RIFLE SHOOTING

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 306, 28 December 1936, Page 8

RIFLE SHOOTING

North Island Meeting HELD ON PUTIKI RANGE BOXING DAY TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONSHIP TO WANGANUI Favoured with excellent weather and conditions ideal for shooting, the Wanganui, West Coast Rifle Association’s annual tournament was held on the Putiki Range on Boxing Day and attracted large entries. North island championship and handicap events were decided and some good marksmanship was witnessed. As in other years the tournament was very successful and competitors were present from the Auckland, Taranaki, Hawke’s Bay and Wellington provinces. Following keen competition and some excellent work, the North Island Championship Challenge Cup and Belt was won by a Wanganui marksman, H. Hedges, who secured 194 points. C. J. Nix (Featherston) and H. K. Smith (Opaki), with 193 points each, tied for second place. With 98 points, R. Benton (Okato) secured the Marybank Aggregate, and the Handicap Aggregate was won by R. B. McKenzie (Rangitikei) and T. Pearce (Petone), who obtained 1931. The Optional Aggregate of £7 went to R. Benton (Okato), with 146 points. H. Brehaut (Okawa), 145, was second and C. J. Nix (Featherston) gained third place with 144. H. Hedges won the Putiki Aggregate with the possible of 100. The executive comprised the following: Chairman, Mr. F. J. Soler; de-puty-chairman, Mr. H. H. B. Hughes; committee, Messrs. F. Glenny, P. C. Hamilton, J. Paterson, J. O’Keefe, G. E. Carde, A. Doidge, B. Shaw, R. Shaw, E. Farley, J. Christian and L. Brown. The range officer was Lieutenant Wootton, who had associated with him Sergeants Brett and Parnell. Mr. F. J. Soler addressed the competitors and on behalf of the committee expressed satisfaction with the good muster. He referred also to the loss which the association felt through the death of Mr. W. M. Luxford, their past chairman. The large assembly subsequently observed one minute’s silence as a mark of respect to the memory of Mr. Lux ford. A new departure at this meeting was that instead of being graded, the competitors were handicapped. This method was in charge of Messrs. F. J. Soler and R. Shaw, and gave general satisfaction. The following is a list of detailed results:— Service. Match (300 yards.) ! Rflm. H. K. Smith (Opaki), 30, £1 110 s. Rflm. F. Lighttoller (Dannevirke), 29, £l. S.S.M. J. H. Kearney (Napier), 28, 10s; Rflm. A. G. Rhodes (Greytown), 28, 10s. The following took 5s each:---Rflm. R. H. Jones (Ashhurst), 27; E. Farley (Wanganui), 27; C. J. Nix (Featherston). 26. The following took 3s each:—Rflm. C. H. Gower (Wanganui), 25; W. J. Burton (Okawa), 25; C. C. Baldwin (Turakina), 25; J. H. Thompson (Rangawahia». 25; J. W. McKenzie (Opaki), 25; H. Donald (Opaki), 25; V. Barrow (Cheltenham), 25. Wanganui Match (300 yards.) The following riflemcrudividcd the first, second and third prizes with scores of 50, each man receiving £3: Rflm. H. Hedges (Wanganui), H. Meads (Rangitikei), W. J. Burton (Okawa). With a score of 49 each the following riflemen took £l:—Rflm. K. Lumsden (Rangitikei), R. Nichol (Petone), H. K. Smith (Opaki), D. S. McKenzie (Opake). C. J. Nix (Featherston). The following received 10s:—Rflm. S. Proden (New Plymouth), 49; F. Lighttoller (Dannevirke), 49: J. Christian and J. Paterson (Wanganui), C. C. Baldwin (Turakina) and 11. Solomon (Petone), 48 e each. The following took ss:—Rflm. W. ,T. Jenkins (Rangitikei), J. Fraser (Cheltenham), K. W. Dalrymple (Rangitikei), T. Pearce (Petone), J. Thomas (Mangaweka), R. J. MceKnzie (Rangitikei), each; R. Shaw (Wanganui) and S. Roebuck (Okato), 48 each. Counted out:—Rflm. H. Brehaut,