RIFLE CHAMPIONSHIP MEETING.

Taihape Daily Times, 11 March 1919, Page 4

RIFLE CHAMPIONSHIP MEETING.

OPENED BY COLONEL COLLINS

TRENTHAM, this day

The Rifle Championship meeting this morning under ideal weather conditions. There was a heavy fog in the early morning, which gave place to a hot sun and clear atmosphere. Three hundred competitors lined up at 8.0 o'clock, and were breifly addressed by i Colonel Collins, the Chief Executive | officer, who expressed his pleasure at | seeing so many old faces. He welcom- i ed new competitors, and said he little thought that when speaking on that spot, last that five years of tne greatest world war w.ould be fought and, thanks largely to the British army and navy, be won for the cause of right. He had promised shooting men when the war broke out tnat the meeting would be resumed at the earliest possible date after hostilities eeased. These promises he now redeemed, and steps were taken immediately the armistic was signed, with the result that ew Zealand was the first part of

the British Empire to resume its rifle meeting. Only 125 entries had been received on the original closing date, but he determined to proceed with the meeting and entries for the full series now reached 339, whereof 300. were competing in the full series of matches Colonel Collins referred to the fact that many former competitors had fallen in the war, also to the fact that Trentham had become a permanent camp of instruction for musketry. Men are competing with 1914 service rifles, which were issued on arrival, as no others were permitted to be used, and no adventitious aids are allowed,, Colonel Collins concluded by urging i all to assist, and by wishing every man success.

Shooting then commenced On the Collins and Sommerville ranges, in a series of service matches.