RIFLE SHOOTING.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 March 1920, Page 7

RIFLE SHOOTING.

DOMINION CHAMPIONSHIP TRENTHAM MEETING OPENS. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Trentham, Last Night. In bright sunshine, and with a very light rear wind blnwlnc, the fifteenth annual meeting of the Dominion Rifle Association opened at Trentham this morning. The weather, which last evening seemed in a black mood, had Improved durin,-; the night, and when morning, broke the sun shone out, rapidly dissipating the mists that las low on the hills at the back of the range. A strong wester--1.? wind that threatened last night to bring rain had died away, and when the squads assembled at 8.30 o'clock o. clear blue sky was overhead and prevailed all day. Entries topped the four hundred mark, and when paraded. Colonel R. J. Collins. Chief Executive officer, addressed them briefly, first faceting old hands and welcoming those visiting the meeting for the first time. He referred to the presence of the veterans, Colonel B. R. Smith and Rfimn. J. Panlfiw, both ex-champions, whose devotion to sport with the ride should act as an incentive to younger men. Rfimn. A. Henderson, of the Akarana Club, was the, veteran of veterans, whose association with tho meeting dated from 1871.

Colonel Collins expressed disappointment with! the number of entries received, but, considered the reason easy to And In the fact that new rifles and barrels promised last year had not yet come to hand. He said this Question of getting the best up-to-date weapons was one that agitated marksmen from the earliest days of shooting In New Zealand. Several changes had been made, but each time a new rifle had been issued it had soon been recalled through some defect developing. Colonel Collins briefly traced these changes from the days when New Zealanders were armed with the Snider rifle, this having the distinction of being on a level with the Chinese army, which also had those fearsome instruments. However, he understood new rifles and barrels were arriving next month, and he beliered he could assure competitors that next year they would have no ground for complaint In this direction. He added that He Defence Department was doing everything possible in cither ways to asstet the Association. Some difficulty had been exrcrioncfd In getting sufficient markers, as the mult of which to-day's shooting was confined to two ranges, but this disability also, It was hoped, would be overcame. In conclusion, Colonel Collfti3 welcomed Sergeant Loveday, M.M., the present Blsley Kind's Prizeman, the mention of whose name evoked warm applause, and at Colonel Collins" Invitation throe rousing cheers greeted the champion. The competitors then marched to the ranges and began the B series of Individual service matches, which occupied the day. To-monrow morning will bo devoted to the opening match of seven shots each at ?M, 500, and 000 yards. This does not cunt for the championship belt, but serves to give the men a chance to get their eye in fee tlip first event of the belt series, the Westlsnd match at same ranges as the opening match, which follows In the afternoon. When the first match was finished at lunch time It was seen that the ox-Blslcy champion, Major Wallingford. lato chief musketry instructor to the New Zealand Forces, had given a taste of his quality, notching 74 out of a possible 80 in three tricky practices at 200 yards. Threi men—White (Auckland City), Sunnex (Sounds), and Lieut. Munro - 17th Mounted Rifles)—made a good showing with 71 each An unusual contretemps now arose. The priiio list based on the morning's shooting was almost completed when a dispute upset the even tenor of the executive's way. Several riflemen Who are among the first flight as marksmen discovered that whereas they had not bee;i allowed spotters the men on the next range had the advantage of these aids. Therefore they asked that they be permitted to fire again. The matter was considered by the executive, which decided that re-flrlng was impracticable, and the objectors awer;;,ed the position, which had arisen through ,a misunderstanding by the officer In tho trench. The prize list as drawn up, therefore, held good as follows: CLASSIFICATION PRACTICE MATCH (Application), five shots at 200 yards lying, 20 seconds per shot; five at 200, flvo seconds per shot.; ten rapid at 200, prone position, time one minute.—£4. Major ,T. A. WalUngford, MC. (Stiff), (Auckland), score 74; £3, Rffmn. .1. P. White (Auckland), 71; £3, Rfimn P .1. Sunnex (Sounds) 71; £2. Lieut. ,T. A. Munro (7th Mounted Rifles) 71; £2. Sapper D. Catley (P. and T. Engineers, Wellington), 70. The following take £1 each: Lieut. A. I, (ireen (Westport) OS, Sergt. R. E. Hester (Railway Engineers, Wellington), L.'cut. O. B. Williamson (P. and T. Engineers, Wellington) 87, President W. H. Moselen (Kaeo), Rfimn. V, H. Ross (Suburbs, Wellington), Lieut. W. Duncan (Westport) 66, Rflran. W. J Heney (Kaiapoi), Q M.S. J. R. Balrd (Hamilton), Rfimn. W. O. Franklin (Dannevlrke). Rfimn. A. C. Crossan (Karori), SS.M. W. Bates (N.Z.W.S, Trentham), and PJunn. W. .t. Henry (Chrlstehurch) 05, Rfimn. W. J. Morgan (Akarana), R. H. Hunt (Suburbs), .1. Bryden (Kaiapoi), C. M. Moss (Dunedio), and E. C. Wallis (Cambridge) 64, Lieut. F. H. Sharland (Nelson), Sergt, F. W. Chlng (Wellington), 5.9.M. J. T. R. Bell (New Plymouth), Rflmn. J. Scott (Petone), Brelnjrnn (Gisbome), and A. JlcFarlane (Kiwi) 03, Rflmn. P. Bolton (Opaki), Q.M.S. Doron (Oanrant), and Rflmn. L. Loveday (Ohura) 02. Twenty-one men take prizes of 10s each with scores running down to 60. CLASSIFICATION* MATCH, five rounds at 200 yards, Ave seconds per shot; and five at 500 prone, 20 seconds per shot:—£4, W. Wlnslade (Opaki). 39; £3, Captain W. P. Bell (Tauranga), 39; £3, J. Kyle (Linton), 3!); £2, W. H. West (Blenheim), 38; £2, Q.M.S. J. R. Balrd (Hamilton cadets), 38. Tho following take £1 each: Cadet E. K. Paulgrain (Auckland), 38; F. J, Causley (Thames), F. B. James (Napier), R. Caughley (Christchurch), J. F. Maidens (Taradale), Lieut. A. J. Green (Westport), R. il. Gordon (Thames), T. Simpson (Vending), and H. O. Atkinson (Hawke's Bay) 37; Sergt. C. Baker (Whangarel), P. Bolton (Opaki), H. Halmshaw (Ctolstchurdh), 3. Liddle . (Petone), T. W. Warbtirton (Petono), Sapper E. A. M. Buckman (Wellington), W. Harbour (Oamaru), Cadet A. J. Lambert (Marlborough), A. O. •Dorore (Akarana), and J. M. Bertram (Karori) 30; L. Catley (Levin), Major A. .T. Merrllces (Tauranga), F. G. Gledhlll (Nelson), Lieut. W. Duttcan (Westport) C. J. Carlson (Dargaville), Sergt. L. Loveday (Ohura), and S.SM. ,T. R. Head (Feathers-ton) 35. Twenty men take ten shillings each with scores ranging down to 33.

SNAP SHOOTING, Ave rounds at 300 yards. —£4, Q.M.S. Pacer (Dunedin), 19; £3, Lieut. A. G. Green .(Westport), 17; £3, W. H. Moselen (Kaeo), 17; £2, D. J. Gulnev (Petone) 17; £2, E. A. Balllngsr (Petone) 17. The following take £1 each: R. J. King (Opakl) and H. J. Atkinson (Hawke's Boy) 17; P. H. James (Napier), J. W. Dayman (Wellington), P. 3. Soler (Wanganul), J. Kyle (Linton). A. McFarlane (Kiwi), S.S.M. 3. H. Levy (Trentham), J. Xaylor (Opakl), and Major J. A. Wallini;ford (Auckland) 10; C. E. Hogard (Dannevirke), C. 3. Nix (Featierston), S.S.M. 8. E. C. Grav (Trentham), C. Lr.vedoy (Ohura), Ca,ptaln R. Logan (Trentham), P. Fodt-.ii (Tlmaru), J. A. Myer (Prankton), Major Merrllees (Tauranga), P. Cramp (Ha.wera), Sergt. L. Lovedav (Ohura), W. G. Franklin (Dannevirke)-. r. Clark (Tauranga), W. «. Minefield (Nelson), It Caughlev (Chrlstchurch). and J. i\ White r -I."i. Twenly men take 10s with scores down to 14.

RAPID SHOOTING, seven rounds at SOO yards In 5.1 seconds £4, F. .1. Soler (Wunganul) 27; £3, \V. Felllngham (Suburbs) 2(1; £2 10s, SSJt. R. L. Jordan (Trentham) 26; £2 10s, John Craig (Chrlstchurch) 20; £1 10s, K. F. Wilton (Maiirleovllle) 25; £1 10s, L. Loveday (Ohura) 25. The following take £1 each: H. V. Crotton (Karorl) 25; S.S.M. .R. Meeoham (Trentham), W. C. Franklin (Dannevirke), A. E. Turner (Linton), R. E. Wilton (Ruahlne), and D. A. Balllnger (Petone) 24; l\ G. Oldhlll (Nelson), L. B. Clayton (Kiwi), J. H. Ross (Suburbs). Captain R. M. Irvine (Nelson), Major Merrllees (Tauronga), and H. Eariow (Linton) 2:); J. Brydeu (Kalapoll, Cadot H. King (Ma'sterton), D. J. Guiney (Petone), R. H. Hunt {Suburbs), O. M. Moss (Dunedin). H. Marshall (Karorl), W P. Lane (Akarana), A. Oovenloek (Linton), M. R. Jarvls (Taradale). Cadet A. J. Lambert (Marlborough), D. M. Mcintosh (Chrlstchurch), McMillan (Mnrselcn), R. A, Wilton (Opakt), and A. Jackson 22. Eighteen men take ten shillings each rncl four five shillings, with scores ranging down to 20. li'.eut. fireen, of Wesiport, with M 3, heads the aggregate for the service scries. Unless otherwise specified the competitors are riflemen.