RIFLE SHOOTING

Wairarapa Times-Age, 17 March 1942, Page 3

RIFLE SHOOTING

OPAKI CLUB MEETING AT FAIRVIEW RANGE. C. M. PICKERING CHAMPION. In conjunction with the rifle platoon of the Masterton Home Guard, the Masterton Opaki Rifle Club held their championship shoot meeting on the Fairview range during the weekend. With only a limited amount of ammunition which had been saved, sixteen members participated in the championship and for the second year in succession Rifleman C. M. Pickering shot brilliantly to win the aggregate from Rifleman C. A. Whiteman, with R. A. Wilton and J. Bouzaid equal third. Rifleman C. A. Whiteman and R. Wilton tied for the handicap aggregate, the trophy eventually going to R. A. Wilton. Tying with President H. H. Mawley in the short range aggregate with 102, C. M. Pickering won the shoot off and also won the long range aggregate. A feature of the day was the splendid shooting of all the members who had not fired out of their rifles on the range for twelve months and who had been instructing Home Guardsmen in marksmanship. The rifle platoon members shot excellently under service conditions over ranges 200, 300, 500yds, H. H. Ward winning from J. Sutherland and W. Reid, who tied for second place. A lesson in grim determination and will power was given when Deputy President R. J. King, who was crippled in an accident last year and is 71 years of age. was aided on to the firing mark and showed his ability by shooting as well as shooters many years younger. His appearance was warmly applauded by all members. At the conclusion of the meeting President H. H. Mawley congratulated the winners on their excellent shooting and expressed the hope that they would have the opportunity of again competing on the range at some future date. The following were the scores registered: —

Masterton-Opaki Rifle Club championship (7 shots at 200yds, 500yds, 600 yds, 800yds and 900yds).—C. M. Pickering 35, 32, 35, 35, 33, 170; C. A. Whiteman 34, 32, 34, 33, 33. 166; R. A. Wilton 32, 34, 34, 34, 31, 165; J. Bouzaid 33, 34, 34, 34, 30, 165; V. E. Donald 32. 34. 33, 32, 33, 164; H. H. Mawley 35, 32, 35, 31, 31, 164; D. P. Donald 34, 34. 30, 32, 33, 163; R. V. Mason 33, 32, 30, 33. 34, 162; I. Sutherland 34, 33. 32, 32. 31. 162; K. Lambert 33, 30, 32, 33, 29, 157; T. Oakly 32. 33. 31, 33, 27, 156; G. W. Vennell 34, 27, 31, 33. 28. 153; J. McKenzie 33, 33, 31, 33, 26, 152; R. J. King 33, 32, 28, 27 (retired), 120; D. S. McKenzie 32, 32, 27, 26 (retired), 117; W. Doman 33, 32, 32 (retired), 97. Home Guard Rifle Platoon (5 shots at 200yds, 300yds and 500yds).—H. Ward 25, 22, 21, 68; J. Sutherland 21. 20, 21, 62; W. Reid 25, 23, 14, 62; R. McEwen 23, 17, 21, 61; D. L. Ward 20, 21, 15, 56; J. Grant 22, 17, 13, 52; E. Messenger 22. 11, 17, 50; W. Nicholls 24. 19, 7, 50; W. Malmo 3, 24, 22, 49; L. Curtis 16, 15. 16 47; R. Dale 19, 20, 5, 44; M. C. Finlayson 15, 12, 9, 36; E. J. Helfer 11, 5, 9, 25; J. Whall 5,2, 7, 14.