Shooting

Tournament shooting was remarkable for two features, the spirit of the competition and Auckland's organisation. This year, no drawn out arguments haunted the council and the delegates. The one problem which arose over the question of ammunition was quickly settled to the satisfaction of all parties. This was due in part to the splendid work done by Auckland, and by Ron Sheppard in particular, in arranging the shoot—this drive seemed to be infused into the marker who worked with speed and precision all day—in fact, hats off to Ron and all his assistants! Would that the range and the weather had joined in! Ardmore has its own little quirks such as mud and gullies in between mounds. Picture the half soaked shooter going forlornly down to the butts from the 600yd. mound (which is about 100ft. above the butt level) and trying to relate his target to the nearest number. But even a cloudburst in the middle of one of the shoots could not spoil the show.

That the team succeeded in bringing back the shield was due firstly to the consistently high standard produced by all members, secondly to the splendid performance of Tom Howarth (137), who ran second in aggregate to Roy Larsen, of Auckland, and thirdly to the way in which Henderson managed the team. The match was by no means a walkover. On leaving the 300yd. mound Vic. were only one point ahead of Auckland. At the 600yd. mound the lead was increased by another 10 points.

Thanks should be given to Mike Minogue and Alec Wilson, who were of the greatest assistance on the range. Congratulations also to Tom Howarth and Vance Henderson, both of whom received well deserved N.Z. Blues.

Perhaps "resourceful" is the description which might be applied to the team—traffic inspectors, brewers, maidens in distress, etc., all experienced this quality from time to time. We fail to appreciate the somewhat niggly tactics of the gendarmes up there, however, who would expect people to carry unnecessary bits of paper such as licences and warrants of fitness? Similarly, who could possibly imagine that the locals did not keep their beer in the wash-house?

Apart from such episodes the conduct of the team was in the highest traditions of Shakespeare.

J.G.H.