NEW ZEALAND RIFLE ASSOCIATION MEETING.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 2892, 27 January 1891, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND RIFLE ASSOCIATION MEETING.

KRUSE WINS THE CHAMPION BELT AND U.S S. CO.'S CUP.

(BY TELKORAPH.— PRKSS ASSOCIATION). Xapiek, Saturday. Thk first match fired to-day was the Last Try Match, in which all tho competitors who were not in the first 100 aggregate wore allowed to fire. The principal scorers were : — Mr W. Pickett, Tonni Rifles, £12 125... 14 Bueler Risher, Wellington Xavals, £8 -M Capt. Wilrnot, N.Z. Volunteers, 0i ... 13 Sorpt. Maddock, Blenheim Rifies, £5 43 Sergt. Johnston, Wanganui C.K., £o . 12 Seaman Greener, Wanganui Navals, l'l 41 The District Representatives Match, twenty volunteers from each district, seven shots each at 200, 500 and 1)00 yards, was next competed for and was won by tho Otago team, tho following being tho leading scores : — Otago 1001) Wanganui 10'.)3 Auckland 1544 After this came the Companies Match,fiva men each, seven shots at 200, 500, and 000 yards. The A Battery (Auckland) won this with the score of 447, Wanganui Rifles next with 422, and Wellington Guards third with 420. At 0.30 the final stage, ten shots each at 700 yards, for the Union S.S. Company's cup was fired, the cup failing to Kruse (Wanganui) who won aftor a tie of 241 each with Henderson (Auckland) by a point; Webster (Auckland) was third with 240. In tiring off the tie Henderson made nino for his three shots, and Krnso eight. But one of Henderson's shots being fired on the wrong targot was disallowed. Monday. The excitement at the 700 yards range in tho Grand Aggregate Match was intense. Ivruso and Webstor were tiring side by sido, but Webster's prospects were hopeless. Ivruso started off with two bulls-eyes and Webstor followed suit. Then Kruse put on an outer getting two points, and Webster with a magpio went one better. Then Kruse got three inners worth four each and an outer two points. Webster, to the surprise of everybody was on the spot putting in four successive bulls-eyes, making 33 out of a possible 3~i thus picking up six points on Kruse. However, as ho started 10 to the bad he was now ten points behind. Henderson broke up, leaving Webster to fight an almost hopeless contest single-handed. Perry broke up altogether getting only 15. while King's 24 also caused him to fall back. The final range returned Kruse, Wanganni. winner of the Champion belt, 1)38 ; Webster, Auckland, 530: King, Oainarn, 514 ; Perry, Wanganui, 511. During the firing of the last match heavy rain fell and consequently tho number of onlookers was very small. Webstor (Auckland), the .second man, was ten behind Krnse but by steady shooting he reduced the lead to two and by this number Kruse won the belt. Webster finished first and when the timo came for Kruse to fire his last shot he only wanted to hit the target to make a tie but he plumped on a centre and thus won with two points to tho good. Kruse's score was ... 33 3 5 4 3 4 2 3 4—34 Webster's scoro .. 5 3 3 5 4 4 5 5 5 3—12 King (Oamarti), and Perry (Wanganui), maintained their third and fourth places respectively. Corporal A. Billinger(Wellington Guards) and Seaman Stitt (Wellington Navals) each ran up 4(i at the last range, but Stitt made tho best shooting and became the holder of the Rifle Cup for 18!)1-!I3.