520 £2-Pres. F. G. Gledlilll (Nelson) 3T 519 £2—Rflm. A. Patrick (Auckland) .. 33 519 £2—Rflm. L. Barrell (Petone) .. 38 518 £2—Rflm. 8. J. Mayhew (Linton) .. 34 518 £2—Rflm. C. ,1. Reston (Akarana) S3 CIS £2—Rflm. O. P. Hamilton (Wang) 24 r,n £2—Rllm. I*. W. Lane (Akarana) .. 40 510 (The above all received the D.R.A. Badne). £l—Rflm. E. Radd (Blenheim) .... 35 516 £l—Rflm. V. E. Donald (Opakl) .. 26 510 £l—Prcs. C. J. Nix (Featheraton) 17 516 £l—D-Pres .WK. Williams (Ohura). 39 515 £l—Rflm. ,1. C. Carter (Petone) .. 28 514 £l—Rflm. G. Halllday (Karorl) .... 25 513 £l—Rflm. F. Bolton (Opakl) 22 513 £l—Rflm. C. Duustan (Walhl) 25 511 £l—Rflm. W. Hudson (Wanganui) , 25 500 £l—Rflm. S. Marcnzl (Tararua) .. 25 508 £l—Rflm. A. P. MoMurray (Frankton) 23 508 £l—Rflm. C. Whlteman (Suburbs) . 19 507 £l—Rflm. E. F. Sandford (Chch.) .. 30 507 £l—Rflm. C. G. Enjstrom (Opakl) 24 507 £l—Rflm. C. Lo'veday (Ohura) .... 11 507 £l—Rflm. B. McLeod (Okawa) .... 29 506 £l—Rflm. R. I. Gllllck (Kiwi) .. 29 506 £l—Lt. A. W. Duncan (Westport) 29 504 £l—Rflm. E. A. Balllnser (Petone) 27 502 £l—D-Pres. Boon (Suburbs) 26 501 £l—Rflm. F. Fryer (Walpukurau) 22 500 £l—Rflm. W. T. Warburton (Petone) 22 49(1 £l—Pres. P. Palmer (Patea) 21 499 £l—Gnr. C. Alilroy (N.ZA.) 21 497 £l—Mjr. A. J. Merrilees (Tauranga) 19 496 Henderson takes the Rifle Challenge Cup for the highest score In the match.

The presentation of prizes took place immediately after the championship was fired.

Colonel Collins, in calling upon Mr. Coates to perform the ceremony, said the meeting altogether had proved a decided success The weather condition* wore not all that could have been desired, (but some very good shooting had been witnessed for all that,

Mr. Coates expressed pleasure at being present. Referring to ColoAel Collins' suggestion for an improvement of the accommodation at the thousand yards ranges, Mr. Coates said he would not make rash promises, but would do the best lie could, but lie must go warily, as the staff buildings occupied come of the ground needed. Any promises made by Sir James Allen regarding the provision of rifle ranges in the country centres, such as Hamilton (ind Invcrcargill, would bo carried out. tie congratulated the champion and the other prize winners. The prizes were then presented, and tho function ended with cheers for the prize winners and the Dominion Rifle Association's officials.

The gold medal for the grand aggregate in the Service and Belt series was by, W, H. .West {Blenhelmij shi

■WV." '-S—■■ . -■WH »■■"■" I' I' 1..H1W8, j runner-up being F. V. Croxton (XlMnjj' '| thus reversing the positions they hold j As leader and runner-up in the 'tltte* *'{ gate for tho King's Prize. ]

OTHER COMPETITIONS. 3 QUICK MARCH (Running Mnn) Competition, j seven shots at 200 yards; • poiiitle IS. 1 £4—Major Walltogford (Auckland) .... M'" « E3-SS.M. Gray (Trentham) U 1 £3— S.M. I'enumont (Trentham) %t- I The following with scores of 20 Uke Ui j 4d each:—J. Te Whnltl (Tuhatimtf), BMM, 0 Levy (Trentham), and A. G. Derore (Ate- -1 rana). ' Twenty-one with scores down to li got 6V> occh. SERVICE CHAMPIONBHU?. £ls, Kynoch Pup and Gold Medal—CM." ; Moss (Dunedln) |M £0 and Silver Medal—A. J. Green (Westnort) 1W < £!> and Bronze Medal—A. O. P*vor» ' (Abaxana) : .";';•. '. fit ■' £4—Unco-Corporal J. R, B»ltfl- (Hmh.i llton Cadets) ';..,' '''%)& •'. £ 3-Ma]or ,T. a. W«|Un|for* (AiKritlMt) t«T ?' Twenty-three prizes of £l each went to i scores ranging from 2M to 194,; Jj ' f- J VISIT OF BRITISH TEAM.

PROSPECTS NOT HOPEFULBy Telegraph.—Press Asm < Received March 10, 6.6 pjn. % ' London, Man£*6. 1 . The National Rifle Association Ogr*i( ' is a difficult task to arrange for to visit Australia, especially in rcMra to finances. The estimated exp«UW would bo at least £44)00, as eomatttf ' with £ISOO before the war. It ' a difficult matter to select a team. T4« Association wish to send young men M the heat seriously affected veterans <m the last visit, but few young shotl eNM afford to leave their businesses lor'tiq months. ■

The response to an appeal has bo fW been very poor. The Association it doing its utmost to stir the public, «ftff -, if the response is satisfactory they trill '" send a team, even if it is composed Of veterans, hut at present the prosper is not hopeful.—Aub.-N.Z. Cable Asm.. .