The Dominion THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 1928. SPORT WITH THE RIFLE

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 130, 1 March 1928, Page 8

The Dominion THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 1928. SPORT WITH THE RIFLE

It may be doubted whether such a stupendous event as the consummation of an international peace system would have any appreciable effect on the sport of rifle shooting. Arguments in support of the encouragement of rifle clubs have frequently taken the stand that it is a good thing from the point of view of national defence to train men to become good marksmen. There is truth in this, of course, but it is a fact that riflemen take to the mounds very much in the same spirit as followers of other sports take to the cricket ground, the bowling green, the football field, and the tennis court —for the love of the game.

It is a fine sport, in which the honours of the game invariably go to the men who lead clean and health}' lives, and are of abstemious habits. Clear vision, cool judgment, and a steady nerve are the requisite qualities for successful marksmanship. Many of our greatest riflemen have come from the country districts, where the open-air life, and the habitual ranging of the eye over distant country, have developed these essential attributes. The country rifle chibs, in fact, constitute no small proportion of the strength of the National Rifle Association, the annual prize meeting of which, at Trentham rifle range, was concluded yesterday. The muster roll at Trentham this year has been in the vicinity of 350, slightly less than last year, but still well up to the average. In record years the entries ran well over the 400 mark. It is evident, therefore, that the sport of rifle shooting has retained a strong following, and that its attraction is something independent of the military spirit which animated the country in previous years To say this is to say nothing by way of depreciating the claims of the riflemen to such encouragement as lies within the means of the State to accord. That in this respect their standing is similar to the claims of our cricketers and footballers may be argued by some Our touring cricketers, footballers, tennis players, and athletes may be able to offer a more spectacular advertisement of the quality of our citizenship when winning laurels abroad, but much can be said for the encouragement of a sport which, in the rural districts especially, provides a healthy recreation where other forms of sport may be less easy to organise. In common with other sports it offers, too, opportunities for exchanges of visits lietween neighbouring Australian States which assist to promote mutual good-fellowship and understanding. A feature of this year’s championship meeting was the visit of an Australian rifle team, whose fine marksmen shared the honours of the various events. From all points of view, therefore, the sport is worthy of every encouragement. The National Rifle Association is to be complimented on the energy and enterprise with which it has sustained the high standing and efficiency of the old Dominion Rifle Association of pre-war days. , Congratulations are also due to the winner of the Championslrjp Belt, Rifleman E. S. King, with a fine score of 45 in the King’s Match, and to the Dominion’s team which defeated the New South Wales and Victorian riflemen in the match for the Gordon Highlanders’ Cup. The meeting has presented a high general average of marksmanship, in spite of the extremely trying weather conditions of the past few days. Tricky weather conditions may be unwelcome to the aspirants of “possibles,” but they serve to try out the best qualities of marksmanship and sportsmanship which it is the aim of the association to foster.