RIFLE AND RANGE

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18940, 10 December 1929, Page 3

RIFLE AND RANGE

WITH THE .303 :: :: BY

“TRIGGER.”

FIXTURES. December 14—Inter-club matches at Redcliffs. December 26, 27 and 28—North Island Championsrip at Wanganui. December 28—Canterbury Championship at Redcliffs. February 22—Jack Shield match at Redcliffs. February 25 and following days National Rifle Meeting at Trentham. :: * Oakes Shield Match. The first match of the present season for the Oakes Challenge Shield took place at Redcliffs last Saturday afternoon, the contesting teams being the Christchurch Defence Rifle Club (holders) and the Sydenham Defence Rifle Club. At the close of last season the present holders journeyed to Ashburton, and defeated the Ashburton Defence Rifle Club, which had won the trophy from SydenKam early in the 1928 season. Last Saturday’s match was very evenly contested, and the shooting was very fair when the conditions are taken into consideration. The strong north-west wind that was in evidence proved very tricky, and had both teams thinking very hard. The reduced scoring rings introduced this season was another factor in the smallness of the scores. At the conclusion of the match Mr J M’Combs, M.P., presented the shield to the winning team. Mr N. Wood, the president of the Christchurch Club suitably responded, as also did Mr A Webb, president of the Sydenham Club, for the losers. 3 3 3 The Opening Range, 300 Yards. The scoring at the opening range was on the low side, both teams shooting badly at times. F. Hodge 27 and H. Barker 28 opened for Sydenham, while N Wood 29 and S. Nelson 28 were the opening shooters for the holders. Nelson had a hard luck shoot, notching a possible of inners, his card reading (4 out) 4,4, 4,4, 4,4, 4—28. Under last year’s scoring rings his shoot would have been just on a possible. V. Tims was top scorer for Sydenham with 30, H. Reynolds being next with 29. With the help of G. Crimp 32 and R. Piper 30 Christchurch were leading by five points at the conclusion of the range shoot, the totals reading 223 and 218 respectively. At 500 Yards. The shooting improved considerably on going back to 500 yards, the Sydenham side averaging two points per man higher and the Christchurch team one point better than was the case at 300 yards. Though no scores over 32 were notched they were more even, with perhaps one exception. A. Webb 32. F Hodge 31, J. Buschl 30 and W. R Barrett 30 for Sydenham were mainly responsible for making up the leeway of three points on their opponents, who put on 232 to Sydenham’s 235. N. Wood 32, H. Harris 31, S. Nelson 30 and D. Murray 30 were top for Christ church. 11. Reynolds, shooting for Sydenham at this range, had very bad ,uck. When he was about to get ready ii!!iiii!iiimimnifliiiiiiiinimnni!!iniiHiiiiniiiniiiiiiß!iii!!!iiiniiiiiinHinminff]

to fire his fifth shot his finger slipped on the trigger, and a “miss" was registered. This was unfortunate for his team, as it happened between two bullseyes, his card reading 4,5, 4,5, 0, 5. 4 total 27. On going back for the concluding range the holders were leading by two points only. :: « :: Concluding Range, 600 Yards. With a difficult light, the scoring fell much below what was in evidence at the two previous ranges. Nevertheless, with both sides shooting badly, the issue was in doubt for quite a time until finally the Christchurch team drew away to win by seven points. N. Wood 29 and G. Hepburn 29 were the best for the winners, as were W. R. Barratt and C. Thom for Sydenham, each putting on 28. The range totals were again very close. Christchurch 209,

218 235 204 657 Jottings. The Wellington Rifle Association has sent a letter to the National Rifle Association of New Zealand protesting against the reduction of the target dimensions at the forthcoming N.R-A. meeting, to be held at Trentham in February. The letter also stated that the whole of the Wellington clubs are reverting to the old size, commencing from January 1 next. It is understood locally that the Canterbury Association is also writing in support of the Wellington protest. j.j ♦.* On Saturday next the Rangiora, Kaiapoi, Sydenham and Christchurch Clubs will fire an interclub match at Redcliffs with teams of ten men, eight highest scores to count. s s: The number of outers scored at Red. cliffs last Saturday in the Shield match was remarkable. There were some 159, nearly 50 per cent of the shots fired in the match. This is very strong evidence in favour of the Wellington Association’s protest. miiiiinHiimiiinmiilimrannnininiininmniiinißnninjimtiiiniirainnpiiiiiiiii

Svdenham 204. The scores were as LOl* low.— CHRISTCHURCH D.R. CLUB. 300 500 600 yds. yds. yds. Tl. Pres. N. Wood 32 29 90 Rfmn. G. Crimp 32 29 27 ss Rfmn. H. Harries ... 25 31 27 S3 Rfmn. D. Murray ... 27 30 26 83 Rfmn. G. Hepburn ... 26 27 29 82 Rfmn. R. Piper 28 23 82 81 Rfmn. D. Harries ... 26 25 24 75 223 232 209 664 SYDENHAM D.R. CLUB 300 BOO 600 yds. yds. yds. Tl. Rfmn. J. Buschl ... 2S 31 26 85 Rfmn. F. Hodge 27 31 26 -84 Rfmn. W. R. Barratt . 24 30 28 82 Rfmn. C. Thom 26 28 28 82 Rfmn. H. Barker ... 28 28 26 S2 Pres. A. Webb 32 24 32 Rfmn. V. Tims 30 28 23 81 Rfmn. H. Reynolds . 29 27 23 79