ON THE RANGE

Waipukurau Press, Volume XXVIII, Issue 64, 9 March 1933, Page 3

ON THE RANGE

National Meeting A LADY COMPETING THE BELT SERIES COMMENCED TRENTHAM, Last Night. The presence of more competitors that at any previous meeting of recent years is the most noticeable feature of this year’s annual four-day meeting of the National Rifle Association. which opened at Trentham to-day in fine weather. The programme had been prepared on an entry of 150, but this number was exceeded by an additional 31 marksmen. The guaranteed prize-money is considered to be the chief factor responsible for the increased attendance. which is regarded by the association authorities with extreme satisfaction in view of existing economic conditions. For the first time in the history of the association, a woman, Airs. J. T. Lovell, of Blenheim, is taking part in championship matches. Some four or five years ago she joined the Northbank Rifle Club in Marlborough, and. becoming interested in the sport, later joined up with the Blenheim Club. She is one of the most proficient shots in the club and is a member of the club's senior team. Although he is not a competitor, Air Lovell is also a keen rifleman and is visiting Trentham to watch his wife’s progress in her various matches. Ex-belt winners are prominent among the competitors, 13 of them having again entered for the championship matches, for the King’s prize. Last year’s King’s prizeman, R. H. Nicholl, of Petone, is defending his title. Colonel E. R. Smith, of Dunedin, who won the belt as captain in the Dunedin City Guards away back in 1894, is also shooting, and, although his sight might not be as keen as it was in those days, even now he is more than a match for many competitors nearly 50 years hir junior. Service matches were fired in th morning. These matches are compul mry and competitors with the high est aggregate scores are eligible ” participate in the final match for th

service championship, which will be fired later in the meeting. At the top of Service Forty is Cadet A. M. Jenkinson, of the Mt. Albert Grammar School, Auckland, and F. J. Soler, of Wanganui, each with 141 out of a possible 190. Third place is filled by H. L. Mason, of Christchurch, with 137 points. The No. 1 service match, consisting of seven rounds application, ten rounds rapid and ten rounds snapshooting, all at 300 yards, was won by H. R. Hunt, of Wellington, who scored 109 out of 135, second and third places being filled by H. L. Mason, of Christchurch, and F. J. Jeune, of Gisborne, each with 108. The No. 2 service match, comprising a tile competition and movingtarget competition was won by F. S. Hood, of Featherston, with 41 out of 55. The prize-money for second place was collected by G. T. Gardiner, of Havelock, with 40. A start was made in the afternoon with the belt series of matches, the King and Henry match, which called for seven rounds at 300, 500 and 600 yards, being completed. The winner was Nicholl. the reigning champion, who dropped only four points out of a possible of 105. H. L. Mason was runner-up with a score of 101, and L. Huddleston, of Rangitiki, ■was third. The winner in the B grade was I. J. Nicholls, of Northbank, with a score of 98. C.H.B. Competitors In the Service Forty match Rifleman McVicar (Waipukurau) scored 122 points, gaining 24th place in a lengthy list. Rifleman E. T. Haldane (Waipukurau) was 30th with 119, and Rifleman R. Ellis jr. (Takapauf 35th, his score being 117. Rifleman Haldane won 10s in the No. 1 service match, with a total of 94, and Rifleman McVicar a like amount, his score being 91. A prize of £1 was secured by Rifleman D. R. Waldin (Takapau), who scored 34 in the No. 2 service match, Rifleman McVicar winning 10s (31 > and Rifleman Ellis (30) a similar sum. In the King and Henry match Rifleman Haldane (96) and Rifleman McVicar (96) won £1 each. Rifleman Ellis in the B grade section scored 95 and secured £l.