MINIATURE RIFLES

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19525, 26 June 1933, Page 11

MINIATURE RIFLES

GERALDINE COUNTY ASSOCIATION. The annual meeting of the Geraldine County Miniature Rifle Association, held in Mr J. Kennedy’s rooms on Saturday evening, was attended by the president (Mr H. H. Cain), and the following delegates—Mesdames F. E. South and J. Wordsworth, and Miss McLean (Orari Bridge Ladies’), Messrs G. Cain, A. Riches, J. Fifield and K. Quaid (Woodbury), W. Haywood (Gapes Valley), E. R. O’Neill, A. Earl, and F. Priddle (Orari Men’s), Mrs F. Priddle and Miss Mason (Orari Ladles’), Mr F. E. South (Orari Bridge Men’s), Mr L. Beattie (Hilton), and Mr H. Malllnson (Four Peaks). Annual Report. The annual report stated that during the past year the competitions had been keenly contested, and, although there had been a slight decrease in the number of teams competing, the fact that 36 teams had taken part could be considered very satisfactory. The arrangements for the final shoot proved very satisfactory, and the shooting had finished much earlier than usual. The thanks of the Association were due to Mr H. Morrison for presenting a challenge cup for competition among the ladies’ clubs, and to Messrs J. C. South and F. E. South for miniature cups for the first and second prize winners in the ladies’ Individual competition. Thanks were also due to Mr R. Morrison for the free use of his brick store, and to Mr C. C. Knight for the Town Hall for the final shoot. Although there had been a falling off In the entry fees, the expenses had been carefully watched and kept down to a minimum. The credit balance amounted to £4/17/6, which was approximately £2 better than last year, so that the balance sheet could be considered fairly satisfactory. The Committee expressed thanks to the secretary (Mr J. Kennedy), the target checkers, and to all who had assisted in any way to the success of the competition. In moving the adoption of the annual report, the president said that considering the hard times experienced and the fact that there had been something of a decline in Interest In shooting, the Association’s position was quite satisfactory. He was pleased to see the attendance that evening, which showed that the clubs hoped to revive Interest In the sport. However, as long as the Association had a credit balance the position was not so bad. The motion was seconded by Mr E. R. O’Neill, and the report was adopted without discussion. Election of Officers. The election of officers resulted as follows:—Patron, Mr K. Mackenzie; president, Mr L. Beattie; vice-presi-dents, Messrs W. M. Patrick, A. Riches and F. E. South; secretary, Mr J. Kennedy; hon. treasurer, Mr F. E. South; committee, Messrs A. Earl, H. H. Cain, D. G. Cain, P. Surridge, S. Priest, K. Quaid, J. Bennett, G. Cain, Alan South, H. Mallinson, A. Bryant, Jas. Crotty, J. R. Lack, and W. Haywood; target checkers, Messrs H. H. Cain, F. E. South, and J. R. Lack. Offers of Trophies. Mr F. E. South, who offered to present a miniature cup for the winner of the A grade individual section, intimated that Mr J. Stickings would give a cup to the runner-up in the same section. He said that Mr J. C. South would offer a cup as a special prize for the best shot in the ladies’ individual competition. Mr J. Kennedy offered to present a cup for the winner of the B grade individual section. The donors were thanked for their trophies. Five Men Team Tourney. Mr F. E. South suggested that the Association should institute a fiveman team competition among the clubs, the five best shooters to compete against the five best in the Ashburton, South Canterbury Associations, or similar competitions. The president remarked that a coml>etltion between clubs from Winchester to Rangitata would arouse much interest, and a competition with the five best of other Rifle Associations would do much to improve shooting. A suggestion was made that clubs affiliated to the Geraldine Association be asked to contribute towards the cost of a challenge shield for the proposed competition, unless one was given gratuitously. During discussion it was felt that there would not be sufficient time to organise such a competition this season, so the matter was referred to the committee to introduce next year. System of Judging. Mr E. R. O’Neill, who brought up the method of judging, asked if the target checkers were judging on “touch” or otherwise. Last year there had been a lot of dissatisfaction, and they did not want to see it repeated. The president remarked that the South Canterbury Association judged on "touch.” Mr F. Priddle moved that in the judging, the white line on the target must be cut .through into the black in order to secure a "bull.” Mr H. H. Cain remarked that the judging in the Geraldine Association was far harder than was the case in the South Canterbury Association’s competitions. The president said that when the judging on “touch” was compared with the “cut through” system it made a difference of two points in favour of the "touch” system. Mr F. E. South said he failed to see how any club could judge satisfactorily on the “touch” system. The local target checkers set a standard, and judged every target on that standard. Mr J. Fifield, who moved an amendment that the Judging should be on the “touch” system, expressed the opinion that that was the fairest method. The amendment, which was seconded by Mr H. Mallison, was lost by eight votes to six, and the motion was carried. Time Limit and Loaders. The question of the time limit of eight minutes for one round during a shoot was raised by Miss McLean. She pointed out that there had been complaints in some quarters that shooters who had not completed in the first round took part in the second. Mr Kennedy said that although eight minutes was stipulated in the rules, the time limit was at the discretion of the range officer. The president added that in the event of a sling breaking, or of any trouble with a rifle, the matter of the time limit was in the hands of the range officer. Mr F. Priddle said that there had been complaints about some of the lady shooters having their rifles loaded by another person. It had been said that such a practice was likely to cause accidents, but he did not agree that such would be the case. Miss McLean said that if some of the Orari Bridge ladies were not permitted to have the services of “loaders” they would be obliged to withdraw from the competition. She instanced the case of one girl who was nervous at loading, but who was a good shot. In another case the girl’s arms were too short to permit her to load the rifle. Mr Kennedy remarked that the

practice of using “loaders” had never been questioned as far as he knew. On the motion of Messrs F. E. South and E. R. O'Neill, it was decided that every shooter be allowed a coach to load the rifles. Tribute to Secretary. In moving that the secretary (Mr J. Kennedy) be voted an honorarium of £3/3/-, the same amount as for last year, the retiring president, Mr H. H. Cain, paid a warm tribute to Mr Kennedy, remarking that had it not been for Mr Kennedy the Association would not be in its present position, in spite of a difficult year. The motion was carried unanimously. Promptness at Shoots. Mr H. Mallinson stressed the point that it was essential for teams to arrive punctually at the commencement of the final shoot. On one occasion the absence of one team, which had arrived late, had held up the whole shoot. He suggested that clubs should be reminded that the shoot commenced punctually. The president and several speakers endorsed this view, and the matter was referred to the committee. General. The season’s shoots were arranged as follows:—First shoot, July 31st to August sth; second shoot, August 21st to 26th; final shoot, September 7th. The matter of pairing the clubs was held over till the nominations were received. On the motion of Messrs Priddle and E. R. O’Neill, the grading was fixed as follows:—A grade, 74 and over; B grade, 71 and over; C grade, under 71.