Coming Champion With the Rifle

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 200, 12 November 1927, Page 1

Coming Champion With the Rifle

TRAINING COLLEGE MARKSMAN K. J. DUNCAN’S RECORD Kenneth John- Duncan, who is at present a student at the Auckland Training College certainly knows how to use a rifle, and according to Major J. A. Wallingford, he is a corning champion of the Dominion. Ken is only 19 years of age, but already he has done great things at the j butts; in fact it seems natural for him to knock up the possible whenever he so desires. At the age of 14 when | he was attending ' the West ChristI church High School, he clinched the Stead Cup. having to knock up the possible in order to do so. Later, in 1925, \ybile. he was attending the Auck--1 a n d Grammar School, he secured the school’s senior aggregate medal. The same year at the district meeting he topped the score in the secondary schools’, territorial and all-comers’ matches. In 1926 he won the New’ Zealand Cadet Belt at Trentham, and this year at the district meeting held recently, he again clinched the territorial and all-comers’ match. WHAT MAJOR WALLINGFORD THINKS ‘‘Duncan came to us from the South and promptly won the cadet and territorial matches in the same year, so I began to watch him closely,” said Major Wallingford this morning. “I am of the opinion that he is the makings of a wonderful shot. He has the nature and determination, and does not act foolishly like some boys do. But, of course, he is handicapped in his practice by his teaching and studies; otherwise I am positive that he could win the King's medal. One King’s medal is given to each of the Dominions and the Mother Country, and is presented to the best all-round shot in the country. Anyone who wins that medal is a* real champion, and I think Duncan could win it if he could get the practice.” said Major Wallingford. Captain Glover, of Christchurch, always took a keen interest in young Duncan, and there is no doubt that much credit is due to him for his rise into the ranks of champions.