THE RIFLE BELT

Wairarapa Age, 18 March 1927, Page 5

THE RIFLE BELT

SHOOTING AT TRENTHAM. N.R.A. MEETING OPENS. SERVICE MATCH RESULTS. WELLINGTON, Alarch 17. The 1927 mooting of the National Rifle Association opened at Trentham this morning when the service matches were fired. More than 350 riflemen arc competing, and among those in search of the historic Ballinger belt, on which their names are already inscribed, are Caldwell (Karori) last year’s winner, who secured a memorable shoot off with Simmonds (Wanganui), who won it in the previous year, W. Duncan (Westport) who won as far back as 1909; D. Roots (Patea), who was successful in 1911, and again in 1922; F. H. .lames (Okawa), W. N. Masefield (Blenheim) 11. J. King (Opaki), H. V. Croxton (Karon), E. E. Vennell (Te Wharau), H. Simmonds (Wanganui), and D. J. Anderson (Kaituna).

The majority of those mon took advantage of the Wairarapa meeting at I’apawai at the beginning of the week, and most of them were successful in getting into tho final forty. A notable entry is a team of five men from H.M.S. Renown, including Petty Officer Griffiths, who represented the Royal Navy anrt a,so a sor S e ant from the xL.M.o. Diomede.

The meeting opened with rapid shooting which resulted in an easy victory for P. J. Pring (Auckland) with a score of 45 out of a possible 50. R. Donald (Featherston) with 38, and T. Orr (Greytown) with 36, each took £l, being placed seventh and twelfth respectively. Further down the prize list came C. J. Nix (Featherston), 33. 10/and A. Napier (Alfredton), 33, 10s. ’ In the snap-shooting match, D. J. Cornelius, of H.M.S. Renown, easilv scored first money with 86, his nearest opponent being D. F. Keir (Ashburton) With 80. J. C. Feast (Greytown), 65, and C. J. Nix (Featherston), 59, both reached tho £1 prizes, while W Press (Carterton), 59, F. Hood (Featherston) 56, H King (Opaki), 56, T. Orr (Greytown) 55, and President R. J. King (Opaki), 51, won prizes in the 10s list. In the third service match at the moving target, Flight-Captain G. Hood (Opaki) secured third prize with 22 of a possible 30. H. W. Feast (Greytown) was sixth with 21, while E. Vennell (Te Wharau), 19, L. G. Benton (Featherston), 18, and K. Ingley (Opaki), 15, also counted in for smaller prizes. The champion teams match in the service series was won by Wellington suburbs No. 1 with a score of 602. Ashburton word* second with 581 and Karori No. 2 were third with 573. Wanganui, Pctone and H.M.S. Renown came next.

The Islington Cup for the best team aggregate in Match No. 3 (moving target) was Ivon by Karori No. 1 with a score of 145. Petone A were runnersup with 140, and Napier No. 1 thirl with 135.

The service championship (individual aggregate in matches J to 4) £lO the Ross Carbine belt, the Simmonds cup .and gold medal was won by F. Jeune (Gisborne) with 176. W. N. Masefield (Blenheim) was second with 163, and pi.- ’ Cornelius (Renown) third with

OPENING BELT MATCH. Seven shots at 300, 500 and 600 yards £s—B. J. King (Opaki) r>g £4—H. Simmonds Wanganui) ” fls £3 H. Mclntosh (Blenheim) .... 98 • Tn ' lkin3 (Christchurch) 97; W. N. Masefield (Blenheim), 97- F Hood (Featherston), 97; J. Te Whaiti (Tuhirangi), 97. B GRADE. T. Weston (Alfredton) .... 94 TYROS. B. Donald (Featherston), 95; E. O Neale (Featherston), 93- p. Benton (Featherston) 90.—(P.A.) '