WITH THE GUN.

Waikato Times, Volume 111, Issue 18625, 3 May 1932, Page 10

WITH THE GUN.

OLAY BIRD CHAMPIONSHIP. WON BY MURRAY PRATT. The North Island Championship tournament, under the auspices of the Metropolitan Gun Club at Auokland, was a further triumph for ammunition made by the Colonial ' Ammunition Co., Ltd. Only three shooters on the ground did not use locally-made ammunition, and of the eight dividers in the championship match no less than seven used “C.A.C." The weather conditions were changeable, but the standard of shooting was remarkably •high, there being a large attendance of shootists and visitors from all parts of the North Island. During the championships no less than four New Zealand records were broken —(1) 125 birds straight at one shoot. (2) 107 birds straight in two matohes. (3) 97 'birds straight in a championship match. (4) Four shooters still in the shoot at the 47th bird. Murray Pratt, Now Zealand clay bird champion, and 'holder of last year’s North Island sparrow cham-

plonship and North Island clay championship, was responsible for the first three of these records, in addition to winning the championship itself. _ln an atmosphere electrical with excitement Pratt, who hails from Otmohanga, shot off for premier honours with J. Winiki, New Plymouth, and it was not until W’iniki missed his 97th bird that the championship was decided in favour of Pratt. Both then went on shooting until Pratt broke his 125th bird before retiring. The dividers of the championship match were—M. Pratt Otorohauga, 97 ; J. Winiki, New Plymouth, 96; W. Elliott, Gisborne, 54; E. Groorne, Otane, 49; W. Hazard, Auckland, 27; G. Bretherton, Taumarunui, 26; D. Ewing, Auckland, 25; F, Seccombe, Auckland, 25.