RIFLE SHOOTING.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 March 1919, Page 5

RIFLE SHOOTING.

TRENTHAM MEETING. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Trenr.ham, March 12. It was fine weather and not so hot, which made conditions pleasant this morning for the beginning of the "B" series of matches, which include those counting for the belt. The first match is lhe Opening Match, 200, 500, and GOO yards, seven shots. The following are the leading men in this match: Morgan (Christchurch) 02, King (Opaki) 92, Jamea (Okawa) 91, C. Milroy 91, McNabb (Dannevirke) 89, Barns (Knrori) 89, Merrielees (Tauranga) 88, Maisey (Knrori) 88, McKay (Blenheim) 88.

The meeting advance 1 through the preliminary work and got over the first stage of the championship to-day in fine weather, though the variable rear wind, of a fishtail character, und ranging from strong breezy gusts to almost calm patches, puzzled marksmen considerably. Though the use of slings is now permissible, there were many who couldn't keep steady in gusts that swept down from unexpected quarters. The ammunition to-day was apparently an improvement on yesterday. To-day very few faults were noticed.

After lunch interest livened up, as the real business commenced with the Wellington Match, ten shots at 500 and 000 yards. At the first range Wilton (Maurieeville) got 49 on. Masefield, the present champion, in the same squad, got 48, as did J. Milroy (Nelson), a littla distance away. It is curious that at this distance mo3t or the best scores were made on the Seddon and Sommcrville ranges. The best score (47) was put up by Halliday (Karori) and McKeich, a tyro from the Kiwi Club, Dunedin. The heavy smoke from bush fires on the hills put a thin haze over the ranges all the afternoon, that made sighting difficult at times.

Only one statre of the Service Series Aggregate remains to be fired. The leading scores to date are: F. W. Ching (Wellington) 155, J. Te Whaiti (Grevtown) 155, W. J. Morgan (Akarana) 152, P. H. James (Okawa) 152, Lieut. W. Duncan (Westport) 151, J. Causley (Grsytown) 151. Evening saw the first belt match completed, and some reversals of positions. Wilton and Masefield dropped back, White and Halliday pushed ahead, and Cleaver, Green, and Henderson came along with a run and filled the first three places in the order named, each with a score of 89.

PRIZE LIST. Following is the prize list;— Opening Match, seven shots, 300, 500, and COO yards-P. Morgan (Christchurch), £5, 93; R. J. King (Opaki), £4, 92; D. Browne (Waihi), £4, 92; F. H. James (Okawa), £3, 91; C. Milroy (R.N.Z.A.), £3, 91; F. J. Causlev (Thames), £3,90; D. Roots (Patea), £2, 90; J. M. Bartram (Kaiori), £2, 90; S. Elliott (Akarana), £2, 89; J. Burns (Karori), £2, 89. Thirty-five men get £1 each, with scores of 80 down to 84. Five were counted out, and ten tyros gi-t £1 each, with scores of 84 dowii to 8i Wellington ilaicli, ten shots at 500 nnil COO yards—Vr. D. Cleaver (Tahorai, £5. SO; hj, 'J'. J. Green (Westnort), £4, S9; A. .1. Henderson (Sounds), £4, 8!); (!. Halliday (Karori), £;;. 88; President D. Rait (Gisborne), £3, 87: G. G. Aslilev (Aknrnna), £3,87. Four more 87'8 took £2 each; 35 took £1 with scores of 87 down to S3; nine being counted out; ten tyros received £1 each with scores of 83 to 80. Five, werj counted out.

To-morrow's programme will be two matches of five ranges of the belt series.