RIFLE AND RANGE

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17831, 27 April 1926, Page 6

RIFLE AND RANGE

WITH THE .303: BY

“TRIGGER.”

1925-26 SEASON' REVIEWED. The 1925-26 season of .303 rifle shooting has now practically concluded with the exception of a few field days with the various clubs. It has been a very successful season as far as Canterbury is concerned, several of the championships being won by riflemen of the province. At the National meeting a number of local men were in the first 25 of the "King’s Fifty,” the most notable being Cadet 11. Judkins, a lad of 17 3'ears, who shot exceptionally well right through the programme. F. Chitlock, of Timaru. won the Otago Championship while Cadet H. Judkins had the honour of annexing the North Canterbury championship at Easter, and N. Wilson of the Idfcal Railway Club won the Canterbury Belt. The Oakes Challenge Shield, after being held by the Christchurch Railway Defence Club throughout, the previous season was lifted in the first challenge match by the Christchurch Defence Rifle Club, which successfully defended challenges by the Ashburton Club and the Railway Defence Club. The Canterbury Rifle Association's Annual Championship was held on Saturday, March 13, instead of New Year s Day. The change was not for the better as many riflemen had decided to compete at the National meeting at Trentham and could not bear the expense of two meetings so close together. No doubt the executive of the Canterbury Association will consider it advisable to fix a date much earlier in the year. The Defence authorities are to be congratulated on the alterations and new additions to the Redcliffs rifle range. It is now one of the best equipped ranges in the Dominion and has twenty-five of the latest shutter targets which are a vast improvement on the old swing ones previously in use. With the extra targets available and the faster working now possible it is quite probable that the local depart ment will be able to allot more days during next season to the Defence Rifle Clubs. Most of the success of the season locally is due to tb~ enthusiastic president of the Canterbury Rifle Association, Major J. P- Oakes, whose efforts have been for the uplifting of the game and placing it in a position reminiscent of the davs. THIS TSAR’S SISLEY. This year’s Bisley will be held from July 3to 17. The second stage of the King's has this time ten shots at 300. 500 and 600 yards instead of ten at 300 and 600yds, and those in the final will fire fifteen shots at 900 and 1000 vajds. The newspaper series will be single-range shoots. Several new events have been introduced. The one that will interest colonials is the Junior Kolapore for teams of four men. Frequently that number from the Commonwealth are at Bisley, and it will be possible for these men to represent Australia in this inter-Empire contest. The captain of the Victorian team last year (Mr W. Sproat) will be at Bisjey this year. The Rev 11. 11. Coles, of South Australia, will be a co-occu-pant of the Australian Hut, and he will be pleased to hear of any other Australians who will be shooting to complete a quartet. The inter-services match, also over Kolapore Cup distances, for teams of twenty men. There is a match at 1100 yards with the service rifle, and the Stickledown is a twenty-shot event over 1200 yards for match rifles. It was found that the range sweepstakes prizes generally J were won by men who won the principal prizes, and these have been substituted for a sweepstakes for "insurance” against being counted out. Another novelty- is a combined aggregate for riflemen who fire with the .303 and .22 rifles. It is expected that the total entries will be in the vicinity of 1000. The qualifying stage’s bearing on the result is that it reduces the competitors to 300. and is seven shots at 200, 500 and GOO yards. The second stage further reduces the number to the final 100. and the winner is the man with the best aggregate for the second and third stages. RIFLE SHOOTING. VIEWS OF AN EXPONENT. Major-General C. H. Brand, C. 8., C.M.G., D. 5.0., who has returned to Melbourne after some years in New South Wales, is a great exponent of rifle shooting (writes “Marker” in the “Australasian”). He believes in teaching the young trainees how to shoot Accurately, and at the same time learn most of the finer points of the game. There was a time when regiments in various portions of Australia were renowned for their prowess with the rifle in open competition. One has only to cast his mind back to that great shooting organisation. “C** Battery. This battery prided itself on the strength of its marksmen, and they were men to be always reckoned with on any range and tinder any weather conditions. Then there was the 7th A.I.R. (Ballarat), which won the Schumacher Cup against the Empire in 1908 with a record score. They averaged 978 points per man for a team of forty men, firing over 200. 500 and 600 yards. At this time the Ballarat regiment established what was generally conceded to be a world’s record in the musketry course. Out of a total of 372 men exercised, 348 qualified as marksmen, and the remainder (24) as first-class shots. Performances such as these can only be attained by constant practice with the rifle. How many of the pre-sent-day regiments could attain such proficiency with the rifle as Ballarat did? Musketry has been neglected, with the result that those who are keen on rifle shooting soon lose interest. Nothing induces a trainee more than competition, and competition in Victoria is almost a thing of the past, except with a few battalions who have their regimental rifle clubs. A strong shotting regiment is always a keen and efficient one. Every man who can be persuaded to take to rifle shooting as a sport is an asset to the Empire. Once the mechanism of slow, deliberate fire has been mastered, once a man has become used to the “feel” of the rifle, to handling it confidently, he can be taught discipline and all the essentials of military shooting very expeditiously. The old enmity between "rifle shooting” and “musketry” has passed away in England. General the Earl of Cavan, Chief of the General Staff, is a great advocate of rifle shooting. With the appointment of General Brand to Victoria we should sec more enthusiasm in the ranks of trainees in regard to this excellent form of exercise and outdoor sport. In New South Wales General Brand encouraged trainees in every possible way to becqme familiar with the rifle they were armed with, and the result has been to increase the efficiency of troops 100 per cent. We have the material, and it remains with the authorities to see that the material is made the best possible use of. General Brand was born at Mount

Radford, near Ipswich (Queensland), in 1873, and was educated at the General Boys’ School, Maryborough. For upwards of seventeen 3-ears he was engaged in the Queensland Education Department. He served in the South African War. 1900-01, gaining the Queen's medal with five clasps. He was appointed to the Administrative and Instructional Staff (Commonwealth Military Forces) in 1906, an appointment he held until war was declared in 1914. During 1910-11 he served on the staff in India. In the Great War. with the A.1.F., he commanded the Bth Battalion and Fourth Infantry Brigade, 1914-15, being mentioned in dispatches and awarded the D.S.O. On the Western front, in 1916-8, awarded brevet lieutenant-colonel and brevetcolonel. Was eight times mentioned in dispatches, and twice slightly wounded. His actions included Pozieres, Bullecourt. Messines Passchendaele, Third Battle of Ypres, Hamel, offensive August-September, 1918, and attack on Hindenburg line, SeptemberOctober. 1918. In 1916 he was awarded the C.M.G., and the following year the C.B. Acted as commandant in Victoria, 1919-21, and appointed to command Ist Division Australian Forces. April 1921, and A.D.C. to Gov-ernor-General, May, 1920. 3 :*♦ 3 MINIATURE NOTES. On Saturday evening the Cashmere Club journeyed to West Melton and met the local club in a friendly match. The club, which has one of the best ranges in Canterbury, has not been very long in existence, and the shooting, consequently, is not quite up to the usual standard, but with experience the members should develop into a strong shooting side. The’ lad} r supporters entertained the visiting team to supper. The following were the scores:— CASHMERE v. WEST MELTON. •••• 34 A. Hulston .. 34 H. Judkins . . 34 V. Davis 33 L. Copplestone 34 W. Oakley, jr 31 n. J. Gabb .. 33 A. Summerfield 31 P- ro] » S 3 P. Roper SO A. A. M'l.pan . 33 p. Northeote . 30 R. H. Neill .. 33 A. M’Kay 30 C. R. Walker 33 S. Paseoe .... 30 C. Carrell .. 33 J. Oakley 29 H. Haworth ..- 33 H. Hawke .. 20 O. Alexander . 33 G. Hayes .... 29 J. Chapman . . 32 W. Oakley . . 28 B. Holland .. 31 X>. Walker .. 27 A. Craw .... 30 W. Davis .... 24 Total 459 Total 395

At the annual meeting of the Sum-ner-Redcliffs Miniature Rifle Club, Mr G. Hines presided over a good attendance. The balance-sheet showed a credit and was considered satisfactory. The club will start the coming season with three new B.S.A. rifles. Votes of thanks were passed to the retiring secretar}’, Mr J. J. Smith, and the honorary treasurer, and also the donors of prizes. The following office-bearers were elected: Patron, Mayor of Sumner, Mr W. H. Nicholson; president, Mr G. Hines: vice-presidents, Messrs H. Rowe, R. Dobson, W. S. Wharton, A. B. Ilines, G. Humphries, J. Edmonds and C. M. Roswell; club captain, Mr C. Timbrell; vice-captain, Mr H. S. Williams; secretary, Mr H. S. Williams; honorary treasurer, Mr W. Horner; committee, Messrs S. Craw, J. Smith, J. Ellison, J. Hines, C. Peagram, J. Edmonds, W. Wells and C. Holt; armourers, W. Wells, J. Ellison and G. Hines. The first meeting of the new executive of the Christchurch Miniature Rifle Association will be held this evening. The business will include the question of the association's new range. At the -weekly shoot of the Cashmere Club last evening the club competition •was won by C. Carrell. The best scores were:—C. Carrell. 33—3—35; S Clark, 34—1—35: W. Guy, 32—3- 35; G. Alexander, 33—1—34; E. Weston. 34 1—35; E. Copplestone, 32—2—24; J. Diack. 33—1—34; S. Hunslev, 32—2—34. “ Trigger ” will be pleased to receive miniature club notes and results of competitions for insertion in this column.

RIFLE CLUBS HOLD ANNUAL MEETINGS. At the annual meeting of the SumnerRedcllffs Miniature Rifle Club, Mr G. Hines presided over a good attendance. The balance-sheet showed a credit, and was considered satisfactory. The club will start the coming season with three new’ B.S.A. rifles. Votes of thanks were passed to the retiring secretary, Mr J. J. Smith, and the honorary treasurer, and also the donors of prises. The following office-bearers were elected:—Patron. Mayor of Sumner, Mr W. H. Nicholson; president, Mr (4. Hines; vice-presidents, Messrs H. Rowe, R. Dobson. W. P. Warton. A. B. Hines, G. Humphries, J. Edmonds and 0\ H. Boswell; club captain, Mr C. Timbrell: vice-captain, Mr H. S. Williams; secretary, Mr H. S. Williams; honorary treasurer, Mr W. Horner; committee. Messrs S. Craw. J. Smith. J. Ellison, .T. Hines, C. Peagram. J. Edmonds, W’. Wells and C. Holt; armourers, Messrs W. Wells, J. Ellison and G. Hines. WEST MELTON CLUB. The West Mejton Miniature Rifle Club held its weekly shoot on Saturdav evening, when a friendly match with the Cashmere club was fired, resulting in a win for the by a substantial margin. Pome of the best scores for the home team were;—A. Hulston 34. V. Davis 33. A. Pummerfleld 31. W. Oakley, jun., 31, I*. Roper 30, D. Northcote 30, P. Paseoe 30. A. M’Kay 20. H. Hawke 29. J. Oaklev 29. G.• Hayes 29, W. Oakley, sen., 28. C. Walker 27. SEFTON CLUB. The annual meeting of the. Sefton Miniature Rifle Club was held in the Rink Hall on Saturday night. The president. Mr J. Ashworth, presided over a good attendance. The balance-sheet showed a credit balance of over £9. The following officers were elected for the ensuing year:—Patron, Mr G. W Forbes, M.P.: president. Mr J. Ashworth; vice-presidents, Messrs A. Ashworth and A. J. T. Withers- captain, Mr P. Topp; vice captain. Mr F. Scott; secretary and treasurer, Mr J. Mathers; handicapping committee, captain, vice captain and secretary; handicapper for trophies, Mr P. Topp: general committee, president, vice-presidents, captain, vicecaptain. secretary and Messrs F. Ji. Ford, T. Dalzell. L. M’Gowan, A. Mathers, D. Peter and J. Lilley, P. Topp and A. Mathers; armourers, Messrs T. Dalzell, J. Quick; auditor, Mr A. Withers; trustees, Messrs J. and A. Ashworth; checkers, Messrs P. Topp, F. Scott, T. Dalzell, J. Mathers and L. M’Gowan. The secretary’s action in entering three teams in the forthcoming competition was endorsed.