Sportsman’s Notebook BIG SHOOTING EVENT IN NORTH CANTERBURY

Press, Volume C, Issue 29499, 28 April 1961, Page 22

Sportsman’s Notebook BIG SHOOTING EVENT IN NORTH CANTERBURY

A major event for shooters will be the two open trophy contests by the North Canterbury Gun Club at its range near Rangiora tomorrow. One of these will be the first contest for the trophy given by Mrs G. Davison, of Culverden, in memory of her husband. Mr D. W. Davison, formerly a keen member of the club This award will be for skeet shooting, and according to an officer of the club it is believed to be the first memorial trophy presented for skeet shooting in New Zealand. Mr Davison began his shooting around the 1920’s about the age of 13 or 14 while a pupil at the Rangiora High School. During his trap shooting career he won the New Zealand title and was successful in South Island championships. A keen supporter of the club. Mr Davison was enthusiastic in helping beginners. So keen was Mr Davison that he built his own skeet field on his farm and many private shoots were held there.

Specially imported from America, the tronhy takes the form of a skeet shooter standing on a dome at the top of a column, which rises from a wooden base, around which is a silver band for engraving There are also two figures of shooters flanking the column. The trophy will be for annual competition, and a miniature of the figure surmounting the column will be given by Mr W. Norrie. Culverden. a brother-in-law of Mr Davison, to the winner for nermanent keeping.

The other competition will be for the Skilling Memorial Trophy, given by the club to commemorate the work done for the club by the late Mr J. Skillins. a former life member and past-president. The skeet shoot for the Davison trophy will be decided by a round of 25 targets. and any ties will be shot off until a winner is decided. The Skilling trophy will be of 15 targets, with ties being decided by a shoot-off. It had been known for 50 or more targets to be shot before a tie had been decided, said a club officer.

4> » # No Home For FireEngine The Waimairi Surf LifeSaving Club’s 1922 fire engine. which gallantly transported club members and

gear to the national surf championships in Otago this year, is without a suitable home for the winter months, according to the club captain (Mr I. Graham). Formerly owned by the Ijrtte!ton Volunteer Fire Brigade, the engine has been almost completely renovated by members, but it will deteriorate considerably if it has to brave the elements during the winter. • * • Canada’s Entry Canada plans to send a contingent of not fewer than 82 to the British Empire and Commonwealth Games, to be held in Perth next year, according to Major J. W. Davies, secretary of the British Empire and Commonwealth Games Association of Canada. The constitution of the team, with officials in parenthesis, will be:—Athletics 15. boxing 6 (2>, cycling 4 (1). fencing 4 <ll. lawn bowls 4. rowing 13 (2). swimming and diving 10 (2). weightlifting 4 (I>. wrestling 5 <l>. Canada sent 117 competitors and officials to the 1958 Games at Cardiff, but transport costs to Perth are higher. The team is expected to arrive in Perth on November 12. 10 days before the opening. * ♦ ♦ Rugby Dress Footballers of all ages will have to be properly turned out on Saturday, when Rugby referees will carry out a full inspection, players will also be examined to ensure that they are not wearing dangerous articles, such as rings, or belts with buckles. # • ♦ Fencing Tour A tour of New Zealand by an Australian Universities’ fencing team, lasting for three weeks, will commence on May 5. Its first match will be against an Auckland provincial side on May 6. After meeting Auckland University it will fly to Wellington to fight Victoria University and a provincial team before touring the South Island. Both Canterbury and Otago will be met on a provincial and university level. The climax of the tour will be the test match in the new Victoria University gymnasium on May 27. Electric equipment will not be used on the tour.