RIFLE SHOOTING

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21415, 6 March 1935, Page 16

RIFLE SHOOTING

! NATIONAL MEETING | AT TRENTHAM A. R- WILLS LEADS FOR I KING'S PRIZE CHAMPIONSHIP MATCHES .MESS ASSOCIATION TELKGBA.U .\ j TRENTHAM, March 5. The championship matches from which are determined the* 40 highest aggregate scorers to fire in the final match for the King's Prize, were completed at the national rille meeting at Trentham to-day. The leading positions in the King's Prize 40 is occupied by A. R. Wills (InvercargiU), with 421 out; of a possible 450. The next highest score was 418 made by F. Bowes (Auckland City). With his three-point lead. 47 for his final 10 rounds at 900 yards, would make Wills r-ure of the champion bell. Third, fourth, and fifth places in the 40 are filled by L. G. Benton (Featherston), F. H. James (Napier), and A. H. O'Donnell (Petone), each with 416. The championship shooting was resumed half-way through the morning, after the completion of an extra match of seven rounds at 800 yards, for which there were 41 prizes totalling £ 18. The first range of the Auckland match. 10 rounds at 800 and 900 yards, was fired before the mid-day luncheon adjournment, leaving the afternoon free for the second range of the Auckland match, and the Witcombe and Caldwell match, which called for 10 rounds at 900 yards. Tricky conditions were experienced by the first men to shoot in the Auckland match, and many competitors suffered severely in rapid wind changes from right to left. Little fault could be found with the light. As the morning advanced, the weather improved, and although at times the wind was difficult to follow, there were occasional easy patches. The marksmen who were fortunate enough to be shooting in them had good scores. Throughout the early afternoon, conditions were much the same; but towards the end of the clay the breeze freshened from the south, and more windage allowance was required than on any previous occasion during tho meeting's. Australian Aggregate Four marksmen had aggregates of 235 out of a possible 250 to gain leading places in the Australian Aggregate, which is awarded for the highest scores in the Canterbury, Wellington, and Auckland matches. They were: A. R. Wills (InvercargiU). J. C. Carter (Petone). K. Grigsby (Morrin'sville). and F. H. James (Napier). The matches comprising the Australian Aggregate involve one shoot at each of the short and long ranges over which the competitors (ire in the championship series. With his consistent shooting in the long-range belt matches, R. Congreve (Old Navals) won the Bislev Aggregate with 193 out of a possible 200. His loss of seven points for the three matches comprising the Bisley Aggregate was marksmanship of the highest order. The next highest scores were 189, registered by Wills and Benton. The winner of the rifle club champion teams' match, which is based on all scores in belt matches except the final 10 shots, was won by the Napier team, the members of which were F. H. James. L. H. Proffitt, R. Nicholson, and J. H. Kearney. Their aggregate scores totalled 1633. The team wins the Petone Rifle Club Champion Aggregate Shield, and each member of ! the team receives a miniature silver I cup. The Auckland City team had the second highest score with 1629. and the Petone No. 1 team finished third with 1613. The Colonial Ammunition Company's Cup, for the highest team scores in all range belt matches, except the final 10 shots, was won by the Napier team with 709. The Auckland City | team was second with 709, and the Featherston team third with 708. The Auckland match was won by Congreve with 98. J. C. Feast (Greytown) was second with 95. The win- I ner of the Witcombe and Caldwell match was C. B. Denton (Okato) with j 48. The prize-lists for these two matches nad not been compiled when j the telegraph office closed. The final match for the Kind's Prize to-morrow afternoon will be broadI cast. This will be the first time this has been done. King's Prize Contest The following marksmen will fire off for the King's Prize:--A. R. Wills (InvercargiU.) .. 421 : F. Bowes (Auckland City) .. 418 L. G. Benton (Featherston) .. 416 F. H. James (Napier) .. .. 416 A. H. O'Donnell (Petonei ~ 416 W. N. Masefield (Blenheim) .. 415 R. Congreve (Old Navals) .. 412 J. C. Carter (Petone) .. ~ 412 F. J. Soler (Wanganui) .. 411 C. J. Nix (Featherston) .. 411 H. Simmonds (Auckland City) .. 411 K. Grigsby (Morrinsville) " ..411 - R. Nicholson (Napier) .. .. 409 ! H. V. Croxton (Karori) .. .. 408 i F. H. Sharland 'Nelson) .. ~ 408 L. H. Proffitt (Napier) .. 408 C. Whiteman (Upper Hull) .. 408 F. Booking (Cheltenham) .. 407 i D. Roots (Patea) .. ..407 ' H. W. Feast (Greytown) .. 407 A. R. Elgar (Okato) .. ..407 J. C. Feast ("Greytown) .. 407 W. H. Ballinger (Petone) .. 406 I F. N. McVicar (Waipukurau) .. 406 i J. H. Tompson (Woodville) .. 406 M. King (Opaki) . . .. 405 [ W. Norris (Whangarei.) .. 405 F. C. Hogg (New Plymouth) .. 405 j L. E. Braithwaite (Okawa) .. 405 R. C. Anderson (InvercargiU) .. 405 W. N. Kummer (Opaki) .. 405 1. J. Spry (Auckland City) .. 404 H. C. Percy (Alfredton) ~ 404 W. Johnson ("Featherston) .. 404 D. McKenzie (Opaki) .. 404 D. B. Jones (Nelson) .. 404 E Ballinger (Petone) .. 404 R. H. Nicholl (Petone) .. 404 J. McKelvie (Karori) .. 404 R. Donald (Featherston) .. 403 P. W. Congreve (Old Navals) .. 403 H. R. Hunt (Suburbs) .. 403 R. E. Stuart (Cheltenham) ... 403 C. Pickering (Opaki) .. 403 The last five competitors will lire o'T one compulsory sighter and three shots at 900 yards to-morrow morning to determine the last place in the King's 40. Yesterday's Results Australian Aggregate, for highest scores in Canterbury Match, Wellington Match, and Auckland MatchWhite Horse Challenge Cup, and miniature, and £7—A. R. Wills (InvercargiU). 235; £5, J. C. Carter (Petone), 235; £4, K. Grigsby (Morrinsville), 235: £3 each, F. H. James (Napier) 235, L. H. Proffitt (Napier) 232; £2 each, F. C. Hogg (New Plymouth) 232, L. G. Benton (Featherston) 232, H. W. Feast (Greytown) 232, F. J. Soler (Wanganui) 232. Twenty-five others received £1 each. Bisley Aggregate, for highest aggregate scores in Taranaki Match, Auckland Match, and Witcombe and Caldwell Match—Croxton Cup and £5, R. Congreve (Old Navals) 193; £4, A. R. Wills (InvercargiU) 189: £3, L. G. Benton (Featherston) 189: £2 each. J. C. Feast (Greytown) 188, W. N. Masefield (Blenheim) 186. Ten received £1 each, and 10. 10s each. Grand Aggregate. for highest aggregate scores in all matches, except

final 10 shots—Collins Challenge Cup and National Rifle Association gold !• medal. W. N. Masefield (Blenheim) 1 671; National Rifle Association silver [ medal. R. H. Nicholl (Petone) 657; ' National Rifle Association bronze i medal. F. J. Soler (Wanganui) 654. j Imperial Aggregate, for highest j scores in Otago, Hawke"s Bay, Tara- : naki, and Witcombe and Caldwell ; Matches—Club Coffee Cup. R, Nichol- i son (Napier) 189. } I B Grade Aggregate, for all scores in I belt matches, except final 10 shots — j Barton Challenge Shield, gold medal, and £5, L. M. Proffitt (Napier) 48; £3, F. Booking (Cheltenham) 407; £2 \ each, W. Norris (Whangarei) 405, R. C. Anderson (Invercargill) 405. Thir- i teen received £1 each. I I ! I j COMPLAINTS ABOUT j AMMUNITION ! DISCUSSIONS AT TRENTHAM MEETINGS irnr.ss association telegram.) I TRENTHAM, March 5. j Criticism of the quality of the am- \ munition issued to the rifle clubs by \ (he Defence Department was voiced at ' Ihe annual meeting of the National | Rifle Association, and by members of | the rifle clubs, at their meeting at j Trentham last evening. j It was stated at the latter meeting j that, through the faulty ammunition I on issue, it was difficult to retain the i enthusiasm of members, with the result j that the attendances at weekly shoots i were decreasing all over the country. j Speakers at the meeting of the Na- i f.ional Rifle Association contended that the poor quality of the ammunition i issued to clubs was largely responsible j for the entries for the national meeting at Trentham not being greater. Rifle club members capable of good performances became discouraged with their continual failure to achieve results, and did not consider it worth while attending the national events. —» j