SHOOTING

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 76, Issue 97, 27 April 1933, Page 4

SHOOTING

(By

"SNIPER. ")

In years to come the Wanganui Rifle Club will probably look back on 1933 as an outstanding year in tho shooting history of the club and E. Farley's performance at the New Plymouth Easter meeting, of scoring the first 105 in a teams’ match in New Zealand, adds a deal of lustre to the club’s performance for the year. The previous best individual score in a teams ’ match was Macefield’s 104. away back in 1910, at Trentham. Farley is one of the youngest members of’ his club, but has a wonderful team shooting record, having shot in the club’s first team for several years and has never scored less than a 98 for his team. His four team scores this year have been 100 at Bulls, 101 at Putiki, 101 at Trentham and 105 at New Plymouth. Apart from his service shooting successes, which included tho championship for 1932, Farley has this year won the North Kangitikei Belt at Mangaweka, and the Kiwitca Belt at Kimbolton, und only lost third place in the North Island championship after a sensational tie shoot.

It is a difficult matter to declare what are records at shooting as conditions change. A few years ago the 20inch bull was used here but now an 18inch one is used at 500 and 600 yards. The 20-inch. is still used in Australia where 105’s have been quite frequently secured. In England a 15-inch bull is used at present. The Wanganui team’s score at Putiki last December of 403 for four men was undoubtedly a New Zealand record, and the two top scores of their second team averaged 100. which would have made 603 for six men. Last September, in England, the Union Bank of Scotland established what is claimed to be the record sixman team score of 604. This was in an annual inter-bank match which has been fired regularly since 1866 with the only break occurring during the Great War period.

The highest five-man team score to win the champion team’s shield here was the New Plymouth Club’s score of 486 in 1925, but a New Plymouth team scored 493 in 1911 in an inter-club shoot. The Wanganui Club’s recent 497 at New Plymouth is the highest score for five men on record here.

A perusal of last year’s i(Hundred Roll of Britain” discloses that of all the leading riflemen of England, no scoro of 105 was recorded, in club or team shoots last year. There were two 104’s, fifteen 103’s and thirty 102’s recorded. The winner of the Roll, foi his six best counting shoots, made 104, 103, 103, 103, 102, 102. This was G. Bunch, of South London Rifle Club, who was four points ahead of the second man and nine ahead of tho third best score. “Sniper” believes that E. King, of the local club, has about equalled Bunch’s scores in points this season, in practice shoots, having scored one 104 aud several 103’s and 102’s. At least one 104 was scored in the Bulls Club this season, by Thorby of that club.

The Kiwitea Association at Kimbolton held its meeting last Saturday in cold and wet weather which affected the entries. The committee guaranteed the prize list, which the writer believes is a mistake with any handicap meeting. Tho fact that the list is guaranteed docs not help entries at these shoots, and when weather upsets the entries it must cause next year’s meeting to bo affected by this year’s loss. These meetings are, or should be, sweepstake affairs and the prizes should be in the proportion of one prize to every three competitors. When 30 men shoot for prizes that were meant for 60 to compete for, the position is harmful for the future, through being too liberal for the present.

The Rangitikci Farmers were unfortunate with their Farmers’ Union shoot. They had a good muster at Bulls but on account of the rain the shoot had to be postponed to last Saturday, when it was intended to shoot the match at Kimbolton, but through an arranged-for telephone message failing to come from Kimbolton, several of tho team did not leave their homes for the shoot. * * ♦ • The Wanganui Club are very perturbed as they are likely to lose their club range at Aramoho through the property changing its tenants. Unless some satisfactory arrangement between the club and the Defence Department is made for the club’s use of the Putiki range, the club is faced with having to build a new range or else g<» out of existence. Although the Defence Rifle Clubs are part 4)f the defence system, and so far, the local club has been quite fairly treated as regards its use of the Putiki range, it may be a little difficult to arrange things to the satisfaction of the Territorial staff, the Defence Department and the Rifle Club. Every effort should be made to keep in existence what is claimed to bo the premier rifle club in New Zealand. The club has an influence well beyond its own membership as it forms a centre in one of the strongest rifle shooting districts in the country.

The teams shoot for the Wanganui Union is to take place on May 6 at Putiki. This event is for both senior and junior teams but there is nothing laid down as to what constitutes a junior team, and this question worries quite a number of teams. The writer believes that the committee controlling the shoot should draw up some rules to govern the matters. The Bulls team is contemplating leaving out some of their best shots to make their team a junior one, while Wanganui intends to split up its strongest side and make even teams. If there happens to be any team in the district from Palmerrton North to Hawera and to Mangaweka that has not already advised or tho shoot, they need only advise tne Wanganui Club of their desire to compete in time to arrange targets and markers.