RIFLE CHAMPIONSHIP.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 56, 10 March 1904, Page 2

RIFLE CHAMPIONSHIP.

CHI NO WINS TilK KINO'S PJUZE. i:;sPAVoi:i(AiiLK wkathkh. (Per Press Association.) TULNTIIA.U, March <). After a morning of blustering wind, which al times threatened lo prevent the championship match from being lircd, the wind moderated somewhat jusl before .* 1 o'clock, though it remained fairly strong from the rear : throughout the match. There was great public interest laken in the linel shooling, as was shown by the unusual number of visitors present. The.se iiicluded Major-( b-ueral Pabington and Mrs llabingion and Sir Joseph and Lad\ Ward. Various other Ministers ami his Kxeelloncy I lie Ouvernor expressed regret at their inability lo attend. The shooling, with one or two exceptions, in the championship match was not of a high standard, and of the \vhole of the shots tired by the f>u competitors only three registered the major point. The leading men, Ching, Pomigan, and .Irvine, shot \ eiy evenly but somewhat erruticat jly. Pomigan opened his lirst business shot with a " bull," and then got a miss, which he challenged, ami got u clean target. Having lired live shots Ching and Irvine had each a score of 17, and Pomigan PL Shurtlv after bolli Pomigan and Ching missed, but each of their next two shots were "bulls," while Irvine was shooting remarkably steadily and looked like overhauling the leaders, having gained a few points on both. Ching's thirteenth and fourteenth shots were "bulls." and his last an outer, making a range total of ol and a grand total of .VI *2. Pomigan, who had had a third miss, wound up with 5—2—4, making a range total of ll) and an aggregate of .~>:UI. All interest now. centred in Irvine who hail a possible but very remote chance of defeating his club mate, Ching. lie had live shots to go and required to get "bulls" with each lo win or one less of the major points to tie. ilis eleventh and twelfth shots were "bulls," but with his thirteenth he brought up an "outer" followed by a "bull" and winding up with an "inner," making his range total 55. irvine thus shot himself into second position, three points behind Ching. Domigan took third place with 530. J. Wilson (Pelone), Sandford {Christchurch), and 0. Loveday (Waikato) tied for fourth place and Sundl'ord gained jt in the shoot oIT. A noticeable' feature of the match was the shooting, of the Hawthorne Bros. (Kai'ori). George Hawthorne won the KiHe Challenge Cup, with the good score of (>O, while his brother was second with SG, and Turnbull (Opaki) third with 55. TilK klNd'S PUJZK SCOUES. Thu following is the linal placing of the men in the aggregates for the Championship Sergeant J, Ching, Waimea, Champion -Belt, Oold Medal presented by the Minister for Defence and £3O 5-12 Sergeant Irvine, Waimea, Silver Stan and £25 539 Captain Domigan, Gore, Silver Star and £2O 530 Corporal Sandford, Christchurch, Silver Star and £l2 528 liilletnan J. Wilson, l'elone, £5 528 Privale 0. Loveday, Wuikato, £5 528 Killeman J, Turnbull, Opaki, £5 ; 52(1 Sergt. Prummond, Dannev irke, £5 ... 525 Killeman J, Wilkie, Ppper ilutt, £5 521 Uitleman W. JI. Ballinger, Pelone, £5 521 Rifleman (J. .Hawthorne, Karori. £5 520 Uifieman Bidwell, Kaiwaiwai ... SPJ Private S. Clarke, Ohinemuri ... 518 Sergeant Shanks, (lore 517 Private T. Jack, Linwood ... 517 Killeman Darker, Le Don's Day 515 Private' P. Drown, Hauraki ... 515 Millennia W. Loveday, Mauricevill<' 514 Col,-Sergt. Mckenzie, Oamaru 512 Killeman K. J. King, Opaki ... 512 Captain Skinner, Auckland ... 512 Kilieman A. Dallinger, Petone... 511 Killeman Marshall, karori ... 511 Killeman Walton, Maunrev4lie... 507 Lieut. Okey, Taranaki 507 Private W. Cox. Auckland ... 507 Sergt. Smnill, Kaitangata ... 505 Sergt. A. Hyde, Ilawke's Hay iios Private Conies, Ohinemuri ... 004 Lieut. Cox, Auckland 504 Col.-Sergt. Carey. Pa tea ... 501 Kliieman J. Mckenzie, Opaki ... 502 Killeman Dadger, Creynmuth ... 502 Killeman G. Jlyde, Opaki ... 502 Pte. A. Humphries, Taranaki 501 Sergt .-Major Wain, Studholme... 501 Lieut. Keid, Qneenstown ... 501 Rifleman Craw, Christchurch ... 500 Killeman Lavery, Cliristehurch «J9U Captain Ilobbs, Wellington ... Sergt. Searle, Cavershain ... 498 i Killeman Winslade, Opaki 490 Captain W. .Nelson, Woodville 4i>s Kifleman W. Anderson, Petone 495 Bugler Eden, Waimea ... . 493 Kifleman Welch, Opaki ... 491 Kifleman Moselen, Kaeo 489 Kinuman Milroy, Nelson 485 BISTRIIHiTION OF IUUZIS3. At the close of the shooting the competitors assembled for the presentation ol prizes, which were distributed by Mrs Jlabington. The Commandant, addressing the gathering, said the weather was worse and the shooting better than last year. The advantage of changing matches was a step in the right direction on practical lines, and he hoped for a further advance next year. The meeting had shown that good shooting could be done without the use of vcrviers or orthoptics, which were impracticable in active service. Next year there would be shooting from loopholes and trenches. Jle referred to Searl's phenomenal score of the possible nt 700y'ds, and JJrummund's at the 500 yds rapid firing, In action, he said, very few of the shots made could be counted as thrown away. Thanks were due to Colonel Collins for the way he had conducted the meeting (cheers), and to ail the officials, whose work was most excellent. The Commandant made a graceful allusion to Ching's consistent shdoling and win. Sir Joseph Ward congratulated Ching on behalf of the people of the colony, and paid a high tribute to Colonel Collins and his staff for their services In connection with the meeting. He referred to the vast importance of good shooting in connection with our land defences, and expressed sat isfact ion that so manv visitors were present to encourage riflemen. The presentation of prizes then took place, amid much cheering. THK LEADING MEN. Sergeant J. Ching lirst joined the Stoke J\ilies, Nelson, in l.s.M'J, and subsequently transferred lo the Waimeas. His lirst meeting was in 1884, at. Auckland, and he afterwards won a few pounds at the Wauganui meeting. At Wanganui four years tpro lie was fairly year's ago"(i;|«l ')>&• {y \ TrenttoUU: i l '* Ihe Pes fur w position in the Hell f.O h*M year, inn Irvine nmHirvd the place/ in the Nelson Association he has won the championship five out of six years, Ching is a moderate smoker and moderate drinker. His win is a very popular one. and he was chewed, shouldered, and at the close y;i the match. hohert Mitchell Irvine, of Nelson, joined (he Waimea Kifles in 'B9, nitd has remained with them yt ua .. He has atassociation ■ 1897 AafKlitHd, uiui has Uines for the Vhampipn^hijj. iJap'tain Domigan, Gore iojuI'd the volunU'cfp ill IHH2, «(."iiivcrWKl'l' rtiMl lll'ulicu I't'l'UlHl llll"I W2, Wllun lui joillwl Ills present CHi-pn US lidllU'llluU. lie has twice Willi the Southland clmnipion.shin uinl lias always taken a K ieat j u i in volunteering. | shooting ,11 1809. W to hi. lust nsuov. I^ti oi ) mining jn jgoe a t yhlWi «\«l fit VYiitigatnii when Ncl- ' won ihe belt he was lying two points behind the leader previous ta • tho last ten uhots, when ho (oW aV 'i way and got elevonti) ' " 1