RIFLE ASSOCIATION.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 68, 23 March 1901, Page 4

RIFLE ASSOCIATION.

By Telegraph—Press Association. Wanganui, last night. It is a lovely morning for shooting, with just a light breeze from the right. Some excellent shooting was made at 500 yards in the Hawke’s Bay Match by Marshall, of Wellington, who made the possible at the same range yesterday, with seven shots, and repeated the performance this morning, but with ten shots. Marshall is firing with a MartiniHenri, and therefore has a handicap of 2 points. At the next range, 600 yards, Watts, of Christchurch, scored 49, and they were several others close up. The challenging of shots was frequent, and in the majority of instances the decision was in favor of the competitors. The markers claim that at times it is most difficulty to discern the small hole made by the ’303 bullets. Prizes are to be given to markers having a less percentage of challenges against thorn. This is likely to lead to an improvement in the marking as the meeting progresses. A change of wind took place at 600 yards, and the shooting was a little erratic. Kemp, of the Canterbury Engineers, rang on the possible, and takes the range prize, j£3. Winslade, Wanganui, and Nelson, Woodville, scored 47. -The following aro the chief prize-takers : Hawke’s Bay Match, 500 and 600yds, ten shots. Winslade, Wanganui, L 7 94 Nelson, Woodville, L 6 94 J. Loveday, Woodville, L 5 ... . ... 93 Kemp, Christchurch, L 4 92 Hawthorne, Wellington, L 4 92 Marshall, Wellington, L 3 92 Hughes, Wanganui, L 3 92 Woollett, Dunedin, LZ 91 A. Ballinger, Wellington, L2 91 Stephen, Timaru, L2 90 Purnell, Wanganui, L2 90 Scores of 88 were counted out.

FURTHER DETAILS. GOOD SHOOTING. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) Wanganui, last night. There was beautiful weather all day for the shooting, but the wind, though light, changed at least three times during the day, and upset the calculations of some men. This is noticeable where a competitor was rattling on a good score, but a sudden shift of the wind carried him away and he would probably finish up badly. Compared with the shooting here at last meeting, the scores are much higher, and the - 303 bore had all the best of it. This will probably be demonstrated more clearly as the meeting progresses. In the Hawke’s Bay match Winslade, of Wanganui, and Nelson, of Woodville, finished first and second with the good score of 94 out of a possible 100. G. Loveday, of Woodville, finished third, with 93, while there were two of 92 and a similar number of 91’s.

In the afternoon the Marlborough Match, ten shots, sCoyds, was shot, and here the shooting again was an improvement, at last meeting there being three 49’s, and while 43 counted out last year, 46 was counted out in to-day’s shooting. The following are the chief prize-takers in the Marlborough Match : —■ Waugh, Timaru, £(> 49 Feast, Wairarapa, i£6 49 Ingpen, Woodville, £6 ... ... 49 Captain Okey, Taranaki, M 48 Garr, Dunedin, £2 48 Bunting, Christchurch, £2 48 Newall, Auckland, £2 48

Turner, Wellington, £2 ... ... 48 Waugh, Feast, and Ingpen fired off for Kynoch Co.’s cup, which goes to the highest scorer in this match, and Waugh won, making a possible with his three shots, while the other two made 11 points each.

At present Nelson, of Woodville, leads for the belt, with 140, and his fellow townsman, G. Loveday, is second with 139. Winslade, of Wanganui, and Turner, have a score of 138 each.