Mike Collings makes history with back-to-back Ballinger Belt wins

 

New Zealand’s oldest sporting trophy – the Ballinger Belt – has been successfully defended for the first time in history.

Dating all the way back to 1873, no shooter had been able to come up trumps two competitions in a row, but some 149 years later, Mike Collings has hit new ground.

The Te Puke Club member triumphed in Saturday afternoon’s final, beating Malcolm Dodson – the 2016 champion, from the Kaituna/Blenheim Club – by five points in typically tricky conditions at Trentham’s Seddon Range, to follow up last year’s triumph, and make it three Queens No 1 badges in total, having also won in 1998.

Collings in fact has a deep family history in the event. His wife, Diane, is also a three-time former winner (2014, 1987 and 1981), his father, Dennis took it out in 1977, while brother, Ross, got his hands on it in 1993.

Like last year, no overseas competitors took part due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but there was still a healthy field of 88 which lined up from Wednesday, in an event which sees competitors shoot from 300, 500, 800, 900 and 1000 yards range.

The top 12 advanced to the final – which was 15 shots from 900 yards – with scores then added onto totals. Collings did well from the outset, then scored 70.6 out of 75.15 in the final.

He then got to sit back and enjoy the time-honoured tradition where the winner is carried from the shooting range in a ceremonial chair by opponents.