N.Z.R.A. MEETING.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 9395, 23 March 1898, Page 2

N. Z.R.A. MEETING.

McGregor, of Oaraaru Wins the Belt.

(Per United Press Association.) Oamaru, March 22. The finish for the Champion Belt was close and exciting, particular interest centring avound the targets occupied by Boss, McGregor and Robinson. The latter was the first to finish, with tho poor score of 13. With six shots to go McGregor led Boss by eight points. The latter then put on an outer, a miss and a magpie, while McGregor followed with three misses clear ovor the top. The Championship hung in the balance, McGregor had rloW d. lead of only, three points and three shots to go. This load was wiped out by Rosa with a magpie. Ross finished tho range with 21 and an aggregate of 506. It was thought that McGregor had lost tho target altogother. His score was 502 at his fourth shot, and he had had three misses. He found the target again with an outer and with another outer he tied Ross' score. To win the belt he had only to hit the target with his last shot. The spectators were on the tip-toe of expectancy, but McGregor was deliberate and cool. At last ho let go, and as an outer was recorded a cheer went up to honor his victory. Richardson, who was fifth in the meeting, made five outers and five misses and dropped out altogether. He only mode 10. Harding put on 16 and fell from fourth to seventh place, and Rutherford and Lester climbed into fourth and fifth places from sixth aud eighth respectively. Stedman also dropped out of the first ten. The scoring, as will bo seen, of the leading aggregates was altogether poor. Champion Match ; open to 50 highest aggregates in belt matches; 700 yds; 10 shots. Private John McGregor (Queen's Rifles, Oamarn), cpampion belt, „ gold medal and £30 . ». ..508 James Ross , (Woodville Rifle Club), silver star and £20 , .- „.506 T. S, Robinson (Christchurch Hon. - Reserves), silver star and £15 f . 501 Captain Rutherford ,(Kaitangata), silver star and £10, .. . T ., .. 500 Sapper Lester (Ohristchurch Engineers), silver star and £8 . . 495 Corporal McKay (Chrislchurch Hon. , Reserves), £i .. ■ .. .. 4<)l R. Harding (Blenheim Rifle Club), £4 490 Corporal Simpson (Kaiapoi Kifles),£4 489 Private Pearson (Timaru P. Guards), , £4 489 W. H. Montgomery (Invercargill Rifle Club), £4 486 Bandmaster King was the eleventh, with a score of 486. W. Hastie and W. Hyte, both of Oamaru, followed together, ten points away. Captain Nimmohad an aggregate of 472 ; E. L. Eule, 459 ; Sorgt. Little, 456; and Color-Sergeant Smith, 444. The winner of the belt last ' year, Private Ballinger, of the Wellington City Guards, secured an aggregate this year of 461. Ho won the belt last year with 528. Corporal Simpson, of Kaiajroi, was ninth for the belt last year, and is eighth in the aggregates of 1898. None of the other placed men last year are among the first ton this year. Rule, of Oamaru, with 37, won the Rifle Challenge Cup for the highest score in tho final stage. At the presentation of prizes Major Headland paid a high compliment to Majors Sommerville and Collins for the manner in which they had conducted the meeting. Sergeant J. Purnell, of the Wanganui Rifles, who has been competing at the meeting, arrived in town on Monday evening, having left Oamaru on Saturday. He did not consider it worth while remaining any longer, as there were not sufficient competitors from this district to enter either for the district or teams matches. Ho states that the weather wp.s fine.but the wind very tricky. As an instanoe of the difficulties shootists had to labour under, Sergeant Purnell mentioned that a competitor might at the start take aim several yaids to the right of the target, but before he had fired all his rounds, even at the one range, he would have to sight a number of yards to the left of the target. Sergeant Purnell had a little bad luck in the Grand Aggregate Match. He was one of those who finished firing on the Thursday, and made 23 (top score) at the 700 ya^ds range. ;When the range was fired again cext day he only put on 4. All the local competitors were fairly successful, their individual winnings being :— Sommerville £12, Kruse £10, Purnell £6, Drew £6, ana O'Neill £6. Thorpe, of the Wairoa Light Horse won £4.