RIFLE SHOOTING.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 16486, 27 February 1914, Page 11

RIFLE SHOOTING.

THE TRENTHAM MEETING. DOMINION ASSOCIATION'S ANNUAL GATHERING. OPENING CEREMONIES. [Per Press Association ] TRENTHAM, February 26. Tlis Dominion Rifle- Association commenced its annual meeting tc-day. The sveathcr developed a bad turn during tho night, and the morning broke with heavy wind squalls and rain. The conditions were most unpromising, but with tho fickleness characteristic o£ Trontham climate an improvement took place in time to allow proceedings to commence shortly after nine o’clock, though tho day remained somewhat cold and blustering. The entries for the meeting are as follows: Staff, 5. , Territorials, 61. Riflemen (including 91 tyros). 2SB. The officer in charge is Colonel Collins. He is assisted by Lieutenant-Colonel Hughes (Wanganui), who is acting as superintendent, and Lieutenant-Colonel Turner, statistical officer. The rango officers are Captain Wallingford, Lieutenants Rose and Henderson; quartermaster, Captain Mabin, Captain Grant acting as judge. The following ex-ehampions are amongst the competitors:—Captain Iryino (Nelson), Riflomon Ching (Waimea), G. Hyde (Opaki), J. W. Milroy (Nelson), L. Loveday (Woodville), R. J. King (Opaki), D. Roots (Patea), Lieutenant W. Duncan (Dcnniston) and Captain J. H. Ross, a forme-r carbine champion. Amongst well-known shots who have not attained to championship honours are Captain Shepherd (Auckland), Masefield (Sounds),- Drummond (Dannevirke) and the veteran, A. M. Harding (Blenheim), who commenced shooting at the Association’s metings in 1376. Interest also is added to the meeting by the fact that Rifleman F, H. James (Okawa), present chanSpion, and -E. F. Sandford (Christchurch), Service champion, are amongst the competitors,. At nine o’clock, a break having occurred in the. weather, parade was sounded, and the marksmen lined up in front of the ' secretary’s office. Colonel Collins, addrersing the men, taid he was very pleased to seo that tho number of competitors was etcadiiy increasing. There was a. slight improvement in the figures this year ever those of last year, and he hoped soon to see them up to the -total of 1911. The elements wore somewhat against- them, but there was no reason why they should' be .downhearted. He was anxious to get the Service matches through that day, and he detailed the arrangements made by the executive to that end. Proceeding, he said he had one rather important announcement to make. They had, ho said, no doubt seen in the papers that there was a proposal to hold the Empiro Match in Australia this year, and a British team umukl in all probability come out to compete for the Empire Cup He had brought tho matter under the notice cf tho authorities, and ho was pleased to say that he had secured the sympathy of the Government and of-'the officer commanding the forces. If that match was fired in Australia, he could say that New Zealand would-be represented. The tenm would be chosen from the results of this, meeting, probably from the first fifty before thoy fired for the Belt. That, at least, would be tho position so far as the first eight wero concerned, and the remainder, perhaps two or four, would be choson by a committee. That method, he thought, would be tho most satisfactory way, as it .was not advisable to select the team after the Belt had been fired for. as good men frequently went to pieces after the starting of excitement. due to the presence of a large number of the public on the range. What he hod said was to some extent tentative, because the centre at which the match would be fired had. not yet been definitely settledThere was a rumour that it would be fired at Bisley, but he eould say . that if it was fired at Melbourne Now Zealand would bo represented. (Hear, hear) . Colonel Colinis concluded by wishing the competitors every luck, and amidst'cheers expressed tho hope that the best man would v.-ini - The squads were then marched to the ranges, and tho Classification. Practice Match, the first of tho B series, was commenced at 9.30 in a bleak and biting wind. The following telegram was received today by Colonel Collins from the Hon J. Allen, Minister of Defence:—"l am sorry I cannot be present at the opening of the meeting to-day, but hope you will have propitious weather and a very successful gathering, and that the results may be to tho benefit c-f rifle shooting in the dominion.’’. During the afternoon bis Excellency tho Governor visited the camp, accompanied by General Godley and Colonel Chavtor. Tho Governor was shown over the range by Colonel Collins. His Excellency, who was paving his ,first' visit to a Trentham meeting, expressed himself highly pleased with the range and the arrangements for competitors. He thought it. would be a first-class training ground for marksmen. The first match of the. series to bo completed was the Snapshooting. The following. are results:— . %

SNAPSHOOTING, 300yds; five rounds; targets exposed four seconds, ono shot

each exposure. Rifleman Head (Akarana), £5 . . 21, Sergeant-Major Montgomery (Stuff), £i . 20 Rifleman Anstics (Nelson), £3 . . .20 Rifleman Croxton (Karori), £3 . . . 20' Rifleman Caldwell (Karori), £3 . . . 20 Rifleman Fiahcr (Suburb?), £2 . . .• 20 'Sergeant Narbcy (Eltham), £2 . . . 20 The following, with a • score of 19, won £1 each:—Stenson (Oamaru), Lane (Akarana), Loved a v (Woodville), Lee (Waikato), Halinshaw (Christchurch), Simmonds (Blenheim), Milroy (Nelson),. Keone (Dargavillc), Green (Westport), Marenzi (Kaitawa), Melville (Akarana). .. The following, with a score of 18, also won £1 each:—lrvine (Nelson), Johnstono (Gisborne), Hptchison (Kaniori), Wallace (Te Aroha), Amos (Ashburton), Boys (Timaru), Smith (Opaki), Craw (Chorlton), Barroll (Te Aroha)A .' ■ Shooting was continued during the afternoon under somewhat improved weather conditions, but the wind remained high and tricky, giving the best of marksmen much trouble. No sensational scores were mjd'e. Captain W. Drummond, of tile Dannevirke Cadets, won the Classification Match from Rifleman Cox. of Ivnrori, by ono point, with a score of 112. is also leading in the Service aggregate with a score 4 of 154. To-morrow the Opening Matoh will be the first fired, to be followed by the Auckland Mutch. The latter is the first match counting for the Belt. The following are the principal scores in the Classification Practice Match: CLASSIFICATION MATCH, second class

figure target; five shots at 100 yards. Captain Drummond (Dannevirke) £5 112 Rifleman Cox (Karori) £5 111 Rifleman Steenson (Oamaru) £3 .103 Rifleman Sandford (Christchurch) £3 108 Rifleman King (Opaki) £2 107 Rifleman Lang (Wnimaugaroa) £2 . 106 The following won a prize of £1 each : Sergeant-Major Bond (Staff) 106; Riflemen Dickson (Linton), Melville (Akarana) and Kuinmer each 105; Drennan (Oamaru), 104; Nnrby (Eltham), Yeo (Auckland), Loveday (Woodville), Glynn (Glenavy), Montgomery (Staff) and Simonds (Blenheim), each 103; Law (Te Awamutu), A-mos (Ashburton), M’lntosh (Opaki) and Gillan (Dunedin), each 102; Patrick (Auckland), Mhsefield (Sounds), Causley (Thames), King (9th Regiment), Hyde (Opaki), Fishor (Suburbs), Elliott and Powell (Akarana), each 101; Kratchner (Senior Cadets), Croxton (Karori), Brownlee (Auckland), each 100: Millroy (Nelson) and Irvine (Nelson), each 99; Inglcy (Greymouth) and .Bryden (Kaiapoi), each 98. Fifty-two won prizes of 10s each and fourteen were counted out. RAPID SHOOTING MATCH, 500 yards; seven rounds; first-class figure target; 30 seconds for first shot and 45 seconds for

remaining six shots. Private Devore (3rd Regiment) £5 . .34 Rifleman Timbrell (Christchurch) £3 10s 32 Rifleman King (Opaki) £3 10s . . .32 Rifleman Janies (Okawa) £2 10s . . 31 Rifleman Brownlee (Auckland) £2 10s . 31 * The following w.ith a score of 30 won £1 each:—Cox (Karori), Ching (Waimea), Narby (Eltham), Hubbard (Hauraki), Leathern (Akarana), Causley (Thames). ■ The following with scores of 29 won £1 each: —White (Auckland), Carrington (Akarana), Walden (Kaitawa), Drennan (Oamaru), Mugridge (Ohnkune), Bryden (Kaiapoi). Tho following with scores of 28 won £1 each:—-M'lver (Te Awamutu), France (Old Navals). Morris (Petone), Papps (Nelson), Baxter (Eltham), Smith (Akarana), Lan°; (Waimangaroa), Horn (Waikato), Bond (Staff).

with 66 points. W. J. Henry (Christchurch) and L. White (Christchurch) wore fifth, with 65 points each. . The Gveytown match, of ten shots at 600 yards was won by A. Larson (Mauricevillo) with 48 points, A Henderson (Sounds. South Island) being second with 47 points. L. White (Christchurch) was fourth with 45 points. The Carterton match of seven shots at 300vds and 700vds, went to A. M’Kay (Opaki), with 67 points; W. M’Leay (Opaki) second, witli 66 points; Henry' (Christchurch) scored 60 points.' Tho Wairarapa Farmers' Co-opora-tive Association match was won by \V. M’Leay (Opaki), with 68 points; J. B. Bairstow (Opaki), second with 67 points. W. J. Henry, E. F. Sanciford and L. Write (Christchurch) were also among the sixties. . J. Pickering (Linton) won the \\airarapa match of ten shots at 300yds, A. J. Letham (Auckland) being second with 48 points, and W. Williams (Ohnra) was third with 48. J. Atkinson (Auckland) won the Petone match of ten shots at 800yds, with 49 points, J. Bairstow (Opaki) being second with 48 points; A. Harrison (Christchurch) was .third with 48 points. Causley (Canterbury) scored 47. The championship aggregate was won by M’Leay (Opaki) with 308 points.'J. Pickering (Linton) and Rummer (Mauriceville) were second (equal) with 305,. The Midfield aggregate was also won bv M’Leay with 187 points. Atkinson* (Auckland) was second with 186 points. . ~ . , The members of tho Christchurch Rifle Club were low down in both aggregates. . The Teams’ Match was won by Opaki No. 1, with 1266 points; Opaki No. 2 second, with 1264 points; and Akarana (Auckland) third with 1250 points.