RIFLE SHOOTING

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 253, 4 March 1911, Page 8

RIFLE SHOOTING

THE TRENTHAM .MEETING. By Telegraph.—Press Asuociation. I Trentliiim, Friday. j The lenth annual meeting of the Defence Forces Killc Association opened at 0.45 o'clock this morning at tliu 2IX) yards range in the opening match, '2OO, 300, and 000 yards. In addressing the men at the squadding post, Colonel Hughes, in the absence of Colonel Collins, expressed the condolences of the men with the loss Colonel Collins had sustained, and at Colonel Hughes' request the whole of the men bowed their heads for ten seconds in silence as a mark of sympathy with the chief and his family. He also referred to the loss of Colonel Somerville, the father of Ndw Zealand shooting, since last meeting. There are 592 competitors on the ground, constituting a record. Weather conditions this morning for shooting are not good. There are heavy clouds and a sharp south-west wind. The new style of scoring centrals by utilising the centre only on tho bullseye as a more expeditious way of deciding ties has met with considerable criticism on the range, but generally riflemen are favorable to the system. Great keenness was shown in the matter of centrals, and large numbers were scored on the 200 yards range. The best score made in the opening squad was 34 by ex-champion Duncan. Ching, of Lyttelton, scored a possible of seven centrals; Woolley, of Auckland, made the possible, including five centres; Currin (Ohura) and Larsen (Mauriceville) also made possibles. The staff officers passed a resolution of condolence with Colonel Collins and family in their recent bereavement. Christchurch, Last Night.

Additional interest was created by setting up two additional matches, the Hawkc's Bay and Taranaki matches,' for the championship competition, and consequent enlargement of the prize 1 fund. The simplification of having a central record to facilitate ties in matches added keener zest to competi-, tions. Ordinarily a bullseye, wherever placed, counted five as usual, but whereever a tie should occur it was decided by the authorities that the shot in the middle of the bullseye should rank before one placed nearer the rim. This fact gave an extraordinary fillip to the shooting, and the result of every bullseye was most closely scrutinised. Some remarkable results were the outcome. Ching, of Lyttelton, at 200 yards, scored not only the possible, but the possible of centres, while several others who got a fair succession of centres, fell short in the scoring by hits of minor value.

The weather was variable throughout, and it cannot be said the day's shooting was a real index of form. The first match was at 200, 500 and 600 yajds, and throughout weather conditions were unfavorable. Nevertheless some good shooting was effected. At 200 yards Ching rang on seven centrals, a performance which may best be appreciated when it is mentioned that a central at this range is a four-inch ring within the bullseye. Others who scored possibles at this range were: Larsen (Mauriceville), Gurrie (Ohura), Woolley (Auckland). At 500 yards, notwithstanding the bad light, the following scored the major, points: Wilson (Westport), Rivers (Okawa), McCalmont (Opaki), McKenzie (Ashburton), Williams (Ohura), A. Hyde (Okawa), Ongley (Oamaru), Gee (Liuwood), Maronzi (Eketahuna), Aitken (Feilding), and Marenzi (Piako). At 000 yards only two possibles were made by Keene (Tararua) and Wagner (Popotonui). But there weTe several 34's, among them being Stewart, the winner. Ching broke up badly, making only 06. The following were the principal prize-winners:— Opening Match, 200, 500, and COO yards.—Stewart (Weber), £5 and the Carbine Cup, 100; Wagner and Comes, £4 each, 99; Plimmer and Dodd (Wei-, lington, and A. Hyde (Okawa), £3 each, 99; Acleay (Opaki), Thompson (Napier), Manley (Oamaru), Wilson (Westport), £2 each, 98. The Wellington Match, the first for

the belt, was taken later in the afternoon, and produced patchy shooting. A number of good scores were made, but several of the cracks went to pieces badly, owing to the variable wind and light. C. J. Franklin (Weber) did a brilliant shoot, putting on seven centrals out of ten shots. The following were the principal prizewinners:—Hunt (Wellington £5, 50; C. J. Franklin 1 (Weber) 50, and Craw (Linton) 40, £4 each; Facer (Port Chalmers), Gylet (Dannevirke, and Allen (Wanganui) 48, £3 each; Needham (Linton), Sutton (Shannon), and Skinner counted out,I 48, £2 each. I