RIFLE SHOOTING.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20489, 7 March 1932, Page 13

RIFLE SHOOTING.

NATIONAL MEETING AT TRENTHAM. KING'S PRIZE TO R. H. NICHOLL. (PRBSS A.B3OCIATIOW TELEOIUM) , WELLINGTON, March 6. The New Zealand champion marksman is B. H. -Nicholl, of Petone Rifle Club, who won his'first King's Prize by a margin of ftur points at Trentham on Saturday. « ■was a brilliant triumph for grit, determination, and- consistency. After his win, and the usual trigger test of his rifle, Nicholl was hoisted into the historic chair of the King's prizcjinan and was carried by his club-mates shoulder high to the Y.M.C.A. hall, where he was presented, amid cheering and applause, with the Ballmger riflo v champion 'belt, the gold medal and gold badge of the National Rifle Associa. tion. and a cash prise of £25. r . nn \Yith a score of 381 out of a P°a« b le 40p, Nicholl had a six-point lead when j fche_ King J Forty went down at .900 yards to fire thfl foil t7n rounds in the final encounter for the King's Prise. Second. and third posi tion in the Forty were filled by, H. V. Orox ton (Karori) and J. 0. Feast (Greytown), whose respective scores were 375 And 874. Aftet the King's Prize match, order of these three marksmei was the same. A 45 at the final range would have given Nicholl the King's Prise, but he did even better than that, and finished with . 47, and brought his aggregate up to 428 oat of a pos Sll The King's Forty was shot in two hatches, the last 20 shooting first and the first 20 list. A steady, light breese was . blowing, and from seven to ten degrees of windage had to be allowed for. Nicholl wasted no time, and was first to finish his ten shots, taking exactly six minutes. Croxton put on 49, to finish with an aggregate of 424, and Feast made 48, bringing his aggregate up to 422. H. Oromie (Ashburton), who was fourth with an aggregate of 422, made with his final ten rounds. This entitles him tr- the Bifle Challenge Cup awarded for ther highest scofe in the King's Prite match._ _ Unlike many other champion shots, Nicholl is at home in any kind of weather, and the psychological effect of a crash at a range never worries him. He attended nis first National Meeting at Trentham in 1920, nod every year since then he has been a competitor at the annual rifle shooting championships. In 1924 Nicholl competed, at Bisley and reached the second stage in .the contest for the King's Prize, missing the final stage by two points. While lit Home on that oc* casion he competed with marked" success m the British miniature rifle championships. He won the New Zealand miniature, rifle championship in 1920, and at present is run-ner-up for that title. The Trentham record for 300, 500, and 600 yards also stands to his credit. His age is 33. Immediately before the King's Prize match the final match for the Service Championship was fired. The winner' of this was J. E. Farley. (Wanganni). - Detailed Scores. Details of scores in the contest for the King's Prize are:— - £25, Ballinger Kifle Belt, Gold 'Medal, and Gold Badge of the National Rifle Association —-R. H. Nicholl (Petone) .. • • 428 £l2, Silver Star and Badge— H.. V. Croxton (Karori) .. .- 424 f 7, Silver Star and Badge—J, C. Feast (Greytown) .. .. •• 422 .€5, Silver Star, and Badge—H. Cromie (Ashburton) .. • • 420 £3 and Badge—H. King (Opaki) .. 420 .€3 and Badge—H. Kippett (Oamaru) .. 418 £2 tad Badge—T. Vf. Warburton (Petone) • . . • ■ 416 £2 and Badge—o. Glassey (Ashburton) 415 £3 and Badge—H. W. Feast (Greytown) 414 The 1 following take £1 and Badge.—P. B. Goldfinch (Karori) 414, W. N. Masefleld (Blenheim) 413,' W. H. Ballinger (Petone) 413, T. H. R. Boon (Karori) 410,' Ii v "G. Benton (Featherston) 410, E. T. Haldane (Waipukurau) 410, H. L. Mason (Ohristcliurch) 409, F. N. McVicar (Waipukurau) 409, D. F. Keir (Ashburton) 408, N "W. Mclver (Petone). 407, G. R. Smith (Kaponga) 406. Ten others, with scores ranging from 405 to 401, receive £1 each. . Other Results. Results of other matches and aggregates are: — B Grade Aggregate (for highest scores by B Grade- competitors in Belt matches, except (he final 10 shots) —-H. King (Opaki) 371, C. Glassey (Ashburton) 870. Tyro Aggregate- (for highest aggregate

scores by tyro competitors to Btlt Mhfaji . except final 10 shots) —W. B. f 6 *??,i""' son) 353, D. G. WylUe <W«st Tfuexi) 846. Bisley Aggregate (for- highest. scores in Tatanaki and Ot&go inatchj—H. King (Opaki) 102, B. H. Nicholl (Petone) .190. Rifle Club Champion Team Hatch (teams ot four; all scores ill Belt matches, except final 10 shots) —Petone team 1465. Colonial Ammunition Company's Cup (far , -teams of four; scores in TinitU and. Otage. ' matches) —Petone No. 1 team 784, Ashburton 720. „ Champion Yearns (match taam* -of f«u* men; seven rounds ttt'3oo, 500t ud JNwi) - —Petone 393, Blehheim 890. r ;y> ■ ■ Grand Aggregate {for highest aggragat* scores in all Belt matches, B Aeries jnateMs, and Service matches) —R. H. Nibholt (Petone) 543, H. A. feast 537. Otago Hatch (tn nnnds it 100 Ui M 0 , yards)—H. V. Croxton (Karori) 98,- I. C. , Blackwood (Cimafu) 97.