Rifle Club

The Rifle Club Fired on the Trentham Range on fifteen occasions during the 1927-28 season just closed, and on other occasions, when the club did not have targets of its own, members shot with other clubs. The attendances were larger than in the previous season, but many more members are yet required in order to give the committee a wide range from which to choose a team, and in order to give the members of the team itself that competition, without which they are not called upon to produce their best. Keen competition for places in the team means keenness at practices with an inevitable improvement in the standard shown by the team in matches. Accordingly, the committee would like to hear of any students who intend taking up this sport. Practices will commence again about the end of September, and will be held every Saturday throughout the season.

The club competed in three matches during the season. A new trophy, called the Albert Trophy, has been presented in Sydney for competition among the Universities of New Zealand and Australia. V.U.C fired in the first match for this trophy on the 8th October last, and scored 1391 out of a possible of 1680, securing fifth place. A.U.C. won the trophy, scoring 1486 points. We offer A.U.C. our heartiest congratulations on their good shooting and meritorious win.

On 26th November, V.U.C. fired in the British Imperial Universities match. We were not successful in winning, but maintained the College's high reputation by securing fourth place for the Empire. Our score was 1538 out of 2000, Sydney winning with a score of 1685. H. F. bollard secured fourth highest score for the Empire with a score of 216 out of 250.

The team fired in the Haslam Shield Competition in connection with the Easter Tournament on the 31st March. Owing to the fact that the military authorities took the range which had been "flagged" for the team, the match had to be fired without any indications for windage, which proved a severe handicap, page 60 especially at the long range. Accordingly the results were not so good as in previous years.

The club did not fire this year in the Association's Union Shield competitions, as these were being fired on the only day available for practice for the Haslam Shield.

A handicap match for a trophy was fired on the 4th February, and was won by C. Walpole.

The club has been unfortunate during the season in losing two of its best shots—W. J, H. Haase, president for the last two or three years, and G. E. Parker, the 1927 Army Champion, who is now residing in New Plymouth.

The thanks of the club are due to the Students' Association for paying the cost of hanging a photograph of the team which won the Imperial Challenge Trophy in 1925.