RIFLE SHOOTING.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3130, 5 March 1909, Page 5

RIFLE SHOOTING.

THE TRENTHAM MEETING

By Telegraph—Press Association. TRENTHAM, March 4. Wednesday night in camp was exceedingly cold, but the morning broke beautiful fine for the eighth annual meeting at Trentham. Shooting commenced at 9.30. The competitors were mustered at the squadding posts, and briefly addressed by Col. Collins, who intimated that the Defence Council had decided to allow the use of orthoptics in all matches, and adhere to the Bisley rule regarding ricochets, none to count unless the bullet struck the bank close to the target He was confident that the entries would have been much larger but for the slight financial depression. Many old veteran riflemen are in attendance, and another pleasant feature is the number of young marksmen who come to fill the places. The gathering vvas thoroughly representative, competitors coming forvvard from almost every disti'ict between Auckland and Bluff. The light throughout the greater part of the day was good, but became very thick late in the afternoon, while the 800 yards match was proceeding, owing to the bush fires in the vicinity. The wind was decidedly catchy, and set many experieiced marksmen a problem to solve, especially in the 600 yards range, the scores ranging down to 10, and a great many below 30. Shooting at the three ranges in the Volunteer and Rifle Clubs' matches, which were fired simultaneously at the 200, 600, and 800 yards ranges, was brilliant, and at the test range a touch of sensation was given, by Speck, of Stratford, putting up the possible, following upon a possible at 200 yds, and three short of the possible at tfre 600 yards range. At the 200 yards stage only three possibles were secured, the marksmen being Burns, of Karori, Higgins, of Timaru, and Speck, of Stratford; 34's were made by the following competitors:— Shaw, Ohinemuri; Duncan, Millerton; Sutherland, Geraldine; Wyate, Mataura; R. JKing, Opaki; Fletcher, Dunedin; Halliday, Karori; Nelson and Butler, Wellington; Boys, Newton; Fisher, Stoke; Gwyndell, Napier: Mcintosh, Waitahi; Tinney, Wellington; Atkinson and Kimpton, Auckland; Williams, Ohura; Purnell, Knell, Palmerston North; Morley, Opaki. At the 600 yds range four possibles were put up, the marksmen being Kitchener, Milroy, and Sharland (Nelson), and Edgecumbe (Waikato). At the 800 yds stage, in addition to Speck, possibles were registered by the following:—Plummer, Wellington; Macey, Karori; Marenzi, Eketahuna; White, Frankland; Hyde. Hawke's Bay. Specie's performance won for him not only the match but the Carbine Cup.- It is somewhat remarkable that his final shot at the final range was not recorded, and therefore counted as a miss. This he challenged, and inspection showed he bad scored a bull's-eye, and thus made the record for the Dominion for the rangp. The following is the prize list: Extra Match No. 1, seven shots, 500 yards.—The following take £l, with 35 each: —Rifleman J. A. Franklin, Weber; J. McKenzie, Opaki; Craw, Cborlton: Private R. Lucas, Palmerston North; Trooper Atkinson, Auckland; Private T. ; Jones, Dunedin. I Extra Match No. 2, seven shots at 600 yds:—M. Drummond, Demis- . ton, 34; R. Lucas, Palmers'on I North, 34; A. Patrick, Victoria . Rifles, 34. I !> Volunteer Match:—Sergeant Hyde, Hawke's Bay, 98; Corporal Munro, Murihiku, 98; Sergeant Tinney, Wellington, 98; Lieut. Skelly, D ! Battery, 97; Private S. Sorer sen, Auckland, 97; Private R. Paten, ' Dannevirke,. 96; Sergt. W. Maingay, Piako, 96. Rifle Club Match, 200, 600 and 800 yards.—Speck, Stratford, 102; Dick' I wtisdale, 97; |Whiteman, Upper Tutt. 97; Willoughby, Gladstone, 96; Bulford, Karori, and G. Loveday, Ohura, 96; W. J. Henry, Opaki, 95.