RIFLE SHOOTING

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19733, 30 December 1926, Page 5

RIFLE SHOOTING

NORTH ISLAND CHAMPIONSHIP E. BALLINGER WINS BELT WANGANUI MARKSMAN RUNNERUP GOOD SHOOTING IN PINAL MATCH Tho North Island Rifle Championship meeting which concluded at Putiki range yesterday was the most successful held by the Wanganui-West Coast Rifle Association. The weather was kind during both days and conditions yesterday were first class for good shooting. Rflm. Eric Ballinger, a son of Mr Arthur Ballinger, three times New Zealand champion, won the North Island Championship Belt and the Clapham Challenge Cup after a bulldog fight over the concluding stages. Rflm. E. S. King, of the Wanganui Club, an ex-champion, was runner-up two points behind Ballinger, while Rflm. C. Whiteman, of Upper Hutt, put up the top score of 48 in the final and ran from eighth place to third, three points behind tho winner. It was a wonderful effort, but a possible would only have left him runnerup. The morning programme commenced with tho Manawatu match at 500 yds. At 7 o’clock, when the first squad went down, the overhead conditions appeared threatening, but the clouds cleared away shortly after 9 o’clock and thereafter a blazing sun beat down on tho contestants, while a right wind, which varied all day, caused the clement of skill to be necessary to put on a good score. R. J. Smith, of Napier. got all his shots into tho middle of tho black for a possible. His performance was meritorious. Whiteman’s Brilliancy Tho Manawatu match brought out another rising star in C. Whiteman, of Upper Hutt. Whiteman scored a sequence of bulls and finished with a magpie when an inner would have given him tho match. On tho count back he dropped to fourth. Ho went one better in tho Hawke’s Bay match and finished third after another brilliant 48.

Seven clubs entered for the championship teams match, for teams of live men, with seven shots at 300, 400, end 500 yards. Wanganui A established a commanding lead at 300 yards which was maintained at 500 yards and everything pointed to the local team retaining the handsome Elmslie Memorial Challenge Shield. However, the crash cam.o at 600 yards. The crack shots failed to continue their good scores and Featherston, who had been performing solidly and consistently, if not brilliantly, succeeded in getting ahead and the visitors annexed the shield for the first time. In the meantime Rifleman E. S. King, of Wanganui, had dropped back slightly from tho fine position he held when ho won tho Pntiki aggregate tho previous night. Rifleman E. Ballinger had been performing well at each visit to the mound and when the Hawke’s Bay match had concluded King had a i one-point lead only while Hunt was one point behind Ballinger. At a quarter past three tho second half of the final 30 went down and when they had concluded tho range was cleared for tho, top 15 who werv fighting out the championship. King drew target 15, Ballinger target 10, Hunt target 2. Parker target 11, A. S. Ballinger target 1 and K. McKenzie target 17. Ballinger’s Nerveless Shooting King sighted with a bull which he took as a counter while Ballinger opened with a close inner. Hunt also got into the black with his sighter. The big fight was on. King and Ballinger scored shot for shot until the fourth when King dropped to a magpie. The ex-champion had not been shooting well during the afternoon and ho finished with a sequence of inners and a total of 41. Ballinger scored three more bulls and three inners and only required to hit the target with his last to win the Belt. The shot went away and the marker signalled a magpie leaving Ballinger winner by two points. In tho meantime Whiteman, who went down in eighth position, was putting up a brilliant performance on target 3. His first three smashed into tho bull and the next was a close inner. A couple more bulls, an inner and three m.ore bulls concluded a bril- ' liant effort and Whiteman topped the final with 48 and ran from eighth to I third place in the aggregate. Had I Whiteman scored better in the Masterton match nothing could have stopped him winning the Belt. Hunt, who finished fourth, spoilt his score with a magpie for his second counter, otherwise he fired very consistently. Presentation of Trophies In the absence of Mr W. A. Veitch, M.P., Mr J. William s presented the trophies as follows: North Island Championship, Clapham Challenge Cup, Association Challenge Belt E. Ballinger. North Island Championship teams match, Elmslic Memorial Challenge Shield Featherston team. Putiki aggregate, Colonial Ammunition Company’s silver challenge cup: E. S. King. Marybank aggregate, tho Matarawa silver challenge cup .. G. E. Parker. Tyro Championship, Phillips Challenge Cup R. Donald. Rifleman Eric Ballinger, winner of the Bglt, is 32 years of age. He learnt his shooting at Nelson College and subsequently joined the Petone Club with his father, the vetern shot, Mr Arthur Ballinger. Ballinger has performed very consistently and has been runnerup in nine finals. The North. Island Belt was his first big win. The runner-up, Rifleman E. S. King, ,of Wanganui, joined the Wanganui Highland Rifles in 1911 and won the North Island Championship the same year. He became a m,ember of the Wanganui Defence Rifle Club when the Highland Club ceased activities and has been a prominent member ever since. Last year King finished third at the National Rifle Association championship held at Wellington.

RESULTS:— Masterton Match, 300 yards. Ten shots, one optional sighter. A Grade— Rfm. A. J. Smith (Napier), 50, £5 1 Rfm. G. 11. Taylor (New Plymouth), 49, £4 2 Rfm. L. N. Garner (Wanganui), 48, £3 3 Also competed: Rfm. W. Hutchins (Wanganui) 48, J. H. Thompson (Kimbolton) 48, £2 each; Lieut. D. Kenning (Wanganui) 48, Rfm. H. Hughes (Wanganui) 47, G. E. Parker (Varsity) 47, E. Ballinger (Petone) 47, W. Mclver (Petone) 47, R. C. Russell (Suburbs) 47, 11. H. Mawley (Opaki) 47, A. W. Powell (Akarana) 47, E. Booth (Hawcra) 47, C. J. Nix (Featherston) 47, N. Jones (Kimbolton) 46, R. Mottram (Suburbs) 46, C. G. Tagg (Bunnythorpe) 46, P. Peterson (Hawcra) 46, W. Salt (Wanganui) 46, R. Donald (Featherston) 46, C. 11. Gower (Rata) 46, Capt. W. N. Masefield (Blenheim) ■45, Rfm. J. S. Jepson (Tahora) 45, J. J. Christian (Wanganui) 45, E. S. King (Wanganui) 45, W. J. H. Haase (Varsity) 45, J. N. Hansen (Kaiparoro) 45, L. G. Benton (Featherston) 45, and IL Hunt (Suburbs) 45, £1 each. J. Patterson (Wanganui) and J. C. Carter (Linton) 45, were counted out. Tyros— Rfm. R. Donald (Featherston) 46, 30s, 1 Rfm. J. Currie (Kai Iwi) 46, 17s 6d 2 Rfm. H. F. Bollard (Varsity) 44, 7s 6d 3 Also competed: Rim. W. Johnson (Featherston) 44, J. Morris (Opaki) 43, J. Robinson (New Plymouth) 41, ami L. L. Bailey (Kimbolton) 41, 5s each. Manawatu Match, 500 yards. Ten shots and one optional sighter. A Grade— Rfm. R. Donald (Featherston) 49, £5 ] Rfm. 11. Hunt (Suburbs) 49, £4 . . 2 Rfm. W. J. Green (Okawa) 48, £3 3 Also competed: Rfm. C. Whitenmn (Upper Hutt) 48, W. Johnson (Featherston) 48, £2 each; E. King (Wanganui) 48, Capt. W. N. Masefield (Blenheim) 48, Rfm. A. G. Robertson (Hawera) 47, K. McKenzie (Featherston) 47, J. C. Carter (Linton) 47, Lieut. D. Kenning (Wanganui) 47, Rfm. W. A. Ball (Linton) 47, E. Ballinger (Petone) 47, W. Mcßain (Old Navals) 46, J. Smart (Suburbs) 46, J. Patterson (Wanganui) 46, R. Ramsay (Linton) 46, W. J. Park (Wanganui) 46, I’. Palmer (Patea) 46, G. E. Parker (Varsity) 46, L. G. Benton (Featherston) 46, A. W. Powell (Akarana) 45, F. S. Hood (Featherston) 45, J. Corringe (Okawa) 45, F. J. Soler (Wanganui) 45, F. T. White (Okawa) 45, A. S. Ballinger (Petone) 45, T. 11. Gower (Rata) 45, W. Mclver (Petone) 45, C. J. Nix (Featherston) 45, £1 each. W. J. H. Haase, T. A. Marett, A. P. Anderson and E. Booth, with 45 cacti, were counted out. Tyros— Rfm. D. Banks (Kimbolton) 49, 30s 1 Rfm. R. Donald (Featherston) 49, 17s 6d 2 Rfm. W. Johnson (Featherston) 48, 7s 6d ( 3 Also competed: Rfm. J. Currie (Kai Iwi) 47, L. L. Bailey (Kimbolton) 43, J. Robinson (New Plymouth) 43, 11. F. Bollard (Varsity) 42, 5s each. Mfm. G. Crawley (Kai Iwi) 42, was counted out. Hawke’s Bay Match, 600 yards. Ten shots, one optional sighter. A Grade— Rfm. L. E. Braithwaite (Napier) 48, £5 ] Rfm. G. E. Parker (Varsity) 48, £4 2 Rfm. C. Whiteman (Upper Hutt) 48, £3 ,T Also competed: Rfm. G. E. Carde (Wanganui) 46, P. O. Veale (Hawcra) 46, £2 each; A. W. Powell (Akarana) 45, J. Smart (Suburbs) 45, J. C. Carter (Linton) 45, J. Christian (Wanganui) 44, A. Stackhouse (Kimbolton) 44, A. G. Robertson (Hawcra) 44, E. Ballinger (Petone) 44, C. Welch (Kaiparoro) 43, F. H. James (Napier) 43, H. Frank land (Karori) 43, A. S. Ballinger (Petone) 43, R. Ramsay (Linton) 43, H. Hughes (Wanganui) 43, A. P. Anderson (Wanganui) 42, W. J. Park (Wanganui) 42, W. A. Ball (Linton) 42, J. G. Turnbull (New Plymouth) 42, C. IT. Gower (Rata) 42, R. Houston (Tahora) 41, R. Mottram (Suburbs) 41, K. McKenzie (Featherston) 41, E. P. Bailev (Kimbolton) 41, G. A. Eyles (Napier) 41, J. H. Thompson (Kimbolton) 41, F. S. Hood (Featherston) 41, £1 each. Rfm. B. Shaw, J. Patterson, H. Hunt, D. McKenzie, S. McKay, and A. Governlock were counted out. Tyros— Rfm. C. Welch (Kaiparoro) 43, 30s 1 Rfm. J. Shepherd (Old Navals) 43, 17s 6d 2 Rfm. J. Morris (Opaki) 41, 7s 6d .. 3 Also competed: Rfm. L. L. Bailev (Kimbolton) 40, D. Banks (Kimbolton) 40, R. Donald (Featherston) 39, H. F. Bollard (Varsity) 37, 5s each. Rfm. E. W. Beard (Kimbolton) and W. Johnson, with 37, were counted out. Champion Teams Match, 300. 500 anl 600 yards. Seven shots and one op tional sighter at each range. Open to teams of five men from corps or clubs. Gold medal presented to each member of winning team. ! 1

Also competed: Opaki 455, Wanganui C 452, Petone 448, Napier 440, New Plymouth 435, Wanganui B 437. North Island Championship, open to 30 highest scorers in the Wanganui, Taranaki, Wellington, Masterton, Manawatu, and Hawke’s Bay matches. 600 yards, ten shots. First prize £10; second, medal and £6; third, medal and £4; fourth, £3; fifth,

The remaining shots, in order of merit, were: —G. E. Parker, 267, 40, 307; K. McKenzie, 263, 43, 306; J. H. Thompson, 262, 42, 304; W. J. Park, 259, 44, 303; W. A. Ball, 261, 42, 303; J. C. Carter, 258, 44, 302; W. J. | Green, 258, 44, 302; F. H. James, 259, 43, 302; J. G. Turnbull, 256, 45, 301; C. H. Gower, 262, 39, 301; P. Peterson, 260, 40, 300; J. Patterson, 264, 36, 300; A. S. Ballinger, 263, 36, 299; A. W. Powell, 257, 41, 298; B. Holmes, 257, 41, 298; L. G. Benton, 263, 35, 298; W. N. Masefield, 263, 35, 298; C. J. Nix, 256, 41, 297; F. J. Soler, 257, 39, 296; D. Kenning, 258, 38, 296; J. E. Pitt, 258, .38, 296; L. E. Braithwaite, 259, 37, 296; E. Booth, 256, 37, 293; B. Shaw, 256, 35, 291; W. Salt, 256, 33, 289. Optional Aggregate, open to all competitors. A or Tyro class, scores in Taranaki, Wellington, Manawatu and Hawke’s Bay matches. 500 and 600 yards. Rflm. C. Whiteman, 183, £lO .... 1 Rflm. H. Hunt, 179, £7 2 Rflm. E. Ballinger. 178, £5 3 Rflm. E. King, 177, £4 4 Also competed:—Riflemen J. Smart. 173, £3; A. Ballinger, 172, £2; A. Governlock, 172, B. Holmes, 172, L. E. Braithwaite, .171, ,T. Patterson. 171, L. G. Benton, 171. F. H. James, 170, C. H. Gower, 170, Capt. W. N. Masefield, 170, Rflm. W. J. Park, 169, £1 each. Counted out.—Rflm. J. H. Thompson and F. J. Soler, 169. Tyro Championship Aggregate, for highest points in all matches in Tyro classes:— Rflm. R. Donald, 254. £2 10s .... 1 Rflm. C. Welch, 249, £1 10s . . . . 2 Rflm. ,T. Morris, 249, £1 3 Next in order of merit were:—Riflemen E. L. Bailey, 249, W. Johnson. 248. D. Banks. 247, H. F. Bollard, 247, J. Currie, 240, J. 11. Shepherd, 2.39, 10s each.

Featherston 300 500 600 Tl. C. J. Nix .. .. , •» o qo L. J. Benton .. . .. 31 34 9-1 K. McKenzie .. .. 33 33 32 R. Donald .. 30 33 29 92 F. S. Hood .. 31 31 30 92 Total .. .. 468 W anganui A 300 500 600 Tl. E. King . . .. .. . . 34 29 23 86 J. Patterson . , . . . 33 33 27 q.’{ F. Soler . . 34 34 2 1 95 L. Garner .. 30 34 30 94 W. Park 32 26 91 Total .. .. 459 llawera 300 500 600 Tl. P. Peterson ., . . . . .. 27 31 29 S7 P. Palmer . . 32 32 30 94 A. Robertson .. . .. .30 33 26 89 E. Booth .. 31 35 26 92 P. Veale . . 34 32 30 93 Total .. 458

£2, and 25 prizes of £1. Ser. Tl. AggMm. E. Ballinger . 269 44 313—1 Bflm. E. S. King . . 270 41 311—2 Mm. C. Whiteman . 262 48 310—3 Mm. H. H. Hunt . 268 41 309—4 Mm. J. Smart .. . 262 46 308—5