RIFLE SHOOTING

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10572, 1 March 1912, Page 5

RIFLE SHOOTING

TRENTHAM MEETINC. THE TEAMS MATCH. WON BY KARORI. I (By Telegraph — Tress Association.) ; | TRJENTHAM. Last- Night, , j To-day has been one of the finest ! shooting days seen at Trentham for several years, and as a consequence shooting at all ranges has been phenomenal. The special feature of the programme was the Teams Match for the Colonial Ammunition Company's handsome 75-guinea silver cup. Four teams had entered, but the Nelson men had not arrived, and the Suburbs Rifle Club was unable to> get a full team. -The decision was therefore between the Opaki and Karori Rifle Clubs. More than a usual amount of interest centred in the event, as the Karori Club had already won the trophy twice, and another win would make it their absolute property. The competition is one that represents, as far as possible, absolute service conditions. Each team consists of twelve men and a commander.' These are formed up \ at about 800 yards, from the targets, f which consists of a small group of figures. Advances are made at irregular intervals between 800 and 500 yards, and at each halt, which is regulated by the umpire, the targets appear for fifteen seconds, each, man firing not more than one shot at each. halt. There are ten intervals. - Svhicli means that each "team fires ten i 1 shot*, fioh hit of one of the figures*. X.rAunt§_ on£_M, The ' Kavor; fea'nv .put up.19..-hit*" or '■' lt%£: ct£t; Opaki team getting 17 hits. This not only gave the match,' but the Cup, to Karori. In this match the Karons proved the value of previous training, as every man in the team had had volunteer training, the average length of service being nine years. The team consists of H. Plimmer, F. J. Wickena, A. Caldwell, H. Marshall, A. T. Fellowes, W. Churnside, H. Bulford, W. E. Aston. H. W. Oroxton, L. Hugo, W. Judd and T. P. EDalpin. In addition to the teams match. there were' extra matches at 900, 1000. 600, 800, and 100 yards. Here the shooting far surpassed anything which has ever been done on any range ia New Zealand. In the morning the 900 and 1000 yards were taken. At 900 yards, C. Speck (Stratford) and J Marenzi (Eketahuna) each pot up) I the possible, and there were seven. 34's, among them being Masefield (Sounds). At 1000 yards Henry (Christchurch) headed the list with 33, followed by Hyde (Opaki), Barkle (Suburbs), and Bolton (Amberley) each 32. There were three 31 r 8 and four 30's at 800 yards.

In the afternoon there were eigbfc possibles—Speck (Stratford), Aston (Karori), Nicholson (Petone), Barkle (Suburbs), Dewar (Ohura), James (Okawa), Hastings (Hauraki), and Letham (Akaroa). L. Loveday, who shot so well at Bisley, got 34, as did - ex-champion R. King. At 600 yards the honours were high for Canterbury, the first five men being from that province. These were: Walker and Guiney (Christchurch), and Smith (G'eraldine), who each got possibles ; Wilson (Christchurcli), and Bryden (Kaiapoi), 34. Henderson (Sounds'!, a member of the last Bisley ' team, also got 34. In the 1000 yards match, Dickson ' (Milton) put up 34, and secured first place.; C. J. Hollard also, put up 34, but lost in the count. Lane (Akarana), Mawley (Opaki), and Barkle (Suburbs) each scored 33.- ' ' ■ ' During the afternoon the President : of the Karori Olub received a congratulatory telegram on the Club's win from Mr Whitney," of the Colonial /Aniitiunition Company.; ~ , At the close of the day there .were " 329 entries, which may "be added to before shooting commences in the morning. •

Service matches will be taken tomorrow.