SHOOTING NOTES.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXII, Issue 8815, 17 May 1907, Page 3

SHOOTING NOTES.

By “ Spotter.”

During the last six months more than ordinary interest has heen taken in rifle shooting in this district. At the commencement of the season Mr Edward Newman offered a silver cup for competition for riflemen only. Tiie Marton Rifle Club were authorised by the donor to make the necessary arrangements, for which purpose a meeting of representatives of all clubs in the district was called to draw up rules and arrange the fixtures. Eight clubs were nominated and the district was divided into two sections, the Eaugitikei river being the boundary. Tiio northern section was represented bv Marton, Hunterville, Tnrakiua and Bulls; and the southern, by Halcombe, Saudou, Eoxton and Himatangi The clubs in each division fired home and home matches, the teams winning the most matches to fire a final match on a neutral rawe. These competitions have developed a healthy spirit of rivalry and have given a decided stimulus I to rifle shooting, independent of the good fellowship that lias been intro- j duccd among riflemen. The section winners proved to bo the Marton Club in the north and Himatangi in the south, each team having an unbeaten record when they met on the Bulls range on Wednesday for tiio final match. Each club was represented by their best team of ten men and the shooting throughout was full of interest. The day was an ideal one, with a good light and .scarcely any wind. The conditions of tiio match were seven shots each jat 200, 500 and COO yards with one

optional sighting shot. At -tho 200 yards range some exceptionally good individual scores were put on, no less than four men mailing six buliscyes out of seven siiots, Riflemen J. Frederick and S. Hunter each getting an inner for their last shots. At this range the Himatangi team established a lead of 23 points, which was reduced to ten at tho completion of the 500 yards shooting At this range Rifleman Frederick was again in evidence and succeeded iu getting all his shots into the black this time. This was the only “possible” made during the day and it is also the first time that tho score has been made'ou tiio range. At this stage Frederick’s total was GO out of a possible 70, he being closely followed by Riflemen Sharpe and Raikes with 07 and 05 respectively. The shooting at 000 was only of medium quality, possibly the excitement had an illell'cct, •E. Parkinson’s 34 and S. Hunter’s 33 being tho only outstanding scores. The latter was very unfortunate, iu missing the maximum on two occasious during the day, his last shot only on both occasious

going off the centre. When half of the men had fired at this range only five points separated the grand totals. Thou the inevitable happened, one man “cracked” up aud the southern gained a considerable advantage which they maintained to the finish, eventually winning by 34 points after a stubbornly contested match. In the absence of Mr Newman Rifleman Mr E. Parkinson presented the Himatangi team with the cup, and referred to the many pleasant matches that had been fired during the competition. He congratulated the winners upon their victory audjexpressed the hope that the same teams would meet again under similar conditions aud the honours made even. Captain Hartley briefly responded aud thanked the donor for the cup. Mr Newman had earned the gratitude of riflemen throughout the district. The cup had to ho won three times for permanency aud his team would do 'their best to make it their owu property, hut if a better team came along they would find that the Himatangi team could take a heating in the proper spirit as the Marton men had done that day. Cheers were thou given for TVTv W(nnnmi mill fm* t.lip nnirmpHncr

teams. The following are the scores:—. HIMATANGI.

Majority for Himatangi 24. Tho Sandou Club intends to wind up the season’s shooting with a field day on Juno 3rd. Tire club has a number of trophies in hand and these will ho supplemented hy cash and ammunition prizes and a good day’s shooting is anticipated. Very little has been heard of tho Halcomhe Clnh lately. “Are the members secretly practicing in order to spring a surprise on the _ next team that they meet in a trial of skill?” or have they ceased the season’s operations earlier than usual this year. Miniature rifle shooting has become one of tho most popular of American pastimes. President Roosevelt has recommended that rifle practice should become part of the education of every schoolboy. The, results of experiments carried out with ten thousand pupils in the Now York high schools indicates that the bids acquire a knowledge of rifle shooting in one-fourth of tho time required bv men. It is added that if tho graduates of high schools received this training, the nation would he able, in the event of war, to put into the field 'a force of volunteers whose skill in rifle shooting would bo equal to that of any army. The Cheltenham Rifle Club fired for the McCorkindale Cup last Saturday, the weather being very stormy. F." Barrow got his second leg in. Tho ranges were 200, 500, 000 yards with handicap. Scores; —F. Barrow, 24, 25, 27, 5, total 81; R. Martin, 37, 28, 21, 2, 78; R. Taylor, 28, 20, 29, 77; Rich. Taylor, 20, 27, 18, 0, 77; R. Reid, 80, 26, 20, 67; O. Pussell, 25, 24, 19, 6, 74; J. Barrow, 35 26, 17, 2, 70; R. Christenson, 24, 27, 6, 13, 09; G. Saner, 23, 31, 11, 6, 60. The Club will fire the first belt competition on Saturday. The following are the individual scores made in the match between Wanganui Garrison and the combined team from Himatangi and Sandou Clubs, range 200, 500 and 600 vards. Combined Team; Rifleman Perry, 33, 30,3 3, 94; O. Governlock, 27, 30, 27, 84; W. Croucher, 30, 28, 20, 84; E. Governlock, 31, 37, 24, 82; CaptrPouny, 29, 30, 23, S 3; Rifleman Raikes.'s?, *BO, 25, 83; C. Conlon, 81, 37 33, 81; W. -Lumsden, 27, 28, 24, 79; F. Purnell, 82, 25, 21,78; W. Moffat, SI, 24, 19, 74; E. Christensen, 23, 26, 23, 73; E. Conlon, 31, So, 17, 73; W. Pearce, 26, 25, 20, 71; K. Drew, SO, 10, 34, 70; average one man 79; grand fetal, 1180. Wanganui Garrison C- vps: Pvt. Purnell, 35, 30, 30, 95; Ct’.-Sergt. Harrison, 83 33 27, 93; Ih £. Handley, 81, 30, 30.’ 91’; Corpl. Smithies, 83, 30, 27, 90 ; Sergt. Cunningham, 33, 23, S 3, 89; Capt. McNaught, 30, 25, 28, 88; Corpl. James, 29, 28, 26, 83; Sergt. Blythe, 28, 28, 20, 82: Capt. Scott, 28, 29, 23, 79; Corpl. Anderson, 28, 24, 26, 78; Pvt. A. Drummond, 27, 29, 21, 75; Pvt. G. Harrison, 28, 26,_ 20, 74; Lieut. Cade, 27, 17, 26, 70 ; Capt. Swan, 28, 27, 18, 08; Pvt. Huwyler, 23, 19 18, 62; grand total 1211; majority 25.

200 500 GOO Tl. s. Hunter 84 28 33 95 F 0. Eaikes 33 33 29 94 E Goverulock 28 83 31 91 C. Oonlou 83 28 29 90 0. Governlock 33 33 25 89 E. Conlon 31 80 25 86 E. Ciiristensen 83 25 27 84 W Moffat 31 36 20 S3 H. Hartley 24 36 25 75 S. J. Hartley 29 37 19 75 . 307 286 269 862 MARTON. J. Frederick 34 35 26 95 A. F. Sharps 34 33 26 93 E. Parkinson 23 30 84 87 A. Wing 33 26 29 87 G. Head 27 80 29 86 G. Avery 27 28 29 84 J. Wing 20 31 20 •83 T. Wing 28 27 26 81 W. Johnston 80 32 19 81 W. Morrison 24 26 11 61 285 298 255 00 1 CO CO