NEW ZEALAND'S BISLEY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 208, 1 March 1912, Page 8

NEW ZEALAND'S BISLEY.

MARVELLOUS SHOOTING. SPECK SCORES TWO POSSIBLES. KARORI BRILLIANTLY WIN TEAMS ■■ MATCH. By Telegraph—Press Association. Trentham, Last Night. To-day has been one of the finest shooting days seen at Trentham for several years, and as a consequence the shooting at all ranges has been phenomenal. The special feature of the programme was the teams match for the Coloonial Ammunition Company's handsome 75 guinea silver cup. Four teams had entered, but the Nelson men had not arrived and the Suburbs Rifle Club was unable to get a full team. /The decision was therefore left between- Opaki and Karori Rifle Clubs. More than the usual amount of interest centred in the event, as the Karori Club had already won the trophy twiee, and another win would make it their absolute property. The competition is one that represents, as far as possible, absolute service conditions. Each team consists of twelve men and a commander. These are formed up at about 800 yards/ from the targets, which consist of a small group of figures. Advances are made at irregular intervals between 800 yds and 500 yds, and at each halt, which is regulated by the umpire, the targets appear f0r,15 seconds, each man firing not more than one shot at I each halt. There are 10 one-minute intervals, which, means that each team fires ten shots. Each hit on the figures counts one. The Karori team put up 19 hits, or 16 per cent., the Opaki team getting 17 hits. This not only gave them the match, but the cup to Karori. In this match the Karori9'proved the cvahie of their previous training, as every man in the team has volunteer training, the average length of their service being nine years. The team consisted of H." Plimirier, S. "W: Wickens, A. Caldwell, H. Marshall, A. F. Fellows, W. Chamsise, H. Bulford, W. Easton, H. W. Croxton, L. Hugo, W. Judd and S. P. Halpin.

In addition to the teams match there were extra matches at 9Ooyds, 1000 yds, 600 yds, ,800 yds and 1000 yds. Here 'the shooting far surpassed anything which has ever been done on any range in New Zealand. '

In the morning the OOOyds and 1000 yds ranges were taken. At DOOyds, C. Speck, of Stratford, and Marenzi, of Eketahuna, each put up the possible, and there were seven 34's, among them being Masefiekls (Sounds).

At 1000 yds, Henry (Christchurch) headed the list with 33, followed by Hyde (Opaki), Barkle (Suburbs) and Boulton (Amberley), each with 32. There were three 31's, and four 30's. At 800 yds, in the afternoon, there were eight possibles—Speck (Stratford), Aston (Karori), Nicholson (Petone), Barkle (Suburbs), Dewar (Ohura), James (OkawaJ, Hastings (Hauraki), and Letham (Akarana) ,'■ L. Loveday, who shot so well at Bisley, g«t 34, as did exChampion R. King.

At the <sooyds range the honors were high for Canterbury, the first five men being from that province. These were Walker and Gurney' (Christchurch) and Smith (Geraldin'e), who each got possibles, Wilson (Christchurch) and Bryden (Kaia-poi), each 34. Henderson, a member of the last Bisley team, also got 34. •In the 1000 yds. match, Dickson (Milton) put up 34, and secured first place. C. J. Holland also put up 34, but lost on the count. Lane (Akarana), Mawley (Opaki) and Barkle (Suburbs) each put on 33.

During the afternoon President Marshall, of the Karori Club, received a congratulatory telegram on the club's win of the trophy, from Major Whitney, of the Colonial Ammunition Company. At the close of the day there were 329 entries, which may be added to before shooting commences in the morning.

The servi<»s matches will be taken tomorrow.