RIFLE SHOOTING.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 March 1921, Page 3

RIFLE SHOOTING.

THE DOMINION MEETING. YESTERDAY’S RESULTS. B> Telegraph.—Press Association. Tlenthum, March 8. There was a quiet night, during which a sharp shower lowered the temperature appreciably. This gave place to a fine, cleaf, cool morning, with a light south-easterly breeze. The Otago match, at 800 and 900 yards, one of the Belt series, started at eight o’clock, but after the warmth of the past few days the colder atmosphere and the puffy breeze from the right front tested the men's judgment of both elevation and windage. Indeed the breeze freshened and became trickier as the morning progressed, and caused a serious breakdown among men who hoped to keep* in the running for a place in the aggregate.

So far as is ascertainable at present, Nielson, with 44 on at 800 yards, holds his place at the head of the aggregate. The 900 yards range developed difficulties, the wind coming across from the right in puzzling fits and starts. The men who got 40on had to work hard, and a few of those who managed at tte 800 yards to get an average of inners were able to maintain that standard at the longer range. The scores are not yet complete, but the match appears to have been won by Btyden (Kaiapol) with 46—36, total 82. Priestly (Akarana) 40—40 —80, leads the rest fof second place; then comes Reston (Akarana) 79, Moselen (Kaeo) 78. Tho positions of the Belt leaders altered considerably as the result of the erratic scores at 900 yards. W. Moselen pulled up from fourth to first place. The next dozen follow as under: Nielson 435, McLeay 429, Vennell 427, Reston 423, Carter 422, Ballinger 422, Piper 421, barker 418, Masefield 418, Hunt 416, West 416, Robb 415, Govenlock 415. Tte wind was so strong on the Seddon range at one period that several targets were blown down. The afternoon was occupied with the first stage (600 yards, fifteen shots) of the Australasian match, which (foes not count for the Belt. The wind had eased off in velocity, but was as full of unreliability as ever, and the men found the strain. Anything over sixty was good. O’Leary (Trentham), with 65 out of a possible 65, was best among the early finishers. The match will be completed on Thursday. Following are the principal prize takers in the only event concluded to-day:— Otago Match, ten shots at 800 and 900 yards:— £5—S. Trolove (Marlborough) 83 £4—Lieut. H. Donald (Opakl) 82 £4—R, A. Sangster (Stratford) 82 £3—VV. E. Pearce (Rangitikei) 82 £3—J. Bryden (Kaiapoi) 82 £3 —A. S. Barnett (Wakapuaka) 81 £2—H. Mawley (Opaki) 81 £2—A. H. Dixon (Akarana) 81 £2—N. Priestley (Akarana) 80 £2—E. J. C. Reston (Akarana) 79

Scores down tj 72 got into the Hat of fifty winners of £l.

The order of the procession which leads to the crowning of the victor next Friday brings many changes from day to day. Following are the best fifty to date:—W. Moselen (Kaeo) 436, Capt. Neilson (Napier) 435, A. H. Dixon (Auckland) 433, H. A. Donald (Opaki) 431, A. Patrick (Auckland) 429, D. McLeay (Te Kuiti) 429, E. E. Vennell (Tewharnu) 427, H. V. Croxton (Karori) 426, J. C. Carter (Petone) 426, N. Wood (Frankton) 423, E. J. C. Reston (Auckland) 423, E. A. Ballinger (Petone) 422, H. Reynolds (Christchurch) 422, R. Piper (Christdhurch) 421, It. C. Barkle (Petone) 420, H. Mawley (Opaki) 420, C. Whiteman (Suburbs) 420, J. H. Manssen (Nelson) 418, W. N. Masefield (Sounds) 418, A. R. Barker (Linkw«ter) 418, H. C. Jones (Okawa) 416, H. Hunt (Suburbs) 416, Sergeant F. W. Ching (Wellington) 416, W. J. Franklin (Dannevirke) 415, D. Roots 4 (Hawera) 415, A. Govenlock (Linton) 415, H. T. Boon (Suburbs) 414, E. F. Sandford (Christchurch) 414, C. J. Nix (Featherston) 413, W. H. Thomas (Linton) 413, S. Elliott (Auckland) 412, L. G. Loveday (Linton) 411, S. McNabb (Dannevirke) 411, D. Armstrong (Tai'ora) 411, W. E. Pearce (Rangitikei) 411, A. R. Shove (Auckland) 410, J. Scott (Petone) 410, A. B. Swanson (Opaki) 410, C. G. Engstrom (Opaki) 410, W. R. Kells (Linton) 410, W. J. Morgan (Auckland) 409, D. J. Guiney (Petone) 409, Capt. H. Simmonds (Eketahuna) 408, J. \Bryden (Kaiapoi) 407, H. F. Marshall (Karori) 407, F. Bolton (Opaki) 407, H. C. Loveday (Hawera) 407, W. Tate (Wanganui) 407, G. Day (Nelson) 406, A. S. Barnett (Wakapuaka) 4J)6, W. Powell (Auckland) 406. The last two ranges qualifying for the King’s Fifty jvill be fired to-morrow. Complete rbturnk from the 600 yards stage of the Australasian match show the present leaders as follows: —Masefield 67, C. Whiteman 66, Belk 66, O’Leary 65, E. A. Ballinger 65, Roots 65, D. K. Williams 64, Milley 64, Dryden 63, Day 63, Elliott 63. Pitt 63, Storkey 63, Burns 62, Gledhill 62, A. Allan 62, Major Potter 62, Capt. Simmonds 62, Nix 62, Atkln-| sou 62, R. Smith 62.

MEETING OF ASSOCIATION. Trentham, March 8. A meeting of the Rifle Clubs’ Association • last night elected the following representatives:—Messrs. D. R. A. Elliott (Auckland), FelHngham (Wellington), Masefield (Canterbury). Silviys (Otago). The association executive wa?sfe-elected. The chairman, Mr. H,. Marshal], stated that a steady improvement, was apparent in the condition of the clubs, and the Minister was shtHvlng practical sympathy. The chairman urged tie establishment of a fund to send representatives to Hlsley; also that the clubs use their best endeavours to encourage cadet shooting. A motion of regret at Colonel Collins’ retirement from the position of chief executive officer and appreciation of Ins lsig and valued services on behalf of rifle shooting was carried; also a recommendation that the department appoint Colonel Collins vice-presi-dent of the D.R.A. in recognition of his 40 years’ connection therewith. z ENGLISH TEAM. REPORT ON RECENT TOUR. By Telegraph.—Press Assn —CopyrlehL ■ London, March 7. In a preface to Captain Richardson's report on the doings of the rifle team in Australia and South Africa, Lord Cheylesmore, president of th* association, cordially * acknowledges the generous hospitality invariably extended in public and private. They were more than recompensated for defeat by the knowledge that the ties of friendship and sympathy had been immeasurably strengthened. Captain 'Rici.ardson’s report says that the general standard of shooting In Australia is very high, certainly higher than with Britain. He recommends a time limit for each range In the Empire match, which was robbed of much of its interest through a gamble for weather conditions, and the fact that they were not altogether shoulder to shoulder in the actual shooting; otherwise the conditions were quite satisfactory.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable