RIFLE SHOOTING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 36, 8 March 1909, Page 3

RIFLE SHOOTING.

THE TRENTHAM meeting. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Tr'entham, Saturday Night. To-day was devoted entirely to service matches at Treutham. and keen interest was taken in them by the multitudinous competitors. These matches have comparatively little interest to tho general public, because there is nothing lliat stands out conspicuously in them as ill the ease of the matches for the championship belt, but tih'cv secure the class of 6hooting for which the Dominion Rille Association really exists, ami so arc a valuable aid to national defence. The weather conditions to-dav were similar to those existing during Thursday and Friday, and tire oldest Trenthani marksman cannot recall so prolonged a spell of perfect weather during a championship meeting. The only drawback has been the unusually high temperature during the day and excessive cold at night. In starting the men oft to the mounds this morning Colonel Collins made a cheering announcement. The programme, he said, Fad been based upon an estimate of 500 competitors, but the total number of riflemen_entered was 53(1. It had, therefore, been decided to give £IOO i~i extra prizes—i £SO for a consolation match, open to all competitors who had not won £1 or over, and £SO to be distributed at the rate of £1 per man to the fifty men whose aggregate scores are. nearest to the fifty highest aggregates firing ill tlie King's Prize Coinpetion and gain £2 per man. There were louf service matches fired to-day. In Service Match No. 7, sharpshooting, 200 yds, seven shots, 125 competitors won 8s each. In Service Match No. S rapid firing, at 500 yds, the following were the principal "prize-winners: —Turner (Petoiie), £5, 46; Potter (Auckland), £l, 45; Chapman (Tekapu), £3, -14; Frederick (Marlon), McCleary (Opaki), and Brciiton (Pongavoa), each .scoring 43; Rait (GisWnc). McCalmont (Opaki), and Soper (Taumarunui). each with 41 each. r,i the Cover Mulch. the following won £2 (Is each:—Lowe (Gisbornr), Barltrop (Fcilding), Drummond fWestport), Moslcn (Kaeo), Franklin (Weber), Anderson (Kaitangata), Bent (Tnranaki), Stephens (Ashburton), Jackson (Wellington), fStandish (Tarata). Pearson (Timaru), Proflltt (Napier), Curiae (Riversdalc). Wickens (Wellington), 1 Kitchen (Upper llutl), Trvinc (Nelson), Wayte (Mataura), Eden (Nelson), Cameron (Palmerston North), Watson (Permanent Artillery), Wing (Marton). Nix (Apiti), Mirrilees ( Johnsonville) ,_ Frederick (Marton), Simpson (Waikato),

S and Tovcday (Ohura). | ' Attack Match, No. .9, distances 400, I 300, and 200 yards (competitors to start at 500 peg;'on liuglo sound, competitors to l-ini to 'IOO yawls and five from tlieve three rounds; a further bugle .6 sounded, •competitors ceasing fire, run » to 300 yards firing point, firing a further ' litvec rounds; the same proceedings takf in" place at the 200 yds rangcHFeali >' (Waikato) !l. £2 12s 0d; Eden (\VaiII mea) 0. £2 12s fid; Pankhurst fColac t Bay) S, 30s; ITenrv (Opaki) 8,305; Ziinn merman (Tariki) ,'Onmcron (Opaki) and Ching (Waimea). with 1 each, tl; 33 others take 15» cacli with 0. while 45 take 10s with 5.