SHOOTING NOTES.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXII, Issue 8803, 3 May 1907, Page 2

SHOOTING NOTES.

By " Spelter,”

Bvefy branch of sport has its particular season, find tho approach of winter with the football and hockey fixtures is claiming the attention of many shooting men. The attractions of game shooting will also be responsible for the absence of many men from the ranges. In view of this many rifle clubs are ceasing operations till the spring. Indeed there are very few clubs that continue their shooting throughout the year; not so much for the reason that other pastimes are more attractive than shooting; hut because of the variety of sport. After a snort absence from tho rifle range members come back again with the following season with renewed interest in the competitions. It is no uncommon thing to hear the remarks that rifle shooting with the aid of instruments for adjusting the sights and elevation is purely mechanical and requires no great skill ; and that it affords very little exercise in comparison with other outdoor pastimes. Many people wonder where the attraction of shooting' comes in. I venture to say that tho experience of ten shots at the target, even at the short ranges, and on a calm day, would be sufficient to prove to'them that the bnlls-eye is an easy spot to miss. Certainly actual \jfle shooting involves no exercise worthy of mention, but exercise is essential to good shooting ; the best marksmen are men who prepare themselves for their shooting by training on tho same lines as athletes do for their contests. Any person not physically afflicted may become proficient in rifle shooting if ho is persistent enough to overcome the difficulties in the initial stages.Ho will find iu practice that he has something very real to think of iu making the proper allowances for th variations of wind and light. Tho keen {rifleman, with his case of apparatus, is quite unconcerned about the remarks of tho uninitiated; for he knows that his hobby gives him tho keenest pleasure. Watch him ns he takes up his position ou the, mound ; how observant he is of the weather conditions before firing his sighting shot, the result of which will prove his judgment of the wind and elevation allowances required. Then note his satisfaction when he has eventually pierced the hulls-eyo. That small black objective is tho oulyjfiace that lie is satisfied to hit. That is work for thinking men and it fascinates; how intensely it absorbs tho minds of men is realised best at Rifle Association meetings, where the talk of hulls-eyes and magpies, of changes by which men are caught napping, and the like may weary, hut is none the less proof positive of keenness. When a men reaches this stage tho expense of the pastime is not considered so much, as it is with the younger shot who is serving his apprenticeship in tho business. Until Government can see its way to make a substantial reduction iu ammunition it cannot be expected that young fellows earning only a small wage will he able to afford tha necessary outlay to become expert marksmen. This reminds mo of an expression that came from a beginner ou one of the district ranges recently. His percentage of misses was rather large, and at the. finish of tho day’s shooting ho remarked that “lie was done with the game, as it was too much like shooting pennies out of tho end of the gnu.” He thought that lie could dig a holo iu How Zealand in a cheaper way than by doing it with ammunition at one shilling and threepence for ten rounds. The National Defence League are endeavouring to popularise miniature rifle ranges and has established a competition for young members of the League in Auckland. Tho League recently approached tho Minister of Education with the sug-

gestiou that rifle shooting should bo ouo of subjects uuder the Manual ami Technical Education Act. Tho Minister promised to refer the proposal to Cabinet. Firing in a match against repre* sentives of tho Bast Coast the Opaki team of fourteen men averaged 87 at the 200, 500 and GOO yards ranges, WWiuslado heading tho score with 9'A out of a possible 105. j C. Govorulock, of tho Himataugi team, made 97 in a club competition last Saturday. This is the third time in succession he has made the same score, his average for the season being considerably over 90 for the three ranges, two, five and six hundred yards. A match has been arranged to take place at Wanganui on May 11th between teams picked fr im the Wanganui Garrison, and a combined team representing the Himatangi and Sauciou Clubs. The conditions are fifteen men aside, the ranges to bo 200, 500 and (!00 yards. If it can be arranged tho return match will bo against the pick of the competitors in tho Newman Cup competitions; The half-yearly competi tious niidti) the auspices of the Huutervillo Rifle! Club takes place to-morrow, the results of which will bo published in Monday’s issue if possible. The Mar ton Rifle Club fired their first competition for Mr Morrison’s trophy on Wednesday. Tho conditions for good shooting wore very unfavourable. The' following are the scores:—

The last trophy given by (Japt. Sutcliffe was won by E. Signal with a total of 131, or two competitions, A. Wing runner-up, 119. Members of Pukeokahu Rifle Club fired a competition for Mr Gardiner’s trophy,on Saturday last, resulting in a win for Rifleman E."

500600 Il’P TI. J. Whig 30 33 G3 E. Parkinson 21) 80 — 59 G. Frederick 28 10 60 A. Wing 2i) 26 — 55 W. Johnston £0 27 — 53 A. Sharpe 23 24 — 47 J. Johnston 10 15 33 37 W. Morris 20 G 7 33

Torroy. Appended are the scores:— 3(50 500 600 h’p Tl. E. Torrey 38 39 2-1 13 93 J. Law 24 26 24 22 93 T. Adams 30 29 28 5 92 J. Gardiner 33 37 25 8 92 Oapt. Collins 30 31 28 — 89 S. Fowler 37 31 26 5 89 A. Fowler . 23 38 27 3 85 H. Jaggard 30 28 19 — 77 O. Ross 26 36 17 4 73