CLAY PIGEON SHOOTING.

Taranaki Daily News, 25 May 1921, Page 3

CLAY PIGEON SHOOTING.

MATCH AT STRATFORD. £lOO OPEN HANDICAP. The Stratford Gun Club held a £lOO open clay bird handicap on the Stratford Show Grounds yesterday, a large number of the best shots in the Dominion taking part There was a good attendance of spectators. The weather conditions were hardly satisfactory for shooting, a misty rain falling at times during the day, accompanied by a slight wind. These conditions made the shooting tricky, but on the other hand they proved a good test for the competitors, who put up some excellent performances. In the open handicap Whittle and Dobson each shot the possible (21 birds), and five competitors tied for second money with one miss each. Mr. H. Campbell officiated as handicapper and; referee.

Mr. H. Harrison, president of the Stratford Gun Club, welcomed the visitors, and regretted that the weather conditions were not more satisfactory. He expressed the hope that they would thoroughly enjoy their visit, and that the competition would be very keen for the prize money. With the exception of a little trouble with the two traps which slightly delayed the big shoot, everything was carried out satisfactorily. Following are the results:—

£lOO OPEN HANDICAP. First £BO, second £2O. Twenty-one birds.

F. Whittle (Stratford) possible 21 A. Dobson (Auckland) 21 E. R. King (Auckland) 20 T. Parker (Hawke’s Bay) ~.... 20 ,1. Quartermain (Wanganui) 20 A. Robottom (Otare) . ...... 20 E. Colson (Mangatoki) 20 B. C. Wheeler New Plymouth) 19 D. McLachlan (Masterton) 19 S. Edwards (Lower Hutt) 19 W. P. Jenkins (Eltham) 19 S. Glennie (Gisborne) ...... 18 A. N. Turner (Dunedin) .... 18 H. Harrison (Eltham) 18 A. E. Brown (Mahoe) .......C7 18 T. A. Lineham (Stratford) 18 E. Flux (Petone) 18 F. Casey (Eltham) . 17 F. Truscott (Christchurch) 17 F. G. Frampton (Brookside) 17 B. Fenn (Lower Hutt)i... 17 B. Green (Stratford) >... 16 J. Martin (Stratford) 16 J. O. (fiftson (Ngaere) 16

F. Llmbrick (Walpawa) 14; J. Skilling (Christchurch) 13; S. D. Coleman (Eltham) 13; P. A. Lundberg (Ararata) 12; G. Mitchell (Stratford) 12; F. Jackson (Tataraimaka) 10. The following retired: S. P. Hughes (Auckland), W. Woolven (Hamilton), W. H. Hughes (Mercer), J. Ozaane (Taihgtpe), W. O’Brien (Hawera), and J. W. Donald (Pending). Whittle and Dobson divided the £BO, and King, Parker, Quartermain, Robottom and Colson divided the £2O.

A Nine-Bird Sweepstake was fired after the big handicap, there being twenty-eight competitors. Quartermain (Wanganui), Flux (Petone), Casey (Eltham), and McLachlan (Masterton) each shot the possible, and divided £lB. Whittle (Stratford), Frampton (Brookside), Skilling (Christchurch), Lineham (Stratford), Lundberg (Ararata), S. Edwards (Lower Hutt), and Woolven (Hamilton) had one miss each. In a First Miss Our there were, twenty-two competitors, and F. Casey (Eltham), and DMcLachlan (Masterton) were still in on the eighth round, when the former shot his bird and MeLachlan missed, Casey taking £l6. CHAMPIONSHIP SHOOT TO-DAY.

To-day the clay bird championship of the Dominion will be decided ,on the Show Grounds. This match is being conducted by the New Zealand Gun Clubs’ Association, and the referee will be Mr. A. L. Falls. The shoot will commence at 11 o’clock sharp.