RIFLE SHOOTING.

Hokitika Guardian, 16 March 1928, Page 1

RIFLE SHOOTING.

(By Telegraph—Per Press Association.) TRENTHAM, March 15. Keen interest was taken in the night firing, when a record was established by the Hawke’s Bay Vickers team, tlie score comparing favourably with the best British army team, only a direction lamp being allowed. The winners secured 132 hits out of a possible 200 at 800 yards. Tlie Lewis and the Hotchkiss competitions were, under the conditions, satisfactory. Verey flares were used to give direction, 48 rounds being fired in live seconds. On account of the grass taking fire when the flares descended, the marksmen were aiming through a smoke screen, which disability accounted in a large measure for the comparatively few hits. - Colonel Burgess stated lie would endeavour next year t<> secure mobile dummy tanks in order to create additional interest in this section of the programme. Regimental teams and New Zealand Services Vickers, Lewis and Hotchkiss gun competition in addition to both practices will be fired by territorials to-day, while cadets arc engaged in a teams’ match and battle practice and night-firing. Vickers’ Guns: 1 /50s, Hawke's Bay I Regiment. 264; 1255, Otago Mounted Rifles, 86; 100 s, Auckland Regiment 64; 755, Canterbury Regiment, -'o. Seventeen teams competed. Lewis Guns: 160 s. Wellington and West Coast Regiment 60; 120 s. Hawke’s Bay Regiment -'3; 80s, Nel-son-Marl borough Regimen! 39; 10s, Southland Regiment 38. Fourteen teams competed. Hotchkiss Guns: 120 s, Auckland Mounted Rifles 22; 120 s, Nelson-Marl-borough Mounted Rifles 22 ; 80s, New Zealand Mounted Rifles, Timaru, 10. Six teams competed. Regimental teams’ match.—Challenge shield £lO, Hawke’s liny Regiment. 579; £l2, Nelson-Marlborough Regiment, 557 ; £lO. Wellington-West Coast Regiment; 160 s, Wellington Regiment, 549; 120 s, Central Command N.Z.P.S.. 544; 80S, South Command, 534. Twen-ty-six teams competed.