THE RANDWICK RIFLEMEETING.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 45, 16 November 1907, Page 6

THE RANDWICK RIFLEMEETING.

A NEW ZEALAND RIFLEMAN'S ' ! IMPRESSIONS. ■'• Rifleman Masefield, a member of tho New Zealand Representative Rifle Team which did such excellent shooting in tho Empire Match recently, returned from Sydney by the Warrimoo on Thursday. . , . • Chatting to i a Dominion represontativo,tho, rifleman had something to say about the conditions of shooting matches in Australia as compared with the conditions in New Zealand. • Speaking of tho time-limit, Rifleman Masefield ■ said, that the Australian, system was not very good, and it would probably tako longer to get through a match than , if our method were followed. On the Randwick rango, • each man had to wait' for the buglo before: he could follow on. If tho previous man finished under tho time-limit, thero was unnecessary delay.

Thero were three factors to bo reckoned with, which the Dominion men were not able to wholly qvercomci—tho heat, tho light, and the wind. The light was bright and dazzling,'and the targots proved to bo very deceiving in the glare. Shooting, conditions at Bisloy compared much more favourably as regards heat and light with thoso in New Zealand. ■ ' ' ' ' The wind at Randwick'was very strong; and windage to tho , extent of 30ft. and 35ft. had usually to bo allowed for at 1000 yards. Gonorally speaking, tho New Zealand system of conducting rifle meetings compared very favourably with that of New South Wnlos. - Tho Bathnrst Team, against which our men were pitted, was probably tho strongest combination in Australia. It included King, tho prize-winner at Randwick, and topscorer in the Empire Match. V. The N.R.A. (Now South Wales) treated tho New Zoalanders very well, and tho men had .a most enjoyable time in Sydney. At Bathurst they had a splendid reception, and wero entertained at a smoko concert. They also participated in a wallabi drive. Our men were groatly handicapped by not having " match" barrels. The ordinary " rack " barrels were not. considered good enough for first-class shooting over there. It is probnblo that futuro teams will bo equipped with "match" barrels, and so bo at a less disadvantage.