RIFLE SHOOTING

Southland Times, Issue 21097, 31 May 1930, Page 9

RIFLE SHOOTING

NOTES BY SPOTTER.

Unfavourable shooting conditions last Week at Otatara. Wednesday riflemen were unable to have a shoot owing to the boisterous conditions prevailing. The Saturday men managed to have a shoot, but it was under unpleasant conditions. At mid-day on Saturday it looked like a fair afternoon for shooting, but a biting eold wind came up and showers fell during the afternoon and taken all through the shootists had a miserable time. Those who had the misfortune to be shooting in the rain had poor visibility and their scores suffered in consequence. The ones who' were fortunate in getting a "dry” run did not have anything serious to contend with. The wind certainly was changing in direction and increasing and dropping frequently, but the changes could be seen on the flags and the ones who were able to judge the conditions and alter quickly without hesitation, managed to put on respectable scores. The City Guards Club were shooting for Mr J. Strang’s trophy and the shooting on the whole was good. The Invercargill Club was firing for the May Cup, and with one or two exceptions the shooting was only fair. At 300 yards three 32’s were top for the City Guards A. Ford, R. Ure and J. Tansley reaching that total, Ford, with a bull for a finish taking pride of place. J. Ure was next with 31 and H. Livingstone, J. Padget, F. Lawton and W. Baldwin contributed 30 each. Eight of the ten present making 30 end over, the other two, R. Timpany and J. Storrie making 29. This was a good steady shoot, only three points separating the first and tenth man, the ten scoring 305 points, averaging 304 per man.

C. D. Anderson was top for the Invercarcargill Club with 33, W. E. Diack and C. H. Wilson were next with 32 each, then followed M. Sheehan, A. R. Wills N. MeWilliams with 31, six making over 30. Eighteen members were present and the ten highest scores totalled 301, an average of 1 over 30 per man. The other eight members contributed 187, an average of just on 23j per man. At 500 yards J. Tansley 32, H. Livingstone 32, and R. Ure 32 were the highest scores, Tansley with a two bull finish counting out Livingstone who finished with one bull, Ure finishing with a 4. The next highest at this range were J. Ure 31, A. Ford 30, J. Padget 30. Six out of the ten made 30 and over. For the Invercargill Club A. R. Wills was top with 34, W. S_. Ayson being next with 33, the next highest being C. H. Cunningham 32. N. McWilliams 31, S. Yates 31. Six of the eighteen competing made over 30. The highest aggregates for the City Guards over the two ranges were J. Tansley 64, R. Ure 64 followed by H. Livingstone 62, J. Ure 62, A. Ford 62, J. Padget 60. For the Invercargill Club the highest two range scores were A. R. Wills 65, N. McWilliams 62, C. H. Cunningham 61, W. E. Diack 61, C. D. Anderson 61. The six highest of the City Guards ten made 374 an average of 62f. The six highest of the Invercargill Clubs eighteen made 370, an average of 61 2-3. The scores of the five highest City Guards were 314 or or - below 63's. The five highest scores for Invercargill were 310 an average of 62. C. D. Anderson’s score of 33 at 300 yards last Saturday was a fine shoot for a young shot at his third appearance on the range, and his. 33, 28 —61 was a good shoot under the conditions ruling that day. With proper coaching he would have improved his 500 yards shoot two or three points. This young Invercargill shot has the shoot-

ing temperament and can hold a rifle steady and under good coaches for a year or two he would develop into a first class marksman. N. McWilliam’s 31, 31—62 was a steady shoot. Mac usually conies to light when the going is heavy. C. H. Cunningham and W. E. Diack each contributed 61. These two Invercargill men are shooting consistently at present. C. H. Wilson put on a good 32 at 300 yards, but had bad conditions at 500 yards, only making 26. With the same conditions as some of the others at this range he would have been well over 60. W. S. Ayson struck a bad patch at 300 yards only making 27, but at 500 yards he put on a good 33. J. Tansley is shooting well just now, his 32, 32 —64 on Saturday being a good performance. This young shot has developed into a first class shot since joining the City Guards Club. Last year Tansley was classed a B grade shot in the Invercargill Club, but now he could extend most of his old clubmates. Thorough coaching has made a wonderful difference in this young marksman.

R. Ure with 32, 32—64 showed that he is keeping up his form. Bob is showing the best form at Otatara just now. The City Guards have unearthed another promising shot in H. Livingstone. Last Saturday was his second appearance on a range and his 30, 32—62 was a real good performance.

J. Ure 31, 32 —62 and A. Ford 32, 30— 62 both put on steady shoots and show that they are holding their form. A. R. Wilis was top for the Invercargill Club’s competition over 300 and 500 yards last Saturday, counting out C. D. Anderson and S. Yates, both young shots. Both the colts made 65 with their handicaps and Wills made 65 from scratch. At 300 yards Anderson made 33 off the rifle and forfeited his handicap and at 500 yards made 28 and with four of a handicap made 32. Here we have an instance of a system of handicapping which favours the scratch men practically every time. This was a two-range competition, but separate handicaps are given for each range, with a limit at both ranges. Mr Wills as handicapper set his limit for 33 at 300 yards and a handicap man cannot pass that score with his handicap. This is all right in a one range match, but in this case Anderson made 33 at 300 yards and was not allowed to have any of his handicap. At 500 yards he made 28 and received his four points handicap which brought him up to 32. His score for the two ranges was 65, which included only four points handicap, although he was allotted nine points for the two ranges. In a two-range match the handicaps should be for the two ranges and the limit should be for the two ranges, and no competitor should have his handicap docked unless he breaks the two range limit. Here we have a case of a young shot penalized because he puts on a good score at the first range, his handicap is docked, and he is placed on scratch. At the next range he puts on only 28 and receives the whole of his handicap which brings him up to 32, or two below the limit, but he cannot use any of the other five points allotted when the handicaps were made out. If the. limit had been set at 67 for the two ranges and Anderson had received his handicap of eight or nine points for the match of two ranges he would have had 67 and won the match. There is no encouragement here for a handicap man to put on a good score, if he does he receives nothing for it, only that his shoot is recorded and taken into consideration when the next handicaps are framed, and his handicap is reduced. It is all very well to point to close finishes. Any handicapper can bring that about by setting low limits that the scratch men can reach and pass, then allot liberal handicaps at each range and dock the handicap men when they reach the limit at one range and you have a number finishing on the same mark, the scratch men win on the count out, and it is called a close finish with good handicapping. Sheer bluff. The Invercargill Club has practically finished its series of try-outs for the places in the teams for the Wakatipu Shield match on June 3 and it is now possible to review the performances and weigh the chances of the leading shots. Some good consistent shooting has been done by several members and after looking over the scores it appears that if the performances constitute the basis of selection the first four places go to W. Milley, W. S. Ayson, C. H. Cunningham and C. H. Wilson, with H. H. Moss, W. E. Diack and A. R. Wills having about even chances for fifth place. A Lyall, the club’s best team shot, has only been out once or twice, but with Lyall and McWilliams also available the club should have no difficulty in selecting a strong team.

All arrangements are now completed for the Wakatipu Shield match on June 3, and it only requires the Clerk of the Weather to take a reasonable view of things to make the outing at Otatara next Tuesday a most enjoyable one. Teams are coming from the Wakatipu. Gore, Mataura, Nightcaps, and Waikaia Clubs, the Invercargill Club has entered four teams and the City Guards are putting in three teams and there is also a possibility of the Balfour club sending a team. Sergt.-Major J. Little is range officer and Sergt.-Major Connelley is in charge of the butts and those who have recollections of how these two gentlemen performed their respective duties at the Boxing Day meeting know that everything will be conducted efficiently and smoothly. It only remains for the teams to enter into it with sportsmanlike spirit and the first competition for the Wakatipu Shield is assured of success. '