SHOOTING NEWS

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Volume 58, Issue 216, 12 October 1929, Page 13

SHOOTING NEWS

OPENING OF, THE RIFLE SEASON NAPIER DEFENCE CEUB

(Notes by Rick,")

Last Saturday afternoon 18 members of the Napier Defence Club lired the first round for the Neilson medal. Mr IV. Neilson a vice-president of the club kas donated a splendid gold medal to the club eacli year for many years past, and the club is fortunate in having such a generous and entkusiastic member on tlieir roll. That niembers appreciate it is shoivn by the large number that attended the first medal shoot. Rifleman Hardy-Gibson won the first leg of the trophy. He shot exceedingly ivell, and it would appear that he got on the blind side of the handicapper, as he was allotted a 10-point hreak on the scratch men at each i;ange. -He, howeyer, did not require more than five points all told to bring 'him up to the standard, and it certainly improving at a gallop. Rifleman F. H. James put on his usual good score. "Joey'J as he is affectio-nately styled by all wha know him, will again be a power to reckon ■witli at the nex£ nationa] meeting, and shonld be agfcin "knocking" when the final shots are fired. Staff-Ser-.geant-Maior Keamev again shot well. Rifleman L. Profitt slxot well, but had the misfortune to draw a had marble at the 600 yards and had to flnish in the dark. This was particularly disappointing to a number of memhers who came hack with a good score from the previous ranges and drew last 'down at the 600. Deputy-President Nicliolson was also one of the _ nnfortunate ones who was down shooting in the dark and had to retire. It would appear that the cluh officinls will have to take action to prevent a. reeurrence of this. It would 'apijear that the delay was due to the markers. Riflemen E. Storkey and S. H. Stacpoole, two old members of the club, were again in the firing line and shot particularly well. It was pleasing to see these old memhers again turning out with the club. Rifleman Willis was one of the unlurky ones caugbt in the dark. This lad is the making of a good shot, and would he well advised to practice. Too many young shots get disheartened at a had score now and then, and perhaps fail to tuni up for a couple of Saturdays and thereby los© the cliance of practice which improves even the best of marksmen. The Territorial and Cadet memhers of the cluh were unavoidably ahsent from Saturday's shoot, as the area rifle meeting wvas in progress. Jlany of them shot tlieir way into the prize list. President O. E. IManev, another oire to suffer througli having to shoot in the dark, again shot well, and was getting bulls and inners wrhen the owls were hooting. He is a live wire as a member of the club, an enthusiastic shot, and an unparalleled success as president.

Corporal H. Pedersen, a member of the "A" Coy., Hawke's Bay Regimental, and an honorary member of the club, has been shooting well enough to suggest that he ivill not be long m breaking his tyro. He is veiy lceen, and should not let an occasional bad score upset him. Even thc best of them get a "tlvud" at times. The club inembership has evidently inereased this season, and it is to be hoped that other old members will follow in tlie wake of Rifleman Storkey and Stacpoole, and tuni out "with bells on" on Saturday next. "Rick" can na^me quite a number oi "old and good" shots who have not been taking an active part in the cluh for the past year or so, and one looks through the weekly report in vain for their names. Oome on, no-w, "old liands," and bring the old gun out of the bag. Rifleman R. Mundy, who re-bedded his rifle during the off season, had some difficulty in finding the altered elevation, but once "on" he went well. This member is one of the steadiest shots in the cluh, and has as eye like a hawk. Dick doesn't want a scope, he can see the spotter with the naked eye at 600 yards. The club are to be congratulated on the large number that turned out last Saturday. It is hoped that the numbers will increase as the season advances, and that more than one team will represent it at the rifle meetings throughout the Dominion this season. (Notes by "Outer.") At the opening of tlie Taradale rifle range 011 Saturday last there was a very good attendance of members, old and new. The scratch men, M. R. Jarvis, S. Pedersen and J. Jarvis all sliot well, while the new members, some of ■ them very young shqts, put up very good' performances. W. Brown is on the improve and will he hard to heat this season. K. IMaidens is keeping up to form. E. Ellis, who was shooting under service conditions, put up a creditable performance. •McDonald, Wise, Whitehead and Hindman are new members showing considerable promise, and only need practice to become proficient shots. Kreig is another member who is showing considerable improvement, A pleasing feature of the shoot was the fine spirit shown by the elder men> bers in coaching the beginners, more especiallv Mr J. Jarvis, who gave his assistnnce unsparingly. The Taradale "Defence Rifle Cluh 'has passed through some very lean times during the last few years, hut the few who have kept the cluh together have every reason to feel gratified at its present prospects, for everything points to a successful future for the club, which is an asset to Taradale and district.