MARKSMEN AT BISLEY

Hokitika Guardian, 23 November 1929, Page 3

MARKSMEN AT BISLEY

QUALITY OF AMMUNITION

CA PT AIN M ASEFIEL !>’ S V'LSIJ

WELLINGTON, Nov. 30

New Zealand’s champion marksman, Captain W. N. Masefield, of Ellerton, Blenheim, returned to Wellington by the Marama from Sydney yesterday morning after competing with'marked success in the contest for the Kings Prize at Bisley in July. After winning the New Zealand champion rifle belt for the second time early in the present year, Captain. Masefield sailed for Australia to assist the Dominion rifle team at the Victorian Rifle Association’s meeting, at the conclusion of which he proceeded Home. Representatives of all parts of the Empire, including Trinidad, the Malay States, and Nyassaland, were present at the meeting held at Bisley by the National Rifle Association of Groat Britain, over 1000 competitors taking part. A fine performance was put up by Captain Masefield, who secured sixty-sixth place in the King’s Hundred and went on to finish in seventh . place in the final for the King’s Prize. The final of the King’s in New Zealand comprises ten rounds at 900 yards, but at Bisley fifteen rounds at both 900 and 1000 yards are required. Captain Masefield qualified for the King’s Hundred with a score of 136, and in the final stage there was only one score 'better than his 144. He put on a 73 at 900 yards and 71 at 1000 yards. His aggregate for the final, which is added to that for the Hundred, gave him a gram! total of 280 points—three points behind the winner, Lieutenant-Colonel R. M. Blair, of the Seaforth Highlanders, Canada. Competitors at Bisley use the S.M.L.E. rifle, nothing else being allowed. The single arm sling troubled Captain Masefield a little at the beginning of the meeting, but lie soon adjusted himself to the new conditions.

THE AMMUNITION. Tlio ammunition served out to competitors at Bisle.y was Highly spoke), of by Captain Masefield, who als;. commented upon the excellence of the shooting. “It was wonderful ammunition they gave us,” lie said. “It was made by the Royal Laboratory at Woolwich, and 1 found it wonderfully accurate. It was the ordinary service issue by the British Army. Owing to the packing of the S.M.L.E. rifle by experts, and tlio'-splendid ammunition, the shooting was of a- very high standard when the smaller bull’seyes are taken into consideration.”

Captain Masefield mentioned- that a British team would probably visit Australia for an Eimpire. match m 1931, on the occasion of the opening of the Sydney harbour bridge. Even when he was at Bisley the visit was being discussed, and premilinary arrangements in the way of finance were already being made.

A WONDERFUL TIME. “I bad a wonderful time,” said Captain Masefield, who made a tour through Scotland and Wales at the conclusion of the meeting at Bisley. “When I arrived in London I joined the North London llifle Club, and the members treated me handsomely in assisting me to get accustomed to the /English conditions.” Captain Masefield will defend bis New Zealand tide at the National Rifle Association’s meeting at Trontham early next year.