THE BOYS’ BISLEY.

Wairarapa Age, 13 March 1922, Page 5

THE BOYS’ BISLEY.

CONCLUDED AT TRENTHAM BOTH BELTS GO TO NAPIER. Wellington, March 11.—The Central Command rifle championship meeting was concluded to-day, at Trentham, which, after the crisp freshness o£ the night, seemed perilously near the gratings of Avcrnus as the sun rose and beat down upon the hill-girt flat. The two final fifties—Cadets and Territorials —fired off for the respec five premierships. R. Oak (Napier) kept his lead and won the Senior Cadet Command Champion Belt and gold medal. The final was fired at 200 yards, seven shots, application, at a small Bisley target and five rapid at a disc target. Oak got on 40 points out of a possible 53, which was very good in the circumstances, as a puffy wind, especially towards the close, upset some of the boys; tfiis made his final aggregate 127. M. McWhirter (Wellington) was runner-up, with a score of 33 and au aggregate of 118, taking a trophy. Next came M. Frost (Wellington Col lege), with the fine score of 45 and an aggregate of 116, Sergt. A. J. Smith (Napier) 35 and 113, Scrgt-Major L. E. Henry (Hastings) 36 and 112, R. 8. Berg (Wellington) 39 and 109, R. Baillie (Scots College) 29 and 109. The Territorial final was a gool test, comprising four practices (five rounds at four iron plat#, at 200 yards, 10 rounds snap-shooting at a disappearang target at 200 yards, five rounds rapid at 300 yards, and seven rounds application at 600 yards; possible points, 98). The wind proved a difficulty at 600 yards. Private C. J. H Baker (Napier) won with a score of 72, taking the Command Champion Belt and a gold medal. Scrgt. R. E. Hester (Railway Engineers, Wellington) was runner-up, with a score of 59, taking a trophy. Next came Private H. W. Feast s°, Lieut. J. B. Wiliamson (Signallers, Wellington) 51, and Gunner E. F. Meyer (Wellington) 51. In the course of a brief address at the presentation of prizes, General Chaytor said he hoped that in future this meeting would be more and more popular. It was the earnest wish of the Defence Department to make ri'it shooting on service lines as popular here as in .Switzerland. For instance, ir wanted to train men in the use of the rifle in the manner in which it was used in war. While not desiring to disparage bull’s-eye shooting, li£ stressed the importance of a thorough training in rapid rifle fire, instancing the first British Expeditionary Force’s wonderful exploit in holding up the German advance by such effective use of the rifle as made the enemy thi-ik the British were supplied with many more machine guns than they really had. General Chaytor concluded: “Mai.y peoffie in New Zealand have had ex perience of what war is like and want no more of it. The best way to avo’d war is to let others, know we are fully prepared to meet any enemy.” — (P.*.) 7 The following are the Wairarapa men who secured prizes:— CADET SERIES, In Match No. 14, moving target, 25 yards, W. R. Kemball took 2s 6d. In Match No. 9, iribving Uguree, 25 yards.—G. C. I .each took 4s 3d and W. Lewis and J. Richards 2s 6d each. In Match No. 8 Corp. E. H. Quill took ss. ALL-COMERS’ SERIES. In Match No. 1 W. Feast took 2s 3d. In Match No. 2 Sergt. W. Deller (37th Coy.) was second with 34 points and took 19s 6d and E. T. Haldane took 2s 3d. In Match No. 3 H. W. Feast took 2e. In Match No. 4 C. G. Wakelin (3rd W.1.R.) was first with 16 points and took £2, and E. T. Haldane (3rd W.1.R.), 15 points, was third and took £l. TERRITORIAL SERIES. Tn Match No. 2, application and rapid, F. W. Feast (3rd W.1.R.) was first with 34 points and took £2, and E. T. Haldane took ss. Tn Match No. 3, 300 yards application and rapid, C. G. Wakelin was fifth with 25 points and took 10s and E. T. Haldane took In Match No. 4 E. T. Haldane took Is 9d. ' FINAL COMPETITORS. The following were among the 50 Wairarapa Territorials qualified to shoot for the command championship: E T. Haldane (3rd W.1.R.), 103 points: H. W. Feast (3rd W.1.R.), 98; C. G. Wakelin (3rd W.1.R.), 78; W. Petersen (3rd W.1.R.), 77; A. Grigg (3rd W.1.R.), 71; Company “Sergt.-Major W. G. K. Wiggins (3rd W.T.R.), 57; T. E. Raison (3rd W.1.R.), 39; and W. E. Nichols (3rd W.1.R.). 36. In the Champion Teams Match No. I W. R. Kemball fired for the Scots* College team, which came second with 219 noints.