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The Spike: or, Victoria University College Review, June 1923
Rifle Club
Rifle Club
A Rifle Club has been started at Victoria College with the object of "carrying out in co-operation with the Tournament Delegates for the year, all arrangements for the firing of the Haslam Shield Competition, and to encourage shooting generally. "Membership of the club is open to all past and present students of Victoria College. At a meeting held towards the end of the first term the following committee was elected for the ensuing year:—
President, Mr. W. J. H. Haase; Deputy-President, Mr. E. W. Mills; Hon. Secretary-Treasurer, Mr. J. S. Yeatea; Committee, Messrs. A. W. Free and R. R. T. Young.
The club is fortunate in having such an experienced shot as Mr. Haase for its president. Mr. Haase is a champion miniature rifle shot, and is the winner of many matches at Trentham and elsewhere in New Zealand. He was one of the first members of the Suburbs Rifle Club, and his enthusiasm and experience in all matters relating to shooting, should do much to encourage and improve the standard of shooting at V.U.C.
The Club is greatly indebted to Mr. McCormick, senior Tournament Delegate for the year, for the interest he has taken in its formation and also for drawing up its constitution.
| 1915—Auckland | University | College. |
| 1919—Otago | University | College |
| 1920—Canterbury | University | College |
| 1921—Canterbury | University | College |
| 1922—Canterbury | University | College |
Up till now Victoria has had no part in the competition, but from now on it intends to take a hand in the proceedings. Teams consist of eight men from each University, and after 1923 the match has to be shot off before Easter of each year.
The match was this year shot off at short notice and several of last year's best shots were not available—among these R. C. Miles and R. C.
page 75
Greiner. After a preliminary practice the following team was chosen to represent V.U.C.:—C. G. S. Ellis, A. W. Free, F. H. Jennings, E. W. Mills, M. N. Rogers, A. W. White, J. B. Yaldwyn, R. R. T. Young.
- A—Application at 200 yards.
- B—Snap-shooting at 200 yards.
- C—Rapid at 300 yards.
- D—Application at 500 yards.
In practice A the shooting was good, particularly that of Yaldwyn, Rogers and Ellis, who each scored 19 out of a possible 20. In practice B Jennings and Rogers did best with 25 out of a possible 28. In practice C, rapid at 300, the shooting was not so good—Young, with 31, and Mills, with 27, being the only ones to score above 25 out of a possible 40. At the longest range, 500 yards, Jennings and Yaldwyn did best with 16 out of 20. The following are the individual scores:—
(R—Reserve; T—Territorial)
| Practice A | Practice B | Practice C | Practice D | Tl | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| J. B. Yaldwyn (R) | 19 | 24 | 25 | 16 | 84 |
| F. H. Jennings (R) | 17 | 25 | 22 | 16 | 80 |
| R. R. T. Young, Lieut. S.C | 15 | 19 | 31 | 15 | 80 |
| M. N. Rogers (R.) | 19 | 25 | 25 | 9 | 78 |
| A. W. White (T) | 18 | 24 | 23 | 12 | 77 |
| E. W. Mills (T) | 15 | 22 | 27 | 5 | 69 |
| A. W. Free (R) | 13 | 21 | 19 | 14 | 67 |
| C. G. S. Ellis (R) | 19 | 21 | 14 | 9 | 63 |
| 598 |
The thanks of the Club are due to Lieut. Thompson, of the N.Z.P.S., for acting as range officer.
At the time of going to press the scores obtained by the other Universities are not to hand.
The next annual general meeting of the V.U.C. Rifle Club will be held early in 'September and it is hoped that all those interested in shooting at 'Varsity will join up, in order that next year we may put in the best possible team and bring the shield to V.U.C.
[Since the time of writing the above, the scores of the other Universities have come to hand, viz.: Otago 569, Canterbury 537. So that if the Tournament Delegates approve of the conditions under which the match was fired, the Haslam Shield for 1923 comes to Victoria College.]