EXCELLENT STANDARD OF SHOOTING SEEN AT MARTON CLAY BIRD SHOOT

Wanganui Chronicle, 7 November 1949, Page 2

EXCELLENT STANDARD OF SHOOTING SEEN AT MARTON CLAY BIRD SHOOT

An excellent standard of shooting was seen at Marton during the weekend when the Marton Gun Club held its annual open clay bird shoot, and “possibles' were numerous. Because of counter attractions on the Saturday and the wet morning yesterday, entries were only fair, and below expectations. Originally the club intended holding a £lOO match open shoot on the Saturday and a £2OO shoot yesterday but because of the limited entries, the £2OO shoot was abandoned and a £lOO was substituted. Two Rangitikei marksmen, D. Holden (Hunterville) and N. Dornbusch (Ohingaiti) shared the first £lOO shoot, but the second was divided between four visitors. The most successful member of the Marton Club was I. Brice, who won the £5O trophy shoot. N. Crabb, president of the Marton Club, appeared certain to share in the No 2 £lOO prize, after shooting 19 successive birds, but he missed the clay with his last shot and was eliminated. Marksmen came Iron) all parts of New Zealand and following clubs were represented: Palmerston North, New Plymouth, Mai*watu, Gisborne, Talhape, Eltham, Hastings, Otorohanga, Taumarunui, Hunterville, Ohingaiti, Wellington, Takapau and Marton. . 1 With rain over-night and again yesterday morning conditions did not appear promising for the final day, but the afternoon remained fine, although conditions underfoot were very muddy. There was a good attendance of the public yesterday. At the conclusion of the No. 2 £lOO shoot, the president, Mr. N. Crabb, before calling upon the Mayor, Mr T. E. Barton, thanked the shooters for their attendance and said the club appreciated the gesture of those marksmen who had come such a distance. He apologised for Marton’s weather. Mr. Barton congratulated the Marton Gun Club on its initiative in sponsoring such an ambitious shoot. It was unfortunate that the weather had not been better. With the facilities and appointments it possessed, Mr Barton envisaged the day when the Marton Gun Club would be one of the foremost in New Zealand.

Before calling upon the mayoress to present the trophies, Mr. Barton congratulated the winners, especially the “old, young men,” who could still teach the younger generation something in the art of shooting. The results of the principal events were:—

First £lOO match open shoot: D. Holden (Hunterville) and N. Dornbusch (Ohingaiti) tied for first place, each shooting the “possible" 20 birds. Seven shooters shot 19 birds as follows: N. Crabb (Marton), C. Lightfoot (Taumarunui), I. Brice (Marton), L. Maher (Ohingaiti), G. Lartipp (Marton), W. A. Thompson (Palmerston North), M. Pratt (Otorohanga). | There were 35 entries.

Second £lOO match open shoot: C. Benton (New Plymouth), C. Lane (Eltham), R. Liddle (Takapau), R. Struthers (Hastings) all shot the “possible” of 20 birds to share the first prize. Seven shooters shot 19 birds as follows: R. Maher (Ohingaiti)-, C. Lightfoot (Taumarunui), W. Hopkins (Taumarunui), R. Sherwood (Wellington), I. Brice (Marton), L. Scott (Palmerston North) and N. Crabb (Marton). There were 30 entries.

£6O trophy shoot (crystal set): This was a 15-bird match and 11 shooters shot the “possible.” In the shoot-off, W. R. Robinson (Hastings) was first with 44 birds, M. Pratt (Otorohanga), 43 birds 2, R. Mahex' (Ohingaiti) 38 birds 3; D. Holden (Hunterville) 37 birds 4.

£5O trophy (silver tea service): This was also a 15-bird shoot and eight tied lox- first place with “possibles.” In the shoot-eff, I. Brice (Marton) with 40 birds was first, M. Reader (Palmerston North) 39 birds 2, L. Death (Marton) 38, 3, S. F. Parkes (Hunterville) 37, 4. The relerees were R. Wallace (Hamilton) and I. Sutherland (Palmerston North). RESULTS FROM THE MARTON BOWLING GREEN. Seven rinks were in use at the Marton Bowling Green on Saturday afternon, when overhead conditions were ideal. The following were the results:— Griffin, Mclndoe, Hamer, Brabyxx 13 lost to Webb, Hunt, Stratford, McDonald 25; Shardlow, S. A. McDonald, Osborne, Barton 15 lost to Keeble, Scott, Hemplenian, Hewer 22; , Whale, Charlton, Morris 27 beat Abbott, Black, Setford, Bland 10; Freeth, Uockburn, Atkinson 25 beat Adams, McConachie, Gibbs 17: Blackledge, Bland, Jim McDonald, Hunter 19 beat H. Clark, Thomas, Lourie, Thompson 16; Nicol, B. Clark, Hutton 12 lost to Parlane, Baines, Chapman 21; Phillips, Grey, Williams, 20 lost to McKinnon, Mitchell, Morgan 28. HAWKESTONE LADIES’ GOLF. The ladies of the Hawkestone Golf Club are holding their closing day tomorrow (Tuesday) with a one-club competition. The draw will take place at the clubhouse at 1 p.m. PERSONAL. Lady Freyberg will visit Marton on December 13 and will present prizes at the Nga Tawa School’s prize-giving ceremony. End-of-year festivities at the school will start on Saturday night, December 10 with a concert. On Monday there will be a fete from which proceeds will go to C.0.R.5.0. Fund, while at night there will be a carol service. On. December 13 there will be a dancing display in the morning followed by the prize-giving in the afternoon. LOWEST o<’TOBER RAINFALL FOR SOME TIME AT TUTAENUI. ! The rainfall at Tutaenui last month of 1.91 inches was the lowest Octobex 1 ' fall for a long time, according to records kept by Mr. W. B. Gray, ! “Hazelhurst,” Marton. Last year the October rainfall was 5.06 inches, when rain fell on 21 days compared with 12 this year. The total fox’ the yeax- to date is 37.22 inches, as against 37.5:1 inches for the corresponding period in ; .1948. Details of October's rainfall are: i 2nd, .37; Bth, .63; 9th, .15; 13tix, .05; ! 14th, .28; 16111, .06; 17th, .06; 22nd, i .05; 23rd, .07; Bth, .05; 29th, .03; 30th, I .12.