EMPIRE MARKSMEN

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 18, 22 January 1924, Page 3

EMPIRE MARKSMEN

RIFLE SHOOTING FOR BOYS

THE KING'S MESSAGE.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) LONDON, 13th December. . In announcing the results of the competitions for the Imperial Challenge Shield (senior and junior), 1923, the National Rifle Association gives the following extract from a letter from the private secretary to His Majesty the King: "His Majesty notes with satisfaction the increase both in the numbers of entries and in the efficiency of the shooting, which is particularly reflected in the victory of South Africa in both divisions of the Imperial Challenge Shield competi-' tions. The King hopes that still further impetus will be given to the popularity of these competitions throughout the Empire by the new conditions approved by the War Office, the object of which is to encourage mass efficiency on the broadest lines."

The competitions for these two silver challenge shields, value £200,. presented in 1910 by Colonel Raymond W. Ffennell, of South Africa, were held, throughout the Empire—in Great Britain, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, India, Ceylon, etc. The Senior Imperial Shield, for boys over 15 years of age, was won by the Hilton College Cadet Corps, Natal, and the Junior Imperial Shield, for boys under 15 years of age, was won by Emmasdale Industrial School Cadets, Heidelberg, South Africa. The proportion of boys who iired through these competitions from various parts of the Empire was approximately as follows:—Great Britain, 3800; Australia, 1700; Canada, 1340; New Zealand, 5740; South Africa, 6090; India etc., 370. The special trophies for all-round efficiency presented by the Countess • Roberts for Great Britain and by the Viceroy of India and the Governors-General of the Dominions have been awarded as follow:—

Great Britain.—St. Andrew's School, Eastbourne, and the Royal Naval Training Establishment, Shotley, placed equal, first. ■

Australia.—"E" Company, 27th Battalion, Senior Cadets, Unley, South Australia.

■ Canada.—Trinity College School Cadet Corps, Port Hope, Ontario. New Zealand.—Hilton College Cadet Corps, Natal, and Emmasdale Industrial School Cadets, Heidelberg, placed equal, first. India. —Lawrence Royal Military School Cadets, Sanawar. The results of these competitions show that excellent progress has been made during the past year, and record an increase of 6UOO competitors as compared with those received in 1922. This is mainly due to the emphasis which the National Kiile Association lays upon the importance of units attaining mass efficiency instead of concentrating upon the production of a small but expert representative team, as has been the custom in nearly all such contests in the past. The chief awards in these competitions are now based upon this principle, and the intention is to apply it evon more widely next year. South Africa provided the largest number of competitors, and showed the greatest all-round progress. Though the standard of marksmanship of the junior boys in the preparatory schools of the Mother Country compares not unfavourably with that of the Dominions, the showing made by the senior division continues to be very disappointing. Commenting upon this fact, tho National Rifle Association states: "Neither their lack of skill nor the smallness of their numbers, as compared with the population, are the faults of the boys themselves. So long as the riflo training of the youth is regarded nationally as of little importance, and facilities and financial assistance are not forthcoming, such success as the boys of Great Britain may achieve in this Imperial test will, continue to be chiefly due to voluntary and private effort." . .

NEW ZEALAND'S ENTHUSIASM. The greatest improvement in numbers is shown by New Zealand, which has advanced 100 per cent. South Africa, which again provides the largest number, of i competitors, shows an increase of over 60 , per. cent., and Great Britain is third with 27 per cent. It will be observed . that South Africa and New Zealand furnish no less than five-eighths of the total boys who competed. This remarkable achievement must be attributed to r the importance which the Defence DeI partments attach to the systematic training of the youth in those Dominions and to the encouragement and personal assistance afforded by private individuals. As was remarked last year, when South Africa and New Zealand were also lead- ' ing, the two great Dominions with the j smallest population furnish the largest entries. •'

I In no part of the Empire, says tha • report, has greater effort been made than .in .New Zealand to get the full strength ■ o£. each unit to compete and to obtain real mass efficiency. Nowhere also has | the enthusiasm in competing for tho trophy of the Governor-General been . greater. In view of the enormous in- !' crease in numbers, the disproportionate showing in the prize list is in itself explanatory and quite inadequately indicates the sterling work which has been done, and which should ensure greater success in tho near future. The Australian cadets, while maintaining the excellent quality of their shooting, have comparatively stood still as regards numbers, while South Africa and New Zealand have made enormous strides. Australia j has thus, for the time being, lost the supremacy which, in earlier years, she had continuously arid easily maintained against all others. CHALLENGE SHIELD COMPETITION (Senior). The highest average was made by tho 14th G'al&.-y Troop Boy Scouts, Canada (97.6) townoin were awarded nine bronze , medals and £10. ! No. 1 Platoon, 24th Company New Plymouth B.H.S. Senior Cadets' "B" team, averaged 91.8, and received nine bronze medals and £2. No. 1 Platoon, "A"- Company, 6th Cadet Battalion, Otago R-.-giment, Dunedin, averaged 91.3. and received nine bronze medals and £3. ' v.:s' o,- 1 iJ|atoon> A Company, 9th Cadet Battalion, Canterbury Regiment (Nelson College), A team, averaged 91.16, receiv- , ing 13 bronzo medals and £3. I No 2 Platoon 28th Company, Senior I Cadets, Auckland, averaged 90.3, and re- ' ceived 11 bronze medals and £3 ! No. 1 Platoon, 24th Company (New Ply m°Uth ?•&■?■ >• Senior Cadets'A team averaged 90.2, receiving 10 bronze medals and k-c. ! No. 2 Platoon 29th Company. Senior : Cadets, Auckland, averaged 89.7. Prize £2. I Other New Zealand Companies receiving tho £2 prizes were:— ! No. 1 Platoon. 24th Company, New Plymouth BH.S., Senior Cadets, C team Average 88.6. I No. 1 Platoon, 18th Company, Sacred ■ Heart College, Senior Cadets, Auckland ot.o.

. No. 1 Platoon, 89th Company, New Ply. mouth Technical College, Senior Cadets 1 1) team, 86.8. I No. 1 Platoon, B Company, 6th Cadet Battalion, Otago Regiment, Dunedin

No. 2 Platoon, 24th Company, New Plymouth 8.H.5., Senior Caduts, D team 85.7.

No 2 Platoon 27th (Company, Senior Cadets, Auckland, 85.3. No. 1 Platoon, 89th Company, New Plymouth Technical College, Senior Cadets, A team, i 84.6. No. 16 Platoon. D Company 6th Cadet Battalion, Canterbury Regiment Christchurch A team, 84.5. No 22 Platoon F Company, 9th Cadet Battalion, Canterbury Regiment, Nelson ■ 04.0. No 2 Platoon, 24th Company, New Plymouth 8.H.5., Senior Cadets, A team,

No. 3 Plntoon. 24th Company New Ply "-Mth 8.H.5., Senior Cadets, A team 84.1. .■ ' No. 1 Platoon, 29th Company Senior Cadets, Auckland, 83.9. .' 3' r ! No. 1 Platoon, 29th Company Senior , Cadets, Auckland, 83,9. 3l

No. 1 Platoon, A Company, Wellington College Cadets, A team, 83.8 ..- " No. 1 Platoon, A Company, 6th Cadet Battalion, Canterbury Regiment, New Brighton, A team, 83.5. No. 2 Platoon, 24th Company, New Plymouth 8.H.5., Sonior Cadets, B team, 83.2. • . No. 19 Platoon, E Company, 9th Cadet Battalion, Canterbury Regiment, Blenheim, .83.1. No. 21 Platoon, F Company, 9th Cadet Battalion, Canterbury Regiment, Nelson, 83.1. No. 2 Platoon A Company, Wellington College Cadets, A team, 83.1. i No. 2 Platoon, 18th Company, Sacred Heart College, Senior Cadets, Auckland I 82.8. ' No. 1 Platoon, A Company, 9th Cadet Battalion, Canterbury Regiment Nelson College, B team, 82.7. No. 1 Platoon, C Company, 4th Cadet Battalion, Otago Regiment, Dunedin 82 5 I No. 2 Platoon, 24th Company ' New Plymouth 8.H.5., Senior Cadets, C team 81.6. • , ' I No. 2 Platoon, B Company, 6th Cadet Battalion, Otago Regiment, Dunedin, 81.5. CHALLENGE SHIELD COMPETITION (JUNIOR). V ' The highest average in the junior section was 95.8, attained by No. 5 troop, Marist Brothers' College Cadets, Uitenhage, South Africa, who were awarded 9 bronze medals and £10. The New Zealand competitors who received a monetary prize of £1 were:— I No. 1 Platoon, No. 110 Company, New Plymouth 8.H.5., Senior Cadets, O team Average, 87.7. No. 1 Platoon, 110 th Company, New Plymouth 8.H.5., Senior Cadets, A team 87.11. No. 3 Platoon, 18th Company, Sacred Heart College, Senior Cadets, Auckland 85. \ ■ , , i No. 1 Platoon, 110 th Company, New Plymouth 8.H.5., Senior Cadets,' B team 85. ' | No. 3 Platoon, A Company, 9th C./ Battalion. Canterbury Regiment, Nelson College, 84. ! No. 2 Platoon, Hamilton High School Cadets, A team, 83.3. 1 No. 4 Platoon, 89th Company, New Plymouth Technical College, Senior Cadets. C team, 81.8. ■■ No. 4 Platoon, C Company, 3rd C./ Battalion, Otago Regiment, King Edward Technical College, B team, 81.5.