RIFLE ASSOCIATION

Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 838, 12 March 1903, Page 3

RIFLE ASSOCIATION

EXCITING FIRING FOR CHAM PIONSHIP.

By Telegraph—Press Association. Trentham Rifle Range, last night,

Volley Firing, open to volunteers only, 600 and 700 yards, 7 volleys: No. 1, Otago District, 208 points, £V2 ; No. 2, Otago District, 194, £lO ; Nelson District 102; Canterbury South 188, Wellington District, Ist Wellington Rifle Battalion, 178, each £5. Tbo other prize lists in the service matches are not yet out. The Governor, Admiral, General Babing-

ton, Hons. Hall Jones, Duncan utid Carroll wore present for the championship, which opened at three o’clock. The shooting was generally poor. Tbo weather turned out unfavorable. Showers fell at

I the commencement, and thero wus a haze ovor the targets at the earlier stage. Nono lof the loading shots got fair hits. Sandford opened without anything, Hydo and King with a magpie, and A. Ballinger an I outer. Soon after the young Christohurcher completely burst, and it was evident that the question of the belt remained between Hyde, of Opaki, and his brother club-mate, King. YVith half a dozon shots gone, King, who held 5 points lead from the champion, had further increased his advantage by points, but the next four shots thoy wore all together again. So far as the shooting at this range was concerned, at this time the whole interest centred in the two Opaki men, and there wore many who thought Hyde was about j to win the belt outright, but King, who had missed the fourteenth shot, had only to hit to win the championship, and got a magpio on the last shot, thus preventing the belt going out of the Association. The result was received with cheers by a large number of colleagues and spectators. Shanks, of Gore, mado the fair scoro of 50, which left him one point behind the second man. Bandsman Howe, of Wellington, wins the Rifle Challenge Cup, as head scorer in this match with 54. The following is tbe prize-list for the King’s prize, open to the fifty highest aggregates in the previous five matches, 700 yards 15 shots :—R. J. King, Opaki Rifle Club, champion belt, gold medal, presented by Defence Minister, and £OO, 459 ; G. Hyde, Opaki, silver star and £25, 457; Shanks, silver star and £2O, 456 ; Winstead, silver star and £22, 453; Sandford, 453; A. McKenzie, 452; Turnbull, 452; Lieut. Okov, 449; Lester, 447; A. Ballinger, 447; Irvine, Heatley and Ching, 445, each T 5.

PRIZES FOR SHOOTING,

Per Press Association, Wellington, last night,

The prizes won at Trentham were handed over to the winners at the Garrison Rifle Battalion’s Bazaar in the Central Drill-shed to-night, by Mrs HallJones, wife of the Minister for Public Works. There was a largo attendance of the public, who gave King a great ovation when he received the Belt. Hyde also was warmly applaudod. Mr Hall-Jones made a abort speech, in which he congratulated the winners.