RIFLE SHOOTING,

Hokitika Guardian, 11 March 1927, Page 3

RIFLE SHOOTING,

[by TELEGRAPH PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.I A WORLD’S RECORD. TRENT HAW, March 10. The Vickers machine gun match was won by the Ist Battalion of the Hawke’s Bay Regiment, with a score of 121, taking the challenge trophy, the runner up the- Ist Battalion of the Auckland Regiment scoring 111. The Hawke’s Bay performance is probably a world’s record. The team fired 138 rounds, when the lock spring broke, and the remaining twelve rounds were not fired. The team’s score is therefore 121 out of 138.

Match class, 40s. IT. L. Frank (Nelson) 41; 30s, D. Wallis (Napier) 41; 255, E. Lifford (Diomede) 30; 20s, .1. S. Thomson (Palmerston North) 33; 15s each, H. Lewis (Palmerston North) 31, R. Jordan (Westport) 31, P. 11. Griffiths (Renown) 30; 12s (id each, M. Meir (Ha worn) 30, if. Eastbrook (Diomede) 30- C. Cayzor (Dunedin) 28, R. Potts (Reserves) 28; 10s each, A. Howard (Diomede), 0. Kearney (Wellington) 27. J. Stargrove (Renown) 27, P. MncKcnzio (Wellington) 20. Nine others with scores down to 23 divide -Ids.

Class Two, 40s, RutheiTor (Bahofu) 51; 30s, Thurston (Hastings) 42; 2o«, F. Ching (I'lliwera) 41; 20s each. .1. 37, R. yflammmid (Nelson) 37, I!. Shepherd (New Plymouth) 3G. W. dijrancis (Dunedin) T 39, W. Chooser (Invercargill) 3G, J. Gentry (Wellington) 30, J. Logan (Dunedin) 30, U. Hollyman (Nelson) 35; 15s each, S. Lmrford (Wanganui) 35. J. Smdford (Christchurch) 35, F. Jamieson (Wellington) 34, K. AToKay (To Avainutu) 33, C. Griffiths (Christchurch) 32. G. Hemming (Auckland) 32. -V. F.llitt (Auckland) 31. W. Knuckey (Invercargill) 32, G. Parker (Wellington) 32. Sixty-five others with scores down to 21 divide £lO.

Cadet Match (rapid and moving target practice, possible score 7-7): dlls. M. Keene (Hamilton) 01; 30s, W. Cully (To Awniriutii) 03; 20s, I!. T’ennonfc (Hastings) 01 ; 15s each. II "Wilson (Wellington) 57, C. Martin (Palmerston North) 5(5, A. Alaeknv (Wluingarei) 50, 15; ltockull (Blenheim) 50; 10s each. B. Whitehead (Wellington) 56, W. Burton (Hastings) 55, J. Boon (Htrntford) 55, M. Peterson (Christchurch) 54, W. Whyte (Dnnedin) 54, I!. Cat tier (Nelson) 51. Thirtv-cight other scores down to 43 divided £9 10s.

Night firing competitions resulted Hotchkiss and rifle section 100 s. Ist M.R. (Cvele) 54. 80s; Bth M. R (Blenheim) 43 80s; 7th AI.IL (Mannwntu) 37.

Lewis gun and ri lie section. 160 s Ist Batt. (Wellington Regiment) 03 pts.; 120 s. Ist Balt (North Auckland "Regiment) 58; 80s. Ist Batt. (Hawke's Bay Regiment 54 ; 40s, Ist Batt. Welling-ton-West Coast Regimenl) 52. 4 his competition produced some remarkable scoring. A Hotchkiss lentil starting with 170 rounds returned sixty-eight unused, so their percentage ol bits worked out at 53. A Lewis gun team used 190 out of 201 rounds, registering 03 hits or 32 per «enl.. ibis was undoubtedly due to the fact I bat the Hotchkiss lire was of a more dispersive character, while the Lewis is “dead in,” so that if the firer dues not get oil the target right away a big part of bis magazine will go harmlessly past the “enemy.” The verey lights illumination does not last long enough to make mativ corrections in aim.

Very heavy rain fell this morning for several hours, blit it cleared up, so that team shooting was able to proceed with only an occasional drizzle to annoy the competitors. TRKXTL A.M, March 11.

Night firing competitions for 'Tickers gun teams (positions ol guns and targets noted before sunset and firing taking plaee'after dark at 800 yards. b>os, 4th -Mounted Rifles (Waikato) 70 pts.; 1255, 2nd Mounted Hides (Taranaki) 31; 100 s, Ist Batt. Welliugiun-West Const Regiment 27; 755, 11.M..8. Diomede 14.” Fifteen teams competed.

The weather to-day is brilliantly line for the King’s medal match wherein one hundred highest scorers in the finny championship lire off over the same ranges and practices. *