GUNN KING’S PRIZEMAN

Taranaki Daily News, 17 October 1927, Page 9

GUNN KING’S PRIZEMAN

RIFLE SHOOTING IN N.S.W. NEW ZEALANDERS SCORE WELL. BALLINGER'S BEST AGGREGATE. By Telegraph—Press Aasn.—Copyright. Sydney, Oct 14. The King’s prize was won by Gunn (Melbourne), he winning £lOO with a score of 3.39. Ellis (Victoria) 338, was second. Masefield won £3O with a score of 337 and takes third place. E. Ballinger (333) wins £7 and Boon 1330) £4. Gunn’s score was equal to the record for the British Empire. Masefield won £5O during the meeting. Another leading New Zealand scorer was Vennell with 329. Results of the Referee 600 and 900 yards matches are:—ll. Caughman (New South Wales) 146, Ist. Masefield, £5 (143), was sixth. New Zealanders to win £2 were:—E. Ballinger (141), Vennell (141), Boon (1.38), Carter (138), and IV. Ballinger (136) won £l. Sydney, Oct. 15.

The struggle for the King’s Prize resolved itself at an early stage into a fight for supremacy between those with the leading scores. The weather throughout was ideal, and the leaders with the big aggregates they were carrying with the first and second stages experienced no difficulty in maintaining their positions. Between 700 and 800 competitors had started shooting in tho competition, but these had narrowed down to the three placed men and Treadwell, of Victoria.

Gunn, with a total of 295, had a lead of four points over Ellis, who was one ahead of Treadwell and Masefield. Gunn was the first to fife at the final range, 900 yards, ten shots, and scored 44. Masefield and Treadwell could exceed Gunn’s total by gaining the possible, and Ellis needed 48 to tie, or 49 to win.

Treadwell put himself out by scoring only 44, while Masefield got on 47. Ellia then took the mound, but was unfortunate, for the sun, which had been obscured for most of the day, suddenly burst out from behind the clouds and "suffused the target with dazzling light He dropped two points on the first shot and another one the fourth, and so narrowly forfeited the chance of winning. Received Oct. 16, 5.5 p.m. Sydney, Get. 15.

New Zealand finished third in the Australian and New Zealand rifle match fired concurrently with the Commonwealth match over 300, 600, 700 and 900 yards at the Anzac range. With the exception of Carter the New Zealanders shot splendidly, and E. Ballinger regia ■ tered the best individual aggregate with 185 possible 200). With a score of 1781 the winning team (New South Wales) broke the Australian record by 12 points. The scores were:—New South Wales 1781, Victoria 1769, New Zealand 1756, Queensland 1750, West Australia 1746, South Australia 1733, Tasmania 1700, The New Zealanders’ individual scores were:—E. Ballinger 185, Vennell 180, Masefield 178, H. Ballinger, Boon and Goodall 177 each, Sharland 175, Turnbull 174, Green 171, Carter 162. Williams (Victoria), with 025, won the grand championship for tho series.

New Zealanders in the King’s who win £2 each are:—Sharland 323, Vennell 319, Carter 317, W. Ballinger 313, Goodall 311, Turnbull 310, Hency 309, Reynolds 308.