NEW ZEALAND RIFLE ASSOCIATION.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2449, 13 March 1909, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND RIFLE ASSOCIATION.

THE TRENTHAM MEETING

DUNCAN WIN’S KING’S PRIZE..

(Press Association.)

TRENTHAM, March 12. To-day’s shooting- commenced in a thin drizzle, the first downfall of the meeting, but there was a dead calm, and the light was soft and clear. The match taken was the United Service Match, for volunteers and rifle clubi?, 20 men a-side, 200 , 500, and COO yards, seven shots at each range. This competition was looked upon as the test of supremacy between the clubs and volunteers in marksmanship, and the clubs, through their representatives, carried off the honors of the day. The shooting was even more brilliant than in the teams’ champion match the previous day. ' There . were eight possibles at 200 yards, nine at 500 yards, and four at 600 yards. The match was won by tlite rifle clubs with a margin of 81 points. W. N. Masefield, president of the Sounds Rifle Club, got on 104 out of a possible 105, establishing a record for New Zealand, if not- for any other country. At the first two ranges he registered possibles, and at the final range was credited with an all-but. There were no fewer than three individual totals of 103, five of 102, three of 101, and two of 100 each. The riflemen averaged over 97 points, while the volunteers averaged just under 96. Masefield (Sounds), Henry and King (Otaki), Mellor (Petonc), King (Linwood), and Drummond (Denuiston) put on a possible eacli at two ranges. THE CHAMPION MATCH. The final for the championship belt was fixed to start at. 3 p.m. and shortly before that- hour visitors flocked to the ground. Lord Phinket, Sir Joseph Ward and Miss Eileen Ward, and Dr. Findlay were present, and witnessed the match with keen interest. The weather was all that could be desired. The scoring was very close on the part of the leaders for the first five shots, when they ran —Duncan 474, King, Shaw, and Patrick 467, Guv and McConnell 465. High scoring was the order of the day after this, the great percentage of hits being bulls. With two more shots gone King had pulled up level with Duncan, who made a miss with his sixth shot, while McConnell , Shaw, and Patrick were only two points behind, and Guy four points. Duncan first to finish with 491 points, Patrick and Shaw being next with 490 and 489, McConnell and Guy each finished with 488. With lrs last shot King had to make a bulk-eve to win. Just as lie was going to aim a bulls-eye rang upon his target, evidently put in by another competitor, and lie did not claim that, and with his shot missed the target, which left the victory with Duncan, and put King in sixth place. James (Napier) jvon the cup for the highest score in the King’s match.

The following arc the tabulated results of the KingV Championship : Duncan (Miilerton), £SO, champion belt, medal and gold badge (40) 491 Patrick (Auckland), £25, silver star and badge (39) 490 Shaw (Auckland), silver star and badge (45) 489 Guy (Kapoiiga), £l2 48S McConnell (Canterbury), £5 4SS King (Linwood), £5 487 Loveday (Wellington). £5 454 Soper (Tuaniarina), £5 483 Murphy (Newton Rifles), £5 ... 481 Ching (Waimea Rifles), £3 4SI The remainder take £2 each.