JUBILEE RIFLE MEETING.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 987, 5 March 1910, Page 5

JUBILEE RIFLE MEETING.

LARGE INCREASE IN NUMBER OF COMPETITORS. By Telegraph —Press Association. TRENTHAM, March 4. Firing commenced at Trentnam at one 0i o'clock. 3 Previously to that Colonel Collins addressed the men and spoke of the progress of the Association, which this year saw 590 competitors, as against 252 for last year. He, also, congratulated the New Zealanders upon having a number of representative Australian rifle shots among them. He honed that they would see the finish of the championship series, with the exception of the King's Match, in addition to the Service and Teams Matches, by Wednesday night, leaving only the Empire Matcti and j Champion Teams Match and the , King's Match to be fired. All parts of New Zealand, as well as New South Wales and Victoria, were represented. The first matchts taken were the Volunteer and Rifle Club, which were fired in conjunction, 'lhe ranges were 200, 500 and 600 yds, the ordinary bull's-eye target being used at 200 yds, and the green and brown target, with a male khaki figure at the longer ranges. The latter was a distinct ionovation, and the greater number of the competitors used the new aperture sight, which has given the greatest impetus to shooting it has ever received. As a consequence a number of men who had given up shooting have taken up the sport again. When shoctirg started the light was absolutely dead. A drizzling rain and a light puffy wind upset even the most experienced shots. A number, however, got 34, among them W. H. Cutler, of Bathurst, and Kiner, of Christchurch. Shortly after the start of the 500 yards rain ceased. Kin? finished with 34, which gives him a total of 68 for the two ranges. Next came F. Franklen, Mansefild, Marshall Thorpe and Kells, each with 67. At fiOO yds matters were stili tricky, but King, with 30, brought his total to 98, Marshall got 33, which placed him in the lead for the Rifle Clubs' Match. In the 600 yds he was, however, speedily displaced by F. Franklin, of Weber, who planked on 34 and won the match. None of the Volunteers succeeded in beating King, who was returned the winner. Captain Dormer, of Auckland, aged 72, who has not fired for ten years, discovered he could still shoot with reliability, and put up 83 in the match, getting well into the prize list. Following were the possibles at 500yds:—G. Crimp, Green Island; Smart, Wellington: Liddle, Lincoln; Bryant, Waihuku. Possibles at 600yds.--Jones, Dunedin; Price, Wellington. Following is the prize list of the Rifle Clubs' Match, at 200, 500 and 600 yards, seven shots:-F. Franklin, Weber. £5, 10]; Marshal, Karori, £4, 100; Roots, Kaponga, £3, 99; Thorpe, Stratford, 98; Oliver, King Country, 96; Masefield, Sounds, 96; Caldwell, Karon", 95, £2 each; twenty competitors won £1 each. Prize list of the Volunteer Match, 200, 500, and 600 yards- King, Linwood, £5, 99; Ching, Lyttellon, £4, 98; Marezin, Eketahuna, £3, 98; Head, Rangitikei, £3, 97; Price. Wellington, £2, y6; Wakelio, Wellington, £2, 96; Kells. Palmerston N., £2, 96; Domigaii, Gore, £2, 96. Fifty £1 prizes were given; fifteen tyros receive £1 each. Franklin wins the Carbine Cup.