TOURNEY CONCLUDES.

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20283, 27 August 1937, Page 11

TOURNEY CONCLUDES.

SHOOTING CHAMPIONSHIPS OLAY TITLE TO E. GROOME FINE EXHIBITION WITNESSED (Times Representative.) MOBRI-NSVILLE, Thursday. Fine weather favoured the continuation of the North Island shooting championship tourney at the Morrinsville Gun Club’s ground to-day, when a large number of marksmen assembled for the North Island Clay Bird Championship, the concluding event. With no wind to mar the flight of the clays, the birds sailed very evenly from the trap and were very fast. Mr. W. Woolven, of Hamilton, the official referee of the New Zealand Gun Club had control of the. shooting during the four days of the tournament. The opening event on to-day’s programme, a £SO handicap of 2*l birds, drew the fine entry of 47 shooters and competition was very keen. By the time the sixth bird was reached there were still 21 competitors all on, and by the 10th, 13 shooters remained without the loss of a bird. B. Harris Taumarunui), R. Symons (Taihape) and W. J. Brinkworth (Hamilton) showed fine form In the opening rounds and by the time the 10th bird was reached they were the only contestants who had not brought their second barrels into play. Although the clays were not as uncertain of flight as on the previous day, their speed called for quick marksmanship and these three shooters *ere on their birds evefy time. Ten contestants still had all their birds by the time a dozen had gone but with only three to go M. Pratt (Otorohanga), W. Oates (Tokomaru Bay), H. Belk (Taihape). C. P. Webber (Morrinsville), R. Symons (Tailiape), W. O’Kane (Hamilton) and R. Harris (Taumarunui) were the only ones left without the loss of a clay. Belk missed a bird in the last three and the remainder broke the possible. Perhaps the best perfornvmces in the match were those of Symons and Harris, each shooter using his second barrel only once. 21 Bird Championship A good muster of competitors, numbering about 50, also came forward for the championship match of 21 birds, which was fired off a 21vd. rise. ■Here again the standard was particularly high and by the time six birds had gone 12 shooters still had the possible io their credit. At the ninth K. Groome (Hawke’s Bay), T. Duncan <lluntervllle), D. P. North (Whangarei), H. Clinch (Huntly), C. P. Webber (Morrinsville), and F. Joblin (Morere) were all on, and all but Clinch carried on to the 15th bird. With 18 birds gone Groome, North and Joblin still had their full quota and carried on to break the possible. The best performance of the match was that of Groome, who broke all his birds with first barrel shots, while North used his second barrel once, and Joblin twice. In the shoot-off for the title North was eliminated at the fifth' bird and Joblin at the eighth, the championship going to Groome, who broke eight birds, again with the first barrel. Groome js also the New Zealand claybird champion. The results of the day’s shooting were as follows : £SO handicap shoot of 21 birds: M. Pralt (Otorohanga), 19yds.; W. Oates (Tokomaru Bay), 14yds.; C. P Webber (Morrinsville), 14yds.; R. Symons (Taihape). 12yds.: W. O’Kane (Hamilton), 12yds.; R. Harris (Taumarunui), 12yds., broke the possible and divided. North Island Clay Bird Championship of 21 Birds: E. Groome (Hawke's Bay), D. P. North (Whangarei) and F. Joblin (Morere), each broke the possible and divided first, second and third money. Tlie title went to Groome on a shoot-off. Breaking 20 birds each. P. Wells (Cambridge). T. Duncan (Hunterville), G. Bretherton (Ohalcune), n. Maher (Ohingaiti), G. Glennie (Gisborne) and C. P. Webber (Morrinsville) divided fourth money. Double-rise of 10 birds: F. Joblin. 16yds., broke the possible. M. Pratt, 16yds. and W. Oates. 16yds. each broke nine birds and divided second and third money. RESULTS AT OTOROHANGA (Special to Times) OTOROHANGA, Thursday. A high standard or shooting was evident at the Otorohanga Gun Club’s shoot on the Island Reserve. The principal results were:—Six Bird sweep (No. 1). Mr Holmes’ Trophy, out or 12 entries the following shpt the possible: —Murray Pratt. R. Cater. S. Sutton. \V. Elliott. T. McCteady ami J. Wlske. llie trophy was drawn Mr, Carter being the winner. The cup drew 11 entries and the following lied:—F. Hyde. J. Wlske, R. Carter, T. McCready and S. Sutton. Hyde won the shoot-off on the 21st bird, while Murray Pratt annexed the sweep with the possible of 12 birds, off 19 yards. In the No. 2 six bird sweep t 1 shooters. f. Hyde, T. McCready. \V. Walters and S. Sutton shot the possible. In a six-bird sweep S. Sutton. T. McCreadv. G. Garven and R. Carter shot the possible. Shooting from 19 yards, M. Pratt broke 21 birds In succession and off the 18 yards mark T. McCready equalled the