The Champion Belt Winner.

Feilding Star, Volume XVII, Issue 224, 25 March 1896, Page 2

The Champion Belt Winner.

Sergeant J. 11. Wakelin is a watch- i maker in Christchurch. He was born • at Exeter, Devon, England, and is 49 ' years of age. At the age of 26 he joined the first volunteer corps started I in England, and was connected with it for ten years. As a shot he bas | bad a great career. He has been in tbo Queen's sixty, and finished fourteenth for tbe Queen's prize. He shot in the English twenty for three years, and was one of eight in tbe English volunteer team, and (ired at "Wimbledon in tbe United Service Team Match in 1879. To be chosen as one of the eight in the English volunteer team was, ho reckons, the greatest honor be ever had conferred upon him. Last year he came into fifth place for the champion belt, beating Private "Winsdale on the tie. He lias been thirteen years in the colony, is an inveterate smoher, and a moderate drinker. As representing the Ist Devon Corps, Sergeant Wakelin fired three times in the English twenty at Wimbledon. He came fourth for the Prince of Wales' £100 prize, and shot twice in the Queen's hundred. In 1879, whilst shooting on the Devon range in a match, he put up a world's record of 102 at 200, 500, and 000 yards, which record he held for several years. In 1891 he represented N«w Zealand at Bisley, and on his return to the colony in December, 1894, he did some wonderful shooting, putting up a world's record of 101 at 500, GOO, and 700 yards. He was fifth for the belt (12 points behind the champion) at Trentham last year.