NEW ZEALAND RIFLE ASSOCIATION. ANNUAL PRIZE FIRING.

Kumara Times, Issue 2920, 9 March 1886, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND RIFLE ASSOCIATION. ANNUAL PRIZE FIRING.

Wanganui, March 7. Beautiful weather was experienced yesterday, and great interest was taken in the Otago match, the first two ranges of which had been fired on Tuesday night, as it was the last counting for belts, and the final selection of twenty to fire for the Rifle championship could he made immediately the Otago match was completed. The New Plymouth match, the only one in which competitors had to stand and fire, was finished before lunch, and an adjournment made until 2.30 p.ra., at which hour it had been decided to fire the final stage for the Carbine Championship. CARBINE CHAMPIONSHIP. At the hour appointed there could not have been Jess than 700 or 800 of the Wanganui citiz-ns present, of whom (lie greater number were ladies. This championship did not excite much interest, as it was considered a certainty for Lieut. Ross, of Napier, who had a strong lead of 19 points from Corpora] M'Kenzie, of Wellington, and the result fully bore out the public opinion, as Ross was declared champion with 485 points, Webster, of Auckland, who pulled 12 points on Ross, being second, with 4<5, and Kitchen, of Wellington, third, with 468. The following are the aggregates of those who fired for the carbine belt : Lieut, Ross, Napier ... ... 485 Gunner Webster, Auckland ... 475 Sergeant Ruchen, Wellington ... 468 Petty officer Lloyd, Wanganui... 467 Corporal Parslow, Auckland ... 467 Gunner Bunting, Napier ... 463 Corporal MKenzie, Wellington 463 Sergeant Perry 7, Wanganui ... 462 Petty officer Turner, Wanganui 460 Bugler Gill, Thames ... ... 458 Gunner Driver, Port Chalmers... 453 Sergeant Webb, Wellington ... 451 Seaman Floyd, Thames... ... 451 Seaman P. Weir, Thames ... 450 Gunner Moore, Queenstown ... 447 Gunner Williams, Napier ... 445 Petty officer Stitt, Wanganui ... 444 Petty officer Johns, Thames ... 440 Gunner Barnes, Port Chalmers... 439

Lieutenant Ross, being the highest aggregate, takes the carbine belt, N,Z.

Rifle Association gold star and £4O • Gunner Webster, N.Z. Rifle Association silver star and £2O; Sergt. Kuchen, N.Z Rifle Association silver star and £10; P. 0. Lloyd, £7 10s; and Corpl. Parslow, £2 10s. Lieutenant Ross was heartily congratulated on his success, which is his second winning of the belt, he having won it at Auckland in 1884. ° Parslow and Lloyd, having tied for fourth place, had to fire off three shots, when the latter scored 10 to Parslow’s 9, and took third position. Kuchen v. Lloyd, 39 each, being the highest scorers in the final stage, had to fire off for the Carbine Challenge Cup, Lloyd scoring 12 to Kitchen's 11. RIFLE CHAMPIONSHIP. After a few minutes’ delay, the rifle aggregates were paraded, and in this contest great interest was taken. Acheson had a lead of nine points, anil it was thought, as he had fired steadily throughout the meeting, he would bn declared the winner, though there were many who held the opinion that Lee, Cooper, Ffster, and Remington, who were next in order named, had a good outside show, and with a little luck one of them would gain the coveted prize. Acheson started well, but with his fourth got off the target, and was registered a miss. His remaining shots he managed to keep on the target, but they were poor hits. Lee and Cooper also fell away, but on the other hand Remington and Foster were shooting well, and when the former had finisliecl it was seen that he had tied Acheson with 440, having pulled up 11 points in the 10 shots.

Great enthusiasm was expressed when the totals were declared and the excitement was intense when Foster was tiring his last shot, as he only wanted a huilseye to be with the leaders. As he fired the target was examined with great interest, but he only scored a centre, thus taking third place with 442. Cooper and Downes tied for fourth place wish 434. As Remington and Acheson laid clown lo fire off" three shots for the championship, the excitement was such that with difficulty the crowd could be kept outside the ropes. Remington opened with a huilseye, which elicited applause from his many admirers. Acheson did not score with his first shot, which missed to the right • Remington missed with his second and Acheson scored a centre. Remington, who wbs firing very coolly, registered a magpie, three, making his score 8. Acheson, who appeared rather nervous, had still to fire and a centre would pat him equal to Remington, while a huilseye would win him the belt. Immediately he fired the black disc was hoisted from the butts, showing the hit to be an enter, Remington thus winning on the tie by two points. Remington was immediately rushed by the crowd, who carried him triumphant to the canteen, where he received many congratulations and his health drank in bumpers. Remington being a local man his win is very popular, and crowds flocked to bis tent to congratulate him.

Foster, who finished third, also being a local man, came in for hearty congratulations.

Downie beat Cooper in firing off for fourth place by 9 to 4. Captain Aclieson admits he was nervous when firing the final stage. The following are the principal scores for the Rifle Championship ;

Sergeant Remington, Wanganui 445 Captain Acheson, Riverton ... 443 Lieutenant Foster, Wanganui ... 442 Private Downie, Thames ... 434 Lieutenant Cooper, Auckland ... 434 Sergeant Lee, Auckland ... 430 Private Taylor, Auckland • ... 424 Captain, Lucas, Thames... ... 422 Sergeant Chuck, Blenheim ... 421 Piivate Giblin, Stoke ... ... 421 S' rgeant Huy, Auckland ... 413 Lieut. Griffiths, Blenheim % > 443 Pi ivate Mann, Dunedin ... 4^5 Private Greer, Wellington ... 412 Pi ivate M'Meckan, Waikara ... 411 Sergeant Matthews, Masterton... 410 Sergeant Mooseman, Wanganui... 410 Private Howell, Taranaki ... 409 Corporal Frederick, Dunedin ... 402 Remington takes the rifle belt and N.Z. Rifle Association gold star and ■£4o; Acheson, N.Z. Rifle Association silver star and £2O; Foster, N.Z. Rifle Association silver star and £lO • Downie, £7 10s and Cooper £2 10s. * Downie being the highest scoter in the final stage wins the Rifle Challenge Cup. 0