RIFLE SHOOTING.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIV, Issue 18833, 23 March 1931, Page 5

RIFLE SHOOTING.

NATIONAL MEETING AT TRENTHAM. BELT SERIES COMMENCE. By Telegraph—Press Association TRENTHAM, March 21. With the completion of two of the Championship Belt matches at the National Rifle Meeting at Trentham today, W. Mclver (Petone Rifle Club), is leading for the King’s Prize with a score of 146, out of a possible 150, H. V. Croxton (Karori), is in second place with 143. The next three positions are occupied by Rifleman C. J. Nix (Featherston), C. Pickering (Opaki), and D. Roots (Patea), all with scores of 140. Regarded through aperture sight, conditions were anything but good, and the marks men had to contend with a changeable wind, a running mirage and changing light. Wellington and Wairarapa marksmen figured prominently in the prize- * money in the Imperial Aggregate, which Is awarded to competitors with the highest aggregate scores in the two B. series matches, the King and Henry Match, and the Witcombe Caldwell Match, W. Mclver (Petone), with a * score of 198 out of a possible 305, was * the winner, and his clubmate (W. H. , Ballinger), was second with 107. The ’ Witcombe and Caldwell Match, which called for ten rounds at 800 and 900 yards, was won by Mclver (Petone), with 98. Second place was taken by F. W. Ching (Karori). The winner in the B. grade was R. A. B. Kinsbury (Culverden), with 92. The Tyro Grade was won by H. G. Byers (Linton), with 88.

With the completion of the B. series, the way was clear in the aftern on for a start with the Championship Belt matches, and in the first of these —the Marlboro Match —ten rounds at 300 yards, the marksmanship was of the highest standard. The reigning holdci of the Belt, P. Berry (Tararua), and H. Boon (Karori), each with 49, tied for first place. The next three men in the prize list also had 49’s but on the “count back” A. Tombs (Blenheim), secured third place. The B. grade was won by H. H. Moss (Invercargill), with 46, and the Tyro grade by I. A. Coleman (Karori \ also with 46. The second match In the Belt series, the Wellington Match, ten rouns at 500 and 600 yards, was won by Mclver (Petone), with 97. H. V. Croxton (Karori), with 95, was second. The winner in the B. grade was E. T. Haldane (Waipukurau), with 94. In the Tyro grade, H. G. Byers (Linton), collected first money. DEFENCE RIFLE CLUB. On Saturday afternoon, the Timaru Defence Rifle Club held its weekly shoot on the Club range, the conditions for the day were service conditions, open sights and no slings being j used. The first practice was five shots • grouping at 100 yards. There was some fine shooting put on here, bur. the only two to secure full marks were Rifleflmen G. Marra and F. Black each 25. The next practice was five shots application at 200 yards. At this practice the shooting was also very good. The highest scores were—Pres. W. Duncan and Rifleman J. Dunnill senr. * 24 each out of the possible 25. Next f was ten shots rapid 200 yards, at the » small bull (9in.) time 45 seconds for the ten shots. The highest score was put on by Rifleman P. Foden 44. out of the possible 50. F. Black and W. * A. Cowles were next with 43 each. The next practice was snap-shooting at a disc, 3 seconds exposure. Riflemen G. | Marra. W. R. Grant, W. Finlay and H. j Mackenzie all secured the possible, j getting five hits. The last practice ! was five shots application at 500 yards. Rifleman H. Mackenzie was the high- 1 est, with 23 out of 25. Rifleman C. Ireland was next with 22. Rifleman Ireland is only a young shot, this being • about his third shoot, and he looks ! like a promising young shot. Twentythree riflemen completed the shoot. This was the second service shoot this season. At the first there were 23 who qualified as marksmen, and today’s shoot will add greatly to this number. This shoot was made inter - • esting by allotting handicaps and three trophies were provided. These were won by F. Black first, G. Marra second, and W. A. Cowles third. The following are the leading scores for

the day:— . 200 Yards. •p V 8 | m CJ bD S o d a d A g at p ■M 2 a 5 "S 2 0 g < a a C3 M CO 1 1 H F. Black . 25 21 43 12 21 8 130 G. Marra . 25 22 36 15 19 10 127 W. Cowles 20 20 43 12 20 10 125 P. Foden . 23 21 44 12 18 5 123 W. Finlay 22 23 32 15 18 10 118 W. Grant . 21 21 37 15 15 8 117 L. Murray 21 22 34 9 21 10 117 C. Ireland 18 21 31 9 22 15 116 R. Parker 22 23 34 6 20 10 115 Mclllwrick 21 23 35 12 16 8 115 h F. Elliott . 15 21 30 12 20 15 113 '•O’Connor 19 21 33 9 20 10 112 «r~A. Duncan 24 13 41 9 20 3 110 W. Duncan 23 24 34 3 10 • 100