New Zealand Bisley

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 211, 6 March 1914, Page 8

New Zealand Bisley

MASEFIELD WINS THE KING'S j PRIZE. AGGREGATE WINNERS. By Telegraph—Press Association. Trenthani, Last Night. The King's Prize, as the linitl niatcb for the champion belt is termed, was lired this afternoon at three o'clock. A fairly strong north-westerly (roar; wind waa blowing, and clouds obseureu the sun. It was confidently expected that Masciield, the president of the. Sounds Rille Club, who had a commanding lead, would win, and this expectation was borne out. Opening with two for bis uighter, Masefield started with a bullseye, and his full score was as follows: —5 4 3 545445 5, total 41, which brought his grand total up to <>2s, or sixteen points ahead the second man, Lieutenant Simmonds, of the Railway Corps, who scored 40, giving him a total of 009. Rifleman 1L Lovcday, of Ohura, filled the third place. He added 34 points to his original score of 570, and took third position with 604. Rifleman Milroy, of Nelson, finished up with a total of (103, having added to his score by 39. Oliver (Ohura) was in fine shooting form, and wound up with the good score of 45, bringing his total to 598, and Given, of the Suburbs (Wellington) Club, finished 011 the same mark. Melvor (Te Awamutu) scored 42, his total being 595. Rifleman G. Kyles (Dannevirke), who has performed very consistently throughout the meeting, also added to his score by 42, and handed in a card of 592. Private Bent (Divisional Signalling Corps) and Rifleman Henderson (Sounds) scored 591 each. Corporal Loveday (Woodvillc) made the highest score in the match, namely, 40, and the individual scorns dwindle down to 28. Owing to the weather conditions, the shooting, in many cases, was of an indifferent character, and there was nothing approaching any excitement on the mounds. There was only a fair attendance of the public. The visitors included the Hon. R. If. Rhodes (PostmasterGeneral), General Godley, Colonels Heard, Johnstone, Cochrane and Robin, Lieutenant-Colonel Newall, Colonel and Mrs. Bailie, ami Mr. Luke, Mayor of Wellington, LEADING PRIZE WINNERS. ! Masefield (Sounds) belt and £2B 0-5 Lieutenant Simmonds, £l6 609 H. Loveday (Ohura) £l2 G'js Milroy (Nelson) £9 12s 603 Oliver (Ohura) £4 59S Given (Suburbs) £4 598 Mclver (Te Awamutu) £4 ...... 5t)5 Eyles (Dannevirke) £4 591 Henderson (Sounds) £4 51)1 Bent (Div. Sig. Corps) £4 591 Soper (Tuamarina) £4 590 Mcintosh (Opaki) £4 589 THE KING'S PRIZE. Ten shota at 1000 yards. The following are the principal prize winners in the last stage of the Bisley aggregate:— Masefield (Sounds) £4 260 Soper (Tuamarina) £3 4s 254 H. Loveday (Ohura) £3 4s 253 Given (Suburbs) £2 8s 252 Private Bent (Auckland) £2 8s .. 251 T. King (Inglewood) £2 8s 251 Cheeseman (Taumarina) £1 12s .. 251 Mclver (Te Awamutu £1 12s .. 251 Brownlee (Auckland) £1 12s .. 250 G. Craw (Linton) £1 12s 248 PRESENTATION OF PRIZES. At the conclusion of the firing, the competitors grouped round the platform for the presentation of prizes. Colonel Collins, chairman of the executive, speaking from a dais, thanked the public for their presence and encouragement. He also thanked the Government for its liberal treatment of the Association, pointing out that the assistance amounted to a grant of £750, ammunition valued at £3OO, free railway passes estimated at £250. As the services of Permanent Artillerymen were not available as markers, the Association had been compelled to seek the services of civilians, and this extra cost, amounting to £250, had also been borne by the Government. Colon 1?] Collins proceeded to refer to tlie service the Association had been ,since its establishment in 1879, to the Dominion as a means of encouraging rifle shooting. Every effort was being mactc to keep the Association up to date by the inclusion of service matches in" the programme. This was necessary to meet the military requirements, and had caused some criticism from those who pinned their faith to bullseye shooting, but, while General Godley insisted upon the men shooting under service conditions, he had 110 intention of banning the bullseye. (Applause). The future of the Association lay with the Rifle Clubs, which in turn must be fed from the Territorials, Good as the Territorial scheme was, it Was not calculated to encourage keen shots, and did ry.it give sufficient encouragement to practice. As a remedy for this weakness, he advocated a more liberal supply of ammunition to the younger branch of the service. They were in the habit of hearing the range described as "trickv Trenthani," but lu> hoped this view would not be unduly dwelt upon and so discourage young marksmen from coming to the meetings, for as good scores could be put on at Trentham as on the local ranges. He hoped that next year every experienced marksman would bring a tyro with him. (Applause). The Hon. Rhodes expressed the sympathy of the Government and the military authorities with the work of tho Association, and, after referring to several details of the defence system. he congratulated Rifleman Masefield, and Marlborough, upon his win. Colonel Baillie addressed a few felicitous words to the winner, and the crowd broke out into a burst of lusty cheering as the champion bowed liis acknowledgements. The prizes were then presented to the winners by Mrs. R. J.

Collins, wife of Colonel Collins, and amidst another round of applause for Rifleman Masefield, whose win was an exceedingly popular one, the championship meeting of 1914 came to an end. LONG RANGE AGGREGATES. Colonial Ammunition Company's Cup for teams with highest aggregate over long ranges:— Suburbs (Wellington) £2 12s Cd 1237 Sounds, £1 12a 6il ijj3l Opaki No. 2, £1 Is ]]:;] CHAMPION TEAMS' MATCH. Opaki No. 1, £8 and shield (117 Christchurcli £0 4.;!? Ohura, £4 419 Suburbs, £3 i.|>i Tamnarina £3 4)8 Auckland, £2 jn> Sergeant-Major Montgomery (Dim'V din) takes the Kvnoch Cup for the liigliost aggregrate score in the Service Championship.