RIFLE SHOOTING.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 March 1919, Page 5

RIFLE SHOOTING.

j TRENTHAM MEETING. ~ ! By Telegraph—Press Association. i Trentham, March 11. '■ The riile championship meet : ing openeci this Morning under idea! weather zonthtkuf-i A heavy fog in ; the cariy i;iO~iJv-. ; ; : ;ave place to a hot ! *iin .115,1 n :•>■■' ;li.Kospbere. Three ] hundred competitors lined up at eight o'clock and v>vr* briefly addressed by Colonel Collins, <ii).iirf executive officer, who expressed pleasure at seeing so many old faces, and welcomed the new competitors. He said that he little thought when speakm? on that spot five years ago t!:at- tin: greatest world war wcuid foe fought, and thai lis largely to the British army ar.d navy, he won for the cause of right. Re had promis- ! Ed the shooting men when the war broke out t!'at ti'f. meeting should be resumed at the earliest possible date after hostilities \n<\ '•wi?pr.. This promise iiiul been redeemed and steps had been token I immediately the armistice was signed with the result that New Zealand was the first part of the 'British Empire to resume rifle meetings Only 124 entries had been received on the original closing date, but he had determined to proceed with the meeting and entries for the full series had now reached 339, of whom were competing in the full series of nmtehes. Colonel Collins referred to th* faet of many former competitors laving fallen in the war, and also to the faet that Trentham became the permanent 'camp of instruction for musketry. Tlw men were competing with 19>14 service ) rifles issued on arrival '.No others were ] permitted to be used and no adventi- { tious aids were allowed. Colonel Coi- ! lins concluded by urging all to assist, and wishing every man success in shooting. They then commenced on the Collins and Somerville ranges in a series of service matches.

The ex-champions present at tie rift's shooting competitions include- Smith, ISM, Hvde. 1902, King, 1903. Hallidav 1910, Roots, 1911, James, 1913. Minefield, 1!) H. The shooting at the first match in the service series, proceeded all the morning and is unfinished as yet Trentham, Last Night. In the classification practice, which Was not completed by lunch, the competitors were restricted to the use of the 1914 service pattern rifles, with ammunition specially made for the meeting. Although many of the men were dubious about the new aim, a little preliminary practice yesterday afternoon, when the rifles were issued, served in nearly every case to reconcile even the most conservative marksmen. Nearly every man Questioned admitted that the gun was all right, "only it wants knowing." Tho fineness of the fore-sights and the largeness of the aperture are details disconcerting to many, but all adopted a philosophical attitude, as the conditions are the same for every one. The notable absences are the B&llinger brothers, the Okeys, of Taranaki, and the older Lovedays. Following on the torrid, windless forenoon, a slight breeze in the afternoon tempered the blazing sun while the first match was being completed and two shorter ones run through. As the prize lists indicate, there were some cross scores for places, but the usual crop of breakdowns was witnessed. In the Practice Match of four stages, Colonel Gibbon, chief of the General Staff,, and Colonel Sleeman were among the competitors. The former started fairly well, but could not keep up, while Colonel Sleeman managed to carry off a pound prize. To-morrow the opening match will be fired and a start made with the Belt series.

PRIZE LIST. To-day's prize-list is as follows: — Service Prize List—Classification Practice Match, five rounds grouping at 100 yards, five rounds snap-shooting at 200 yards, ten rapid at 200 yards, application five at 500 yards: J. B. Torbett (Akaroa) £4, J.Tewhaito (Thames) £3, 'F. J. Causley (Greytown) £3, each 111; Lieut, W. Duncan (Westport) £2, A. McLean (Thames) £2, U. H. James (Okawa) £l, each 110. Twenty-four took prizes of £], the scores ranging from 100 ,';o\vii to 102; and twenty took 10s, with scores of 102 to 99, while four were counted out. Rapid shooting at 1500 yards; seven shots, 45 seconds.—H. Loveday (Ohnra) £4, 32; Stafr-Sergeant-Major W. Edmonds (Waimate) £3, 31; J. Kvle (Clinton) £3, 31; W. F. Cleaver (fall ora) £2,30; W. Franklin (Petone) £2, 30. Fifteen men take £l. with scores ranging from 29 to 28; thirteen take ISs fid, with a score of 27; fourteen get 10s, with a score of 20. Snap-shooting, 500 yards; five rounds, four seconds each.—Sergeant F. W. Ching (Wellington) £4, 23; L. E. Caldwell (Karori) £3, 22; Lieut. W. N. Masefield (Nelson) £3, 22; A. McLean (Thames) £2, 22; R. D. Wilkie (Patea) £2, 22. Twenty-six men take £1 for •scores from 22 down to 19; twenty take 110s for scores of la down to 1&