WANGANUI RIFLE ASSOCIATION.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume L, Issue 12405, 29 December 1909, Page 5

WANGANUI RIFLE ASSOCIATION.

NORTH ISLAND CHAMPIONSHIP

MEETING

The \\ angajiui Rifle Association's meeting was continued yesterday under oondHtions; very different from those ootaining the first day. A very reavy wind blew across the range from morning till night and rendered good shooting very difficult. This may be gathered irom the fact that when firing at the SOO yards range 38 degrees windage had to be allowed. It was not to be wondered at that many young shots cracked up entirely. At the long range cne rifleman, benefiting by the experience of a predecessor, fired to the right of the bull on the target to the right of that allotted to him. That his judgment was not at fault may be guaged from his score, which was as, follows : 5, o, 5, 4, 5, 3. 3, Another rifleman, who hud every prospect of being among the first twenty, put up a unique score, itor which however he could not claim the consolation derived by so many of his companions. After firing at (300 yards, where he put up a good score, he went back to the 800 yards. Here seven shots in succession missed the target and then he discovered that the wind was not altogether to blame, he having omitted to alter the elevation of the rifle.

The chief match of the day was, of course, the Grand Aggregate, though it was robbed of speculative interest by Rifleman R. J. King:, of the redoubtable Opakis, rattling on the fine score of 46 which, added to his previous aggregate of 2G7 placed him beyond all doubt as the winner, especially as Lieut. Mclntcsh, who started witli 268, missed his first shot. King's score was as follows: 3, 4, 5, 5. 4, 5, 5, 5, 5. Mclntosh, after missing his first shot, put on two bulls, then came a four, then another bull, then two 3's; then, after missing the target altogether, he finished with two bulls. Lieut. Marrett, who started frith 259, made the fine score of 45 and ran into second place. His shots were as follows: 5, 4, 3, 5, 5, 4, 5. 5, 5, 4. Rifleman C. H. Speck was the last man to.fire, and, when he had three shots to go, had, a chance for second or third place, but had to be content with fourth position. His shots were as follows: 4, 5 o. 3 5, 5, 5, 4, 4, 3 (43). Sergeant Gebbie also put up the good score of 43, and ran into fifth place. Considerable interest was taken in the shooting of Sergeant James, ■of Napier, who, it will be remembered, won the aggregate match at Melbourne. He started off with three - bulls", then came a'four, then, followed three bulls, then a three, then a bull. The nine shots had been rattled off very quickly, but the rifleman was more deliberate over his last shot. When at last he did fire those gathered round the mound were very much surprised to see a miss registered. The marker's verdict was challenged, but without effect, and Sergeant James was the recipent of general sympathy. His score of 42, added to the previous of" 255, brought him up to ; 207.' Lieut.V Butler, put on 40, Rifleman Winslxde 42, Corporal Kells 39. being placed seventh, eighth, and ninth respectively. Corpl. . Allen (Wanganui Guards) and Rifleman Harris (Opaki) divided the last ten shillings between them> Following are details of the shooting :— ...--.

Wellington Match, 600 and 800' yards. Seven shots at each .range. Forty prizes, valued at £30.

'• GRAND AGGREGATE. Lineman King, Opaki, £3, Champion Belt and Star 313; Lieut. Marrett, Taranaki Rifles £2 304 Rifleman Mclntosh, Opaki R.C, ~-- £1 303 Rifleman C. H. Speck, Stratford R.C, £1 goo, Sergt. Gebbie, Dannevirke R. lbs 297 bergt. James, Napier Guards' 10s 297 Lieut. Butler, Hutt Valley Rifles 10s .- 297 Rifleman Winslade, Opaki, i6s .. 296* Corp. Kells, Palmerston R., 10s 296Corpl. Allen, Wanganui Guards, ps ' 293: Rifleman Henry, Opaki, 5s 293-

The remainder of the competitors finished as follows:

Rifleman Balfour, Greenmeadows R.G 291 Rifleman Guy, Kaponga R.C ..'.." 291 Pte. Marrett, Stratford R.C 291 Lieut. Neilson, Dannevirke Rifles 28^ Pte. Farley, Victoria. Rifles 288 Pte. Jaokson, City Rifles 287 Sergt. Baker, City Rifles 285 Pte. Eyes, Danr.evirke Rifles 283 Bugler Soler, Wanganui Rifles .. 279s-

LAST TRY.

Pte. Smithies, Wanganui R., £2.. 34 Rifleman McCalmont, Opaki R C £1 10s .../ '.' 34 Pte. Cannon, Wanganui H.R., £1 33 Rifleman Jarvis, Taradale R.C., 15s 32Rifleman Sheppard, Rahotu R.C., 10s 32-Col.-Sergt. Harrison, Wanganui R., IPs 32" Rifleman Cameron, Ooaki R.C.. 10s 32" Serat Baker, Wellington City Rifles. 10s J 32" Capt. Welch, Opaki R.C., 10s 31 Rifleman Rivers, Taradale R.C., lCs 3r Rifleman Hyde, Opaki R.C., 10s .. 31 Pte. O'Neill, Palmerston N. Guards 10s .- ' 31 Pte. Quartermaiij Wanpanui Rifles, l^s ......../ -■ ....; 31

r. 600. 800 -••';.■•'■• yds. yds. Tl. Rifleman . R. J. King, Opaki R.C., £4 .......".. 34 34 63 Rifleman Henry . Opaki R.C., £4 ....:..;...;,.. 33 33 06 Lieut. .Butler, Hutt V.R., ,£2f jtii. ;....;;„■;....:.. 30 35 65 Rifliiman McIntosliV Opaki, £1 10s :... 31 34 65 Private Farley, Victoria Rifles, £1 10s . < .... 32 33 65 The following take £1 each— Sergt. James, Napier Guards 32 33 65 Sergt. Rashleigh, Eketahuna R 31 33 64 Rifleman Monk, Ngatiawa 32 32 64 Lieut. Marrett, Taranaki Rifles 32 31 63 Capt. Scott, Wanganui Rifles 32 31 63 Rifleman Stubbings, Ngatiawa 32 31 63 Lieut. Neilson. Dannevirko Rifles ....'. 31 31 62 The following take 10s— Rifleman W. J. Specie, Stratford 29 33 62 Sergt. Head, Napier Guards 27 34 61 Corpl. Allan, Wanganui Guards 28 33 61 Rifleman Jackson 29 32 61 Rifleman J. Richards, Hautere R.C 29 32 61 Rifleman W. Banks, Kimbolton R.G. 29 32 61 Corpl. Armitage, Taranaki Rifles 29 32 61 Lieut. Hollard, Active List 30 31 61 Corpl. Bakor, Wellington City Rifles 30 31 61 Pte. G. Eyles Dannevirke R. ./. 32 29 61 Corpl. Kells, Palmerston . ■ R :... . 32 29 61 Rifleman McMurray. Taradale R.C 31 29 60 Capt. Welsh, _Opaki R.C. 30. 30 60 Col .-Sergt. J. Harrison .. 31 29 60 Rifleman Grant Taradale R.C 32 28 60 A. Balfour, Greenmeadows R . 32 28 60 Rifleman Guy, Kaponga v R.C. :. 32 28 60 The following take 5s— Rifleman Thorpe, Stratford R.C : 33 27 60 Pte. Huwyler, Wanqanui Guards .' • 35 25 60 Pte. A. Diehl, Dannevirke R 26 33 59 Rifleman Hyde, Opaki RC. ' • 29 30 59 Corpl. Griffiths, Wanga-mi-. 30 29 59 Sorgt. Gibbie, Dannevirke R^ 29 30 59 Pte. H. xfnnt, Zealandia Rifles .... 31 28 59 Riflemnn Stackhous-. 24 34 58 Cnnt. Humphreys. Linton R.C ' 24 34 58 Pi-p. Carnon, Wanqanui H.R ...~ 29 29 58 Rifleman Jarvis, Taradale R.C -. 28 30 53 Vt~. Frederick, Rnyal Riflp-s ! : . . 28 30 58 Pt^. Stratford. Palmeriton North Miflps 31 27 58 R jq ,.,„„., \ -r. S^eck, St. r.t.vi\l R.C 31 27 53 Rifleman Bairstow, Onaki R.C "..,-' 32 26 53 Pte. Brown, Dannevirke Rifles : 28 29 " Pte. Winslade. Opaki R.C. 25 32 57 Serjrt. D.-«V.:e11. Palmorpton N. Guards 29 28 57 St-i-srt.-Marr Thu-ston No. I Resime-'t 30 27 57 Ri Reman Mevcer, Bulls R.C 32 25 57