GUN CHAMPIONSHIPS.

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20280, 24 August 1937, Page 11

GUN CHAMPIONSHIPS.

SHOOT AT MORRINSVILLE. NORTH IBLAND TOURNEY. SPARROW EVENT COMMENCED. (Times Representative.) MORRINSVILLE, Monday. With over thirty marksmen from all parts of the North Island participating, the North Island Gun Club championship tournament was opened on the Morrinsville Gun Club's new ground this morning. Fine weather prevailed, but a fairly high wind made conditions difficult.

Shooters were present from Hawke's Bay, Taihape, Palmerston North, Wanganui, Gisborne, Tolcomaru Bay, Otorohanga, Rotorua, Huntly, National Park, Tauranga, Whangarei, Matamata and Hamilton, and a fine standard of -shooting was witnessed in the opening events. Prominent among the shooters were Messrs E. Groome (Hawke’s Bay), the New Zealand clay bird champion, J. B. Thomasen (Taihape), the New Zealand pigeon ohampion, and D. P. North (Whangarei), the New Zealand sparrow champion. The chief event on to-day’s programme was the North Island sparrow championship, of 17 birds at a 21yard rise, which drew an entry of 26 marksmen. Although the light was good, a strong north-easterly wind made the birds hard to hit, and second barrels had to be brought Into play several times. However, the shooting was of a high standard and few birds were lost In the opening rounds. Several sweepstakes were held in the latter part of the afternoon. To-morrow the attention of the shooters will be occupied with the North Island live pigeon championship, and on Wednesday the £IOO open clay bird handicap will be the main event on the programme. The tournament will conclude on Thursday, when the North Island clay bird championship will be decided. Sweepstakes will also be held on each day of the tourney. OPENING RESULTS. Opening results are as follows: North Island Sparrow Championship, of 17 birds from 21 yards.—M. Pratt (Otorohanga) and R- Symons (Taihape), each shot 16 birds and Pratt won on the shoot-off. 11. Clinch (National Park), J. Ormond (Gisborne) and J. Malcolm (Huntly) were equal for third place with 15 'birds each. They divided the third and fourth money. Sparrow Sweepstake, of four birds. —E. Groom (Hawke’s Bay), R. E. Cuthbertson (Wanganui), F. L. Joblon (Morere), J. Dobson (Hamilton), M. Pratt (Otorohanga), R, Crosble (Cambridge), J. Ormand (Rotorua), W. Oates (Tokomaru Bay) and J. Dunoan (Taihape), all shot the possible and divided.