RIFLE SHOOTING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7755, 6 March 1905, Page 2

RIFLE SHOOTING.

N.2. DEFENCE FORCES RIFLE ASSOCIATION MEETING. (Per Press Association./ THEXTHAM, March 5. NELSON MATCH, 000, 000 and 700 yards ; seven shots. Randall, l'etonc, £5 96 G, W. Vennell, Te Wharau, £4 ... 05 I Bishop, Hastings, £4 95 Scrgt. McKenzic, Oamaru, £3 ... 95 Gillanders, Dunerfin, £3 ~ 93 McEvedy (Oreymouth), 0. Hyde (Opaki), Welch (Opaki), Sergt. Drumjmond (Dunncvirkc), V. Wilkic <l"l>por Hutt). 93, £2 each ; Loveday :(Mauriceville), Stevenson (I)untroon) ,92 each ; I'apps (Nelson)', Wilson i (Petone), Kyle (Petone), G. Hawthorne (Karori), Milroy (Nelson), IColo (Nelson), J. McKenzie (Opaki), J. H. Franklin (Weber), 91 each ; Morton (Otaks), Cox (Auckland), Sergt. Hydo (Hawkc's Buy), Hums I (Karori), Henry (Opaki), Whit* (Patea), 90 each ; Burton (Rongomal), Speck (Petone), Bunlin (Christchurch), Mac Lean (Whcrcroa), King (Opaki), HollMay (Karori), Feast Kaiwuiwai), Nicoil li(Bluff), Wain, (Studholme), 80 each, £l. Counted out.—Wills (Southland), Marshall (Pahiatua), E. Shaw (Ohmcniuri). Tyros, £1 each.—Private Engstrom (Pahiatua) 88, Sergt. Tinncy (Wellington Guards). Sergt. Harrison (Wanganui Rifles), Lieut. C. Andrews (Christchurch), 87 each ; Bugler Waddington (Auckland), Kifleniaii Mooro (Kimbolton), Private J. Marshall (Waikari), Sergt. Stewart (Wanganui), 86 each. Counted out.—L. S. Johnston, C. Baird, F. Whitoman. At the start of the shooting at the 500 yards in the Nelson match on Saturday morning, the weather was very, line, and even the most fastidious shots could not complain. The ilring opened just before eight o'clock with the 500 yards of the Nelson match, and the men quickly got an to' the bull's-eye, and possibles came quickly, while ull-buts came along with great rattle, and were so common as to bo litt)« thought of by shooting men. A't this runge Waddington, of the Imperial Rifles, Christchurch, a lad of 17, put up 34. Just at the finish of thj; firm range a wind sprang up from the south-west, battling the marksmen and reducing the value of the shooting. At one period u whirlwind enveloped the whole range. At 11.30 it veered round to north-west, and continued thus until utter dinner, when it again took a southerly turn. Shooters were at a loss how to deal with the vacillating element windage. Allowance!! were made from dead-on to several degrees right and left. The result was that the scoring was indifferent on the whole throughout the remainder of the day. Young Waddington, who scored an ail-but at 31, broke up at the 600 yards, but succeeded in making top score (88) at 700 yards, a really splendid performance. There was one possible at the last range, 1 when one man, who at the previous range had put on several bulls, ended by a duck. The top scorer of the match was Ronkell (Petone) with 96 out of a possible 105, followed by A. McKenzie (Oamaru), 0. W. . Vsnncll (Te Wharau), and Sergt. Bishop (Hastings), with 95 onch. The Canterbury ntatch, 200, 500, . and 600 yards seven shots, was started at the 600 yards, which range was completed before the qlose fit the day. TTie shooting was sonu- ' twhat better, as the wind hod moderated.

The shooting at the 500 yds in tho Nelson match resulted in the following securing the possible 35 : Ilidwcll (KaiHvaiwai), Andrews (Chrtstchui'ch) McDonald (Dunedin), Hunting (Pnlmerston North), Irvine (Wairoa), Domigan (Gore), Sandford (Christchurch), Marshall (Pahiutua), and Comes (Ohinemuri). flPttenry-foui' competitors registered !JM. Thirtythrees were so plentiful us to lie out of regard. The nine possibles gave the successful marksmen £4 10 bejtwoen them. Lieut. Bunting and Priivatc Irvine, who were shooting together, each made an inner for their I sighting shot, nnd then each put ■seven successive shots on the bull ut the 600 yards. The men who had 'scored possibles at 500 yards fared ■ badly. Irvine secured only 21, Hunting 24, Domigan 25, Comes and Bid|wcll 27, Sandford, Marshall and Andrews M 0 each. A. Ballinger scored 38, and Ching put up only 27. The highest score at the range was 84, which figure was reached bv Franklin (Weber), Hale (Petone) and Hall (Tuamnrina). There were several 88"s, but 'the majority of the competitors were far below that score The final stage of the match (700 yards) was entered upon after dinner. It is considered tho most difficult range, and often brings crack uiasksmcn to griof. The wind was very variable, and necessitated constant variations of windage to right and left. At about 3'o'clock it moderated, nnd was steadier, but tho only remarkable performance was that o( Bugler Waddington, already mentioned, who made the highest score at the range (83), and was heartily applauded. His aggregate was 8(5, which put him into the tyro prize list. The match was won by ltiflcmun Kandcll (IVlonc) with an aggregate of 96. made up by 38 at 500, 31 at 600, und 32 at 700. Handoll is a well-known rifleman, having been shooting for about 22 years. The runner-up was Rifleman '3. VV. Vonncll (Te Wharau) 95, his position being decided by a "count back." H. Hawthorne (Ktirori) who won the Auckland match, llnished with 87, and Sergt. Shaw, runnerup in the same match, scored 89. Millroy (Nelson), who won the Wei. lington match, put up 91. The match was won last year by Sandford (Christchurch). The Nelson match was finished at 3 o'clock, und the 600 yards of the Canterbury match was taken, and closed about 6 p.m. Xo possibles were registered, but Papps (Nelson), Lister (Taranaki), and J. Wilson (Petone) each scored tho " all but." Including his sighter Papps put on 9 bulls in succession, his last shot being a four. Seven marksmen reached 33, viz., Sandford (Christchurch), Hadfleld (Blenheim), King (Opakij, Scrgt. Smith (Manawatu), Tinnoy (Wellington), Hunny (Opaki), <iji- : landers (Dunedin).

Given lino weather the Championship will be fired on Friduy aftcrnoon. There is no possibility of closing the meeting till Friday. A. Miiroy had the leading aggivgnte at the conclusion of the Nelson match, and therefore wins the . Union Company'b Cup. The weather this evening shows a blue sky, but threatens rain. AGGREGATES TO DATE. TRENTHAM. March 5. Following are the first twentv aggregates up to date, including * the first range fired (000 yards) of the Canterbury match. The figures in parenthesis show the aggregates at the finish of the Nelson match : Shaw, Ohinuinuri (268) 299 Miiroy, Kelson (209 298 Dewar, Oainaru (200) 293 Walker, Upper Hutt (2(>;i) ... 295 W. Loveduy, Mnuriceville (205) 294 Hyde, Hawke's llay (263) ... 204 G. Hyde, Opaki (267) 291 11. Hawthorn, Knroi'i (263) ... 292 W.- l'apps, Nelson (258) 292 Pearson, Tlmaru (2<so) 291 Martin, Tinmru (259) 291 C. Speck, J'etono (202) 290 Drummond, Dannovirke (201) ... 290 Franklin, Weber(2o4) fl., 290 Chlng, Nelson (202) ... 290 Smaill, Knitangala (239j 290. W. Handell, ltotone (202)' 289 I*. Hrown, Warlii (258) 288 C. (Jato, Torudnto (261) 287 White, Fatea (25<i) 287