RIFLE CHAMPION.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 366, 7 March 1932, Page 11

RIFLE CHAMPION.

R. H. Nicholl, Petone, Wins King’s Prize. BRILLIANT TRIUMPH. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, March 6. The New Zealand champion marksman is R- H. Nicholl, of the Petone Rifle Club, who won his first King's Prize by a margin of four points at Trentham on Saturday. It was a brilliant triumph for grit, determination and consistency. After his win and the usual trigger test of his rifle, Nicholl was hoisted into the historic chair of the King’s Prizeman and carried by his club mates shoulder high to the Y.M.C.A. hall, where he was presented, amid cheering and applause, with the Ballinger Rifle Champion Belt, the gold medal and the gold badge of the National Rifle Association, and a cash prize of £25. With a score of 381 out of a possible 4 00, Nicholl had a six-point lead when the King’s Forty went down at 900yds to fire their final ten rounds in the final encounter for the King’s Prize. Second and third positions in the forty were filled by H. V. Croxton (Karori) and J. C. Feist (Greytown), whose respective scores were 375 and 374. After the King’s Prize Match the relative order

of these three marksmen remained the same. A 45 at the final range would have given Nicholl the King’s Prize, but he did even better than that, and finished with 47. This brought his aggregate up to 428 out of a possible 450.

The King’s Forty was shot in two batches, the last twenty shooting first and the first twenty last. A steady right breeze was blowing, and from seven to ten degrees of windage had to be allowed for. Nicholl wasted no time, and was first to finish his ten shots, taking exactly six minutes, Croxton put on 49 to finish with an aggregate of 424; and Feist made 48, bringing his aggregate up to 422. H. Cromie (Ashburton), who was fourth with an aggregate of 422, made a possible with his final ten rounds. This entitles him to the Rifle Challenge Cup, awarded for the highest score in the King’s Prize Match.

Unlike many other champion shots, Nicholl is at home in any kind of weather, and the psychological effect of a crash at a range never worries him. ITa attended his first national meeting at Trentham in 1920, and every year since then he has been a competitor at the annual rifle shooting championships. In 1924 Nicholl competed at Bisley, and reached the second stage in the contest for the King’s Prize, missing the final stage by two points. While at Home on that occasion he competed with marked success in the British miniature rifle championships. He won the New Zealand miniature

championship in 1920, and at present is runner-up for that title. The Trentham record for 300, 500 and 600yds also stands to his credit. His age is thirtythree years. Immediately prior to the King’s Prize Match the final match for the Service Championship was fired. The winner of this was J. E. Farley (Wanganui). Details of scores in the contest for the King’s Prize are;— £25, Ballinger Rifle Belt, gold medal and gold badge of National Rifle Association —R. H. Nicholl (Petone) 428 £l2, silver star and badge—H. V. Croxton (Karori) 424 £7, silver star and badge—J. C. Feist (Greytown) 422 £5, silver star and badge—H. Cromie (Ashburton) 420 £3 and badge—H. King (Opaki) 420 £3 and badge—H. Kippett (Oamaru) 418 £2 and badge—T. W. Warburton (Petone) 416 £2 and badge—C. Glassey (Ashburton) 415 £2 and badge—H. W. Feist (Greytown) 414 The following take £1 and badge:— P. B. Goldfinch (Karori) 414, W. N. Masefield (Blenheim! 413, W. H. Ballinger (Petone) 413, T. H. R. Boon (Karori) 410, L. G. Benton (Featherstoh) 410, E. T. Haldane (Waipukurau) 410, H. L. Mason (Christchurch) 409, F. N. M’Vicar (Waipukurau) 409, R. F. Keir (Ashburton) 408, W. M’lver (Petone) 407, G. R. Smith (Kaponga) 406. Ten others, with scores ranging from 405 to 401, receive £1 each. Results of other matches and aggreB Grade Aggregate, for highest scores by B Grade competitors in belt matches except -final ten shots—H. King (Opaki) 371, C. Glassey (Ashburton) 370. Tyro Aggregate, for highest aggregate scores by tyro competitors in belt matches except final ten shots —AV. R. Martyn (Nelson) 353, D. G. AVyllie (West Taieri) 346. Bisley Aggregate, for highest aggregate scores in Taranaki and Otago matches—H. King (Opaki) 192, R. H. Nicholl (Petone) 190. Rifle Club Champion Teams Match, teams of four, all scores in belt matches except final ten shots—Petone team 1465. Colonial Ammunition Company’s Cup. for teams of four scores in Taranaki and Otago matches—Petone No. 1 team 724, Ashburton 720. Champion Teams Match, teams of four men, seven rounds at 300, 500 and 600yds—Petone 393, Blenheim 390. Grand Aggregate, for highest aggregate scores in all belt matches, B series matches and service matches—R. H. Nicholl (Petone) 543, H. A. Feist 537. Otago Match, ten rounds at 800 and 900yds—H. V. Croxton (Karori) 98, I. C. Blackwood (Timaru) 97.