WITH THE RIFLE

Taranaki Daily News, 5 February 1916, Page 5

WITH THE RIFLE

THE CHAMPIONSHIP BELT. AGAIN ANNEXED BY HUNT. ■. WEATHER CONDITIONS BAD' After being favored with a perfect day for the opening of their twelfth meeting,' the Taranaki Rifle Association yesterday were treated to weather conditions that could hardly have been worse. A strong wind, rising at times to a gale, with heavy rain, made conditions decidedly unpleasant for shooters and officials alike, and consequently the meeting proved no picnic. All, however, met matters with a smiling face, au'd tlie programme, with modifications, was carried through. In the hope • that the weather would improve the resumption was delayed until nearly 8 o'clock, when the men assembled at the 900 yards range to commence the Stratford match. Here trouble commenced for both oxperienced and inexperienced men, and many riflemen's hopes of annexing .the belt were dashed to the ground. Particularly was this the case with the leader, Kiflcman Williams. lie used his two sighters and three business shots without finding the target, winding up with 2, 3, 5, s—total 15. A. H. Guy alio failed badly here. Skelton, ol Mere Mere, after getting two 2's Witt his sighters, notched the possible. Hunt, with 32, including two 4's to fltllßh, raised his total to 273 and Went' from fourth to top, Barkle (27) remaining second with 270. Puruell (30) and Mayhew- (<59) jumped up to third with 289, whilst /(arris (32) and Gilshnan (31), 207, came from a long way down. Hanieon (28) /also notched 207. Christian, who wag third, put on the moderate score of 23, and with 266 dropped well back. The 1000 yards completely Settled his chance, as he only put on 9. Roots, with 30 at 900 yards, notched 268. Hunl only put on 23 at 1000 yards, which gave him 2y». This, through the abandonment of the later match, proved sufficient to win the belt, as Barkle only hit the target twice, scoring 7. Mayliew, who was third on the list, notched 24 and got into second place three points behind. Purnell (23), Harris (25), Isaac (28), and Atkinson (28) all got close up, the last two making the highest range scores. Rifleman A. Harris (Suburbs), with 57, won thtj> match, his clubmate, Isaacs, being second with 80, and ,47 took prize-money. Last year D. Roots (Patea) won with <ll, and 53 was the lowest prize-winner. ■ The weather continuing bad, the executive decided to curtail the i New Plymouth match, of which 10 shots at 800 yards had been fired, to 7 shots at 1000 yards instead of 10. Riflemen were on the qui vive, as in (inch weather anything might happen, and quite a ! number of them had a chance in the aggregate. However, a heavy, continu- : ous downpour set in, and the match had | (o be abandoned and the scores awarded on the 800 yards range, which had pro,: duced great shooting. There were no less than five all-buts, and in the count back Gilshnan (Patea) won. Smart (Suburbs) had hard'luclr; he threw out his sighters, 5, 4, and finished with 8 bulls and 4, 5„ but had to take fourth prize. With his sighters he would have been first in the count back. The aggregate also had to count on the matches fired, and Hunt won as stated, though, had the match proceeded, Isaacs with 28 had set Hunt the task of getting 25 to win. It was at first decided to abandon tlie teams match, but the weather looked like improving, and it was decided to fire 10 shots at 500 yards. Hardly had the match started when the gale and downpour redoubled their efforts, the targets had a bad blowing about, and tho match was carried through under conditions worse than the range officers had seen in all their experience. Suburbs were expected to win easily, but failed; Wanganui defeating Inglewood by 11 points, with New Plymouth 2 point's away. Tlie officials again worked hard ill trying circumstances.. Colonel Gkcy, Major Sandford and Lieutenant Crutch had a busy time on 'the range, the wind causing numerous challenges, but the trench officers, Lieutenant Messenger and Sergeant-Major Armilage, cauie through the ordeal with flying colors. The secrets ly, r Vli\ F. J. Hill, carried out his part with his customary ability and prize-money was promptly paid out. A word of praise is due to the ladies for presiding «t the refreshment tent under such miserable weather conditions.

At the conclusion of the meeting Col. Okey presented the prizes and congrntulated the winners. Rifleman Hunt, of Suburbs, is a young man who has been shooting for a few years with conspicuous success. He is the first rifleman' to win this belt for the second time. He has been champion of his club for two years, and has twice annexed the Xprth Island championship, and also the Manawatu championship, among other performance?. Suburbs has done well this year, Rifleman A. Harris winning the tyro aggregute and being third in the grand aggregate and in the long range aggregate. Rifleman W. Isaac won the long-range, aggregate, and was fifth in the grand aggregate. AH were very prominent in the other matches. ' Detailed results :•*» STRATFORD MATCH. 900, and 1000 yards. Seven shots at each range.

900 1000 Tl. Rfm. A'. Harris (Suburbs), £3 32 25 S7 Rfm. W. Isaacs (Suburbs), £2 28 28 50 Lieut. J. F. Atkinson (Auck- ' land), £1 ' 27 28 55 Rfm. 11. Hunt (Suburbs ),£ I 32 23 55 Rfm. C. Jackson(Stratford), 15s 32 23 55 Rfm, A. Blair (Mere Merc), 15s 28 26 54 Rfm. A. C. Watson (Auckland), 15s 29 25 64 Rfm. R. H. Skelton (Auckland), 15s 38 19 54 Rfm. S. J. Mayhew (Linton), 15s 29 24 53 Rfm. J. Purnell( Wanganui), 15s 30 23 : 53 Rfm, J. F, Shepherd (Opuuake), 15s 32 21" 53 Rfm, A. J. Gibbs (Patea), 25,27, 52; G. H. Taylor (IngleWtiod), 29, 22, 51; W. Healy (Ohura), 30, 21, 51; D. Roots (Patea.), 29, SI, 8; Okpt. Hartnell (New. Plymouth), 05, 24, 49; Rf». A. Bt*cjcv house (Kimbolton), 31, 18, 49; H. Coppen (New Plymouth), 27, 21, 48; H.,T. Hall (Inglewood), 22, 25, 47; H. H. Gilshnan (Patea), 31,18, 47; W. H; Martin (Inglewood), 32, 15, 47, each 10s. Tyros.—C. Rumball (Urcnul); 25, 18, 3d; 1-', Uooth (Patea), 25, 12, 37; A. V. .(.Strfttford), 21/14! B, J,

Williams (Wanganui), 30, 5, 35; W. [ton (Wavcrley), 15, 10, 31, each 10»;' J. Bennett (Inglewood), 12, 18, 30; F. Clemow (New Plymouth, 13, 15, 28; A. Standish (New Plymouth), 25, 3,J28; N. A. Ching (Opunake), it, 18, 27; <ff. OIJa (Wanganui), 17, 7, 24, each ss. OSunWd ou't: H. Cochrane (Mere Mere). NEW PLYMOUTH 'MATCH Tan shots at SOO, yards. Rfm. H. Gilshnan (Patea), £3 ...» tjjf Rfm. A. Harris (Suburbs), £2' ** Rfm. J. Christian (Wanganui), "£l 49 Rfm. J. Smart (Suburbs), 17s <53 .. 4# Rfm. G. 11. Taylor (Inglewood), 17a ' M 40 Rfm. ,T. Pnrnell (Wangamiij, 15s .. 49 Rfm. A. Standish (X.P.), 15s '4» Rfm. R. .T. Mayhew (Linton), 15s .. 4? Rfm, R. C. Barkle (Suburbs), 15s .. 48 Rfm. G. I!. Smith (Kaponga), 15s .. 49 Rfm. C. H. Moore (X.P.), 15s ifi Rfm. A. J), Harrison (Kaponga) 46, W. Healy (Ohura) 47, A. P.' Anderson (Wanganui) 47, W, Oliver (N.P.) 47, A. Stackhouse (Kimbolton), 47, J. M. Bo#« man (Inglewood) 47, Lieut. J. F. Atkinson (Auckland) 47, Rfm. M, J. Martk (Inglewood) 47, E. J. Williams (W*njfe. nui) 47, C. Rumball (Urenui) 47, cja 10s. . ; • Tyros.—Rfm. H. Cochrane (MO% Mere) 46, D. Hurley (Patea) 44, 4. Mackay (Stratford) 43, G. Olds (W&n#*« nui) 43, W. Seaton 10s; C. H. Drew (N.P.) 43, N. A. ChiM (Opunake) 42, R. H. Skeiton (M«m Mere) 42, W. Tate (Wanganui) '4l, eisb' sb. 1 , GRAND AGGREGATE. Highest Scorers in Matches 1, 2 , *"4 6- , Rfm, H. Hunt,(Suburbs), Champion 8 BSlt (fireient&l By (P. ? g6'ld niedal (value "JES 3s), "4hJ cash £3 2fjQ Rfm. 8. J. Mavlitjw (Linton), silver medal (presented by Mr. J. Bennett) and £2 ..." 29J Rfm. J. Purnell (Wnngarmi), 17s Cd 293 Rfrn.. A. Harris (Suburbs), 17s 6d 298 Rfm. W. Isaac (Suburbs), 12s Cd 2911 Lieut. J. F. Atkinson (Auckland), .< ,12s fid 29) Rfm. D. Roots (Patea), 10a 2#7i Rfm. A. C. Watson (Auckland), 10s 28? Rfm. A. .T. Gibbs (Pateaj, 5s .... .2841 Rfiti. A. B. Harrison (Kaponga),-5s 2M Rfm. G. H. Taylor (Inglewood) .. 283 Rfm. H. H. Gilshnan (Patea) 283 Rfm. W. Healy (Ohura) '2BO Rfm. J. Shepherd (Opunake) .. 280

•PREVIOUS WINNERS. 1009—Captain J. Potter (Auckland) 1910—Lieut. A. S. Marrett' (Tar&l Rifles). 1911—Sergt. H. Franks (Nelson), 1912—Rfm. D .Roots (Kaponga). 1918—Rfni. W. Winslade (N.P.) 191-I—Rfm. H. 11. Gilahnan (Patc< 191o—Rfm. H. Hunt (Suburbs), 1910—Rfm. H. Hunt (Suburbs). V V' LONG-RANGE AGGREGATE Highest aggregate' in 800, 900 anil 1000 yards. Rfm. W. Isaac (Suburbs) 187/ Lieut. J. P .Atkinson (Auckland)* £l 3s 4d ! 134 Rfm. A. Harris (Suburbs), £1 3a 44 136 Rfm. J. Purnell (Wanganui), £1 3s 4d 139 Rfm. S. J. Mayliew (Linton), 10s .. 13S Rfm. G. H. Taylor (Inglewood), 10#f 184 Rfm. O. Jackson (Stratford) >a 1$ Rfm. D. Roots (Pafat) IS} Rfm. H.' Hunt (Suburbs) w.- 181 Rfm. Gibbs (Wanganui) 180 Rfm. J. F. Shepherd Opunake) 199 PREVIOUS WINNERS. ' 1915—Rflm D. Roots (Patea). ' 1910—Rflm. W. Isaac (Suburbs). TYRO AGGREGATE. Rfm. A. Harris (Suburbs), medal (presented by Mr. W. Slaughter) SM Rfm. C. Rumball (Urenul) SjM Rfm. H. T. Hall (Inglewood) . ..v Rfm. H. R. Skelton"(Mere Mere) .. 268 Rfm. E. J., Williams (Wanganui) 559 Rfm, A. Standifili (N.P.) , a 255 PREVIOUS WINNERS, : ' 1913—Sergt.-Major Bond (Staff). 1914—Rflm. W. Slaughter (New jjjjjr mouth). . > 1916—Rflm. A. Gibbs (Patea). ' 1916—Mm. A. Harris (Suburb®), , TEAMS MATCH. ! - Five men a-side; 10 shots at 500.yaffil. First Prize, Tiscli Memorial Cup (to be held for 12 months) and £5 cash; second prize, £3. Wanganui (Riflemen J. Purnell 46, J. (Christian 44, F. J. Solcr 11, A. P.

Anderson 30, E. J. Williams 32, 202 J., Inglewood (Riflemen W. H$ 9 Martin , 42, 11. T. Hall 40, M. ,T. Magh 40, 1. King 37, Pros, G. H. Taylor 3-2), 191 a New Plymouth (W. Oliver 44, W. E. Keating 38, Cnpt. Hartnoll 38, A. Stfuwish 36, H. Coppen 33), 189. " h Kaponga (A. H. Guy 41. J. McCarthy 39, G. R. Smith 39, S. J. Hollard $4, A.", B. Harrison 33), 180. ( Suburbs (H. Hunt 43, A. R. C. Barkle 37, J. Smart 37/, W. I»4»o ■3O) 185. } Patea (H. Gilshnan 40, P. palmer 40 D. Roots 40, A. J. Gibbs 21, D. HulitJ ,17), 158. ' PREVIOUS WINNERS. 1611—Tarannki Rifles. 1912 —New Plymouth Rifle Clul 1913—Kaponga Rifle Club. 1814—Whanga momona Rifle Club, 1915—Ohura Rifle Club.