RIFLE-SHOOTING.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2142, 18 March 1908, Page 3

RIFLE-SHOOTING.

SOME TRENTHAM SHARPSHOOTERS.

THE FOUR BEST SHOTS. Rifleman George Hyde, for the second time champion rifle shot of New Zealand, is in his fortieth year. Ho was born at -Blenheim, and did his earliest shooting on the local range, as a cadet—-whore his brother Arthur, also a first-o'.ass un.irksman, also graduated—but it- was not until tho champion began shooting with his present club, somo eight or ten years ago, that lie gave promise of (the grit ami determination, allied To skill and sustained persistence, that (makes him perhaps tho most consistent shot that Now Zealand possesses. He won tho championship in 1902, was second for it (two- points behind iluis clubmate, King) in 1903, and every year since then lie has occupied prominent positions at eml of the annual contests. He received a very hearty reception from the public and his follow competitors when ho finished, and after tho order to leave tho mounds was given, ho was carried shoulder high by his clubmates. Lieut. Timbrel], who gained second place, is an Australian by birth, having come to Now Zealand from West Australia a few years ago. lie was born at Sydney. At present- ho is a lieutenant in the Linwood Rifles, which corps has for its captain -an ex-champion in Captain King, a former champion of New Zealand. Ho Ins been'a consistent follower of shooting (for -a long course of vears, and is’ closely concerned with- tho management of the South Island Rifle Association, which runs an annual meeting at- Christchurch. Sergt. Edwards, who shot into third place only three, points -behind tho winner, is only 25 years of ago, but ho has been renowned for his skill for soveral years. In 1905 he was tho runner-up in tho King’s Prize, being beaten in. -the firing-off of n tic, and in tho year succeeding he again filled second place. Ho won tlio Victorian Championship aggregate in the same year, and in the year succeeding ho finished second in the championship and third for the King’s Prize at Victoria, ahead of all- local competitors, but behind Raven and Ornmundsen of the visiting team of Britishers. He fired for Australia in a competition for the Kaloooro Cup. and made 100 out- of 105 (at 200, 500. and GOO yards). He fired for Australia . m the match against England and New Zealand, respectively, at Rand wick last year. • President Chapman, of le lvapu, who shot into fourth -place, has been attending the championship meetings at Trentham for several years, and has been in n the fitty ’ on several occasions previously, though he has never before won to so high a position.