RIFLE SHOOTING

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 964, 6 May 1930, Page 14

RIFLE SHOOTING

PAEROA DEFENCE CLUB Saturday’s shooting 1 on tho Paeroa Rifle Range saw the conclusion of the club competitions of the Paeroa Defence Rifle Club, three competitions being decided, the second and final shoot for the deputy-president Well’s trophy, the club championship, and the club handicap aggregate for the season. It was a day of very good shooting, some excellent scores being put on, being quite the best for the whole season. One possible was registered at 800 yards by President P. C. Hubbard. Shooting was carried out from the 800 and 900 yards in perfect weather, but with a very tricky fish-tail breeze, which kept the riflemen on the alert throughout the afternoon.

The shoot for this trophy proved very interesting. The conditions were a two-days match over 300, 500, SOO and 900 yards’ ranges, with fresh handicaps for the second day. Rifleman R. I. Roberts, who finished second on the first day, carne out on top and won the trophy after doing some very good shooting; being quite the best he has ever done. He just missed the possible at 800 yards by one point—his third shot being a 4. Rifleman H. A. Morrison, who is in very good form, was close up second.

The last shoot for the club championship for the season was also fired on Saturday, and as was anticipated, Deputy-President R. I. Wells proved to be the winner with a grand total of 569. He was well in the lead, and before Saturday’s shoot he was 28 ahead of President Hubbard, who was lying second. Wells has been steadily improving from the commencement of the season, and is now looked upon as one the best marksmen in the province. President Hubbard was runner-up with a total of 547.

Before commencing shooting at the second range on Saturday, the presir’ Hubbard, in a happy little speech congratulated DeputyPreident Wells on his success and the fine shooting done by him, and hoped he would continue in such good form during the next season. The president the handed him the championship cup presented to the club by Mr. A. M. Samuel, M.P., and also a silver vase being the president's trophy, which went to the winner of the championship.

The club handicap aggregate competition comprises 12 shoots and for the final the scores in the best eight of these were to count. Deputy-Presi-dent Wells also won this competition but on account of him winning the championship he could not under the rules win the handicap aggregate also, so this was very keenly fought out between President Hubbard, Rifleman H. A. Morrison an# tifleman E. Turton whose scores were”all close up to each other in the semi-final. After the 800 yards range was fired on Saturday, Rifleman Morrison, with his handicap was in the lead of President Hubbard by one point, although the later scored the possible, but Morrison was shooting well also. They were first down at the 900 yards and were firing shot for shot, scoring well. Both finished with 32 at this range. This put Hubbard out of the running, Morrison stiil being one in the lead of him. and as no one else had a chance of beating Morrison’s score he was declared the winner of the handicap aggregate.