RIFLE AND RANGE

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19034, 1 April 1930, Page 13

RIFLE AND RANGE

WITH THE .303

BY

“TRIGGER.”

FIXTURES. April IS and 19—South Island Rifle Championship, at Blenheim. April IS and 19 —Otago Rifle Association’s annual prize meeting, at Dunedin. & Iv SI Nitro or Cordite. The action of the Marlborough Rifle Association in allowing both nitro and cordite loaded ammunition to be used at the South Island rifle meeting, to be held at Blenheim during Easter, is open to criticism. In past years strong opinions have been expressed when more than one make or date of ammunition has been allowed at rifle association meetings. Just after the war period many riflemen had been able to procure pre-war Mark VI., which gave some great results, and which was not procurable from the Defence Department. In 1921 and 1922, at some meetings, competitors were allowed to provide their own ammunition, with the result that the riflemen who were unable to procure pre-war ammunition were handicapped and dissatisfied when their scores were compared with those of the competitors using the superior ammunition. This no doubt affected entries. For a period cordite was unprocurable. Then nitro-loaded was the only ammunition on issue until a few seasons ago, when cordite was again manufactured and placed on issue to the rifle clubs and associations. At the recent Wairarapa meeting, both were on issue, and the competitors present took a vote on the question as to whether the National Executive should be asked to provide both issues at the Trentham meeting. The vote was in favour of cordite only, with the result that one prominent rifleman packed up and did not go to Trentham. There is no doubt whatever that rifle associations should only allow one make to be used, thus placing all competitors on an equal footing. I*l I*l I*l CLUB NOTES. Kaiapoi v. Christchurch. The annual match between the Christchurch and the Kaiapoi Defence Rifle Clubs was fired at Kaiapoi on Saturday afternoon, in perfect weather conditions. Owing to the lateness in finishing, the light was very bad at the 600yds range. Several good scores were put on during the match. At the opening range, W. J. Henev, of the Kaiapoi team, registered 33, and at 500yds S. Nelson, of the Christchurch team, annexed a splendid 34, one off the possible. H. Harries and N. Wood also put on 33 each for the visitors. W. J. Heney again scored 33 for the local club, as also did G. Stark and F. Bryden, On going back to 600yds, conditions were much harder and sighting was very difficult. Kaiapoi again shot more consistently and ran out winners by seven points. Mr H. M’lntosh, president of the Kaiapoi Defence Club, attended during the afternoon, while the two teams were entertained at afternoon tea by Mrs H. M’lntosh. At the conclusion of the match. Mr N. Wood, the president of the Christchurch Club, congratulated the winners on their excellent shooting. Mr H- M’lntosh suitably replied for the winners. The scores were as follows:

Total 899 Christchurch Defence Club. The final of the Christchurch Defence Club’s championship and range aggregates resulted as follows: Championship: President N. Wood 624, H. Harries 612, G. Crimp 602, D. Harries 600, D. Murray 594, S. Nelson 586, R. Piper 555. Short range: President N. Wood 440, H. Harries 439, G. Crimp 429, S. Nelson 425, D. Harries 423, R. Piper 422, D. Murray 413. Long range: President N. Wood' 384, D. Murray 181, D. Harries 173. Handicap: D. Harries 616, S Nelson 595, D. Murray 591. sc Miniature Rifle Jottings. Entries for the Christchurch Miniature Rifle Association s winter competitons close on Monday evenng next. Lyttelton have been having some very successful practice shoots lately. There has been an average attendance of 50 men and 12 ladies. The first team has struck form early and with some new additions should be strong this season. On Wednesday a match between teams chosen by the captain and vice captain will be fired. There are several inter-club matches in view, amongst those arranged being against Ileathcote and Christchurch W.M. Club.

Cashmere held another practice shoot last evening, several good scores being registered. S. Loader and D. McDonald put on possibles of 70. D. Harr 69. C. Barker 69, E. Copplestone 69, S. Craw--69, W. Guy, sen. 69. H. Haworth 69. W. J. Nairn 69. L. Ragg 69. R. E. Taylor 69 also shot well. On Thursday evening a trial match . will be fired between members who are the possibles and the probables for the senior teams. Winter competition matches commence on May 5. The first draw for the senior, junior and president’s grades will take place on Monday next. W. 11. Harris, Ltd. should have a strong junior team this year. Rumour has it that several prominent shots from another local club have joined up. C. Jessop, the well known Sydenham Club shot, and winner of the Pimm Cup Aggregate in the senior grade last season, met with an accident on the Burwood range last week. lie is well on the road to a complete recovery.

D. Harries will again take charge aa coach of the Returned Soldiers Club. Dave stood down from shooting last season owing to business reasons. 55 55 25 Cashmere will again enter four teams this season. Two senior, a junior and a president's team will be the grades. W. J. Nairn who was secretary and a prominent shot of the well known Sedgemere-Lakeside Club has removed to Christchurch and joined up with Cashmere. With the winners of the last year s junior competition shooting seniors this year a good competition in the junior grade between those old opponents, W. H. Harris, Ltd. and R.S.A. should result. r Trigger ” would appreciate anv notes of interest from clubs for inse!tion in this column. ss :« On Saturday the New Brighton Ladies’ Outdoor Miniature Rifle Club held the final shoot of the season, also the prize-giving. Mrs Burmeister, vicepresident, presented the prizes. Mr Buschl, range officer, spoke of the plans for range improvement next season. W. Guy again made the possible score which gained for him the men s aggregate prize. It was a close contest on both the ladies’ and the men’s sides, one point only dividing first and second. Mrs Moses won the Brighton aggregate, donated by Mrs Burmeister. Miss Parks’ prizes for the highest scoring off the rifle over the last four shoots were won by Mr Guy and Mrs Caldwell. Honorariums from the club were presented to Mr Buschl for range-building and Mr Clark for the use of his land. A cleaning rod with ring end was picked up on the range. The scoring was as follows:

KAIAPOI. 300 500 yds. vds. 600 vds. Tl. W. T. Heney .. 33 33 31 97 H. Edwards .. 31 32 32 95 G. Stark ... 30 33 30 93 F. Brvden .. 33 32 93 F. Richards ... 32 31 30 93 W. Cowley ... 31 32 29 92 T. Bryden . . ... 31 28 31 90 S. Richards ... 30 32 25 87 T. Ball ... 24 32 29 85 F. Young .. ... 24 30 27 81 Total 906 CHRISTCHURCH. 300 500 vds. yds. 600 vds. Tl. H. Harries ... 32 33 32 97 N. Wood ... 32 33 31 96 F. J udkins ... 32 32 31 95 D. Harries ... 31 30 29 90 R. Neill . .. 30 30 29 89 D. Murray .. ... 30 30 28 88 S. Nelson . .. ... 30 34 24 88 W. Oakley ... 30 27 29 86 G. Crimp ... 28 29 28 85 H. Brake .. . ... 27 26 85

Hep. 50 75 Tl. Ag. W. Guy — 35 33 68 388 L Ragg — 34 33 67 387 D. Turner .... 2 30 28 60 384 Mrs Moses .... 4 30 30 67 386 Mrs Buschl .. 4 31 32 67 385 Mrs Caldwell.. 3 28 32 63 385 R. Turner .... 2 34 31 67 3S3 Mrs Chapman . 9 27 29 65 376 W. Horner .. 32 32 66 374 Mrs Erridge .. 7 31 29 67 373 Miss Corser .. G 29 30 65 372 Miss Bamford 7 27 :*o 64 366 Mrs Ball S 33 27 68 363 Mrs M’Clelkmd 32 31 21 64 355 E- G. Shipley . 9 31 32 68 352 Mrs Fuller .. 9 24 24 67 — Mrs Bishop .. Miss S 25 31 64 Tilleyshort 8 26 29 63 — Mrs Nicholls — 12 21 28 61 —‘