RIFLE SHOOTING.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIII, Issue 18762, 29 December 1930, Page 10

RIFLE SHOOTING.

CANTERBURY ASSOCIATION. TIMARU TEAM WINS TEAMS CHAMPIONSHIP. RIFLEMAN C. BLACKWOOD WINS BELT. The Canterbury Rifle Association | meeting was held on the Redcliffs I range on Saturday, there being some j7O competitors. The day was a bad one for shooting, the hert being terrific, being 90 odd in the shade at 11 o’clock, and quite a number of riflemen were not able to shoot. A further trouble was wind and mirage, ■ and the scores were considered the worst of any meeting since the Association started in 1922. The first shoot of the day was the service match. This was won by VicePresident W. E. Jones (Timaru), with a score of 43 out of 50, no other Timaru competitor getting a place. In the Canterbury match, 10 shots at 300 yard 6, C. Blackwood (Timaru) was 4th. with 45, W. E. Jones (Timaru) 6th. with 44, and G. Carmichael j 10th. with 44, all getting into the ! money. i No. 3 match was the South Canterbury match, 10 shots 500 yards. This time W. Bradshaw was the only Timaru man figuring, he being counted out with a 44. J. Hull (of Timaru) was second in the tyros with 43. No. 4 match was the North Canterbury match, 10 shots at 600 yards. This time the Timaru men got first, second and third places. C. Blackwood was first with 48, W. Bradshaw 46, and W. E. Jones 45. In the next match, the Peninsula match, 7 shots at 600 yards, W. E. Jones was second with 53, and C. Blackwood third with a 33. No. 6 match was a special sweep, being the last match of the day. The light was getting better, and the heat was not so severe. G. Carmichael, of Timaru, was first with 34, his board reading 4555555—34. W. E. Jones (Timaru) was second with a five bull finish for 34, his board reading 5455555—34. C. Blackwood was 6th., and H. Hopkins (Timaru) got into the money. The Teams Championship was very keenly fought. Ashburton took a big lead at first, but a little later, Christchurch came to light with some good scores, 4 and till the last range it was anyone’s match. The Timaru men came with some very fine scores at 600, which put them one point in the lead of Christchurch, and they won the Canterbury Shield. The Timaru team was:—Vice-President W. E. Jones, and Riflemen C. Blackwood, W. Bradshaw, G. Carmichael and C. Johnson. The Belt and Five-Guinea Medal. The Championship Belt and Medal were in every rifleman’s eye, but the hopes of many were shattered in the first match. At the commencement of the last match, Major Searl, of Nelson, was leading by one point from C. Blackwood, of Timaru, and five points from V/. E. Jones. Searl and Blackwood went down together (Blackwood is a lad of 19), and everybody was afraid the strain would be too much for him. Blackwood fired the first shot, and got a four. Searl got a 4. Blackwood got another 4, then Searl got a 3. This made them level, Blackwood having gained the point he was behind. Blackwood's next shot was a 4, and Searl getting a bull put him one in the lead. Again next shot Blackwood evened. Both next got a bull, still tieing. Blackwood fired his two last shots before Searl got one away, and registered two bulls. Searl now had to get two bulls to tie, but it was more than he was able to do. He got a 3 and then a 4. making Blackwood champion. Jones, of Timaru, further along the line, put on a four-bull finish, scoring 33, and making him level with Searl, but a count back counted Searl out for the position of runner-up. Mr W. S. Whorton gave a special prize of £l/1/- for the highest score in No. 6 match. This wa6 won by Rifleman G. Carmichael, of Timaru. The Fox Cup and five guinea gold medal, for the winner of the grand aggregate, were won by W. E. Jones, of Timaru. A special prize, presented by Major Oakes, for the highest aggregate in matches 1 and 2, was won by W. E. Jones. The cup for competitor under 21 years of age with the highest score in the championship matches was won b C. Blackwood, of Timaru. M.jsrs Tisdalls’ trophy for highest score in the team’s match, was won by C. Blackwood.

At the conclusion of the shooting, Major Oakes presented the trophies. He said it was very pleasing to see such a young shot come to the front and win the championship. He congratulated Mr Blackwood on his very fine performance, and then called for three cheens for the champion. He placed the Champion Belt on its young owner, and handed him a beautiful gold medal to mark the occasion. He then called on Vice-President W. E. Jones, and presented to him the Fox Cup and a 5-guinea medal for the winner of the grand aggregate of all matches, including the service match.

After presenting the other cups and trophies, Major Oakes called on President Duncan, of the Timaru Defence Rifle Club, to receive the Canterbury Rifle Association’s championship teams shield. He congratulated them on their very fine win. and said he hoped they would compete for it next year. Three cheers were called for the winners of the shield. Mr Duncan, in reply, said it had been the height of their ambition to win that shield, and he was taking it back to Timaru with pride. He thanked the Christchurch men for the kind way in which they had been received, and hoped they would be there again next year. Major Oakes, in conclusion, thanked all those who had come to help to make the meeting [ a success, and wished them all a Happy New Year.