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Ballinger Belt

The Ballinger Belt is the oldest sporting trophy competed for in New Zealand. The Belt was presented in 1873 by the Government as a replacement for the first Government Champion Belt won outright when won for the second time in a row in 1872 by Capt. Wales of Otago by competing in the annual shooting competition to find the "NZ Champion Shot". It was won in 1893 by Arthur Ballinger of Wellington who won it twice more, meaning he was entitled to retain it on the third occasion in 1907.

Arthur donated the "Champion Belt" to the NRA and it was renamed the Ballinger Belt, being presented each year to the winner of the National Championships.

The Belt and Arthur Ballinger's telescope

Ballinger Belt

The Ballinger Belt is a world famous trophy in shooting circles and these days is keenly contested by international shooters as well as New Zealand nationals.

The winner is also presented with a badge. 

BALLINGER BELT WINNERS

2024 Michael Collings, Te Puke Rifle Club
2023 John Snowden, Ashburton Rifle Club
2022 Michael Collings, Te Puke Rifle Club
2021 Michael Collings, Te Puke Rifle Club
2020 David Black, Australia
Top NZer Allan White, Malvern Rifle Club (2nd)
2019 Jim Bailey, Australia
Top NZer John Snowden, Ashburton Rifle Club (2nd)
2018 John Snowden, Ashburton Rifle Club
2017 Jim Bailey Australia
Top NZer: BN Carter, Te Puke Rifle Club (3rd)
2016 Malcolm Dodson Kaituna / Blenheim Rifle Club
2015 Ross Geange Otorohanga Rifle Club
2014 Diane Collings, Te Puke Rifle Club
2013 John Snowden, Ashburton Rifle Club
2012 Brian Carter, Te Puke Rifle Club
2011 Richard Rowlands, Malvern Rifle Club
2010 Jonathan Cload (UK)
Top NZer: RM Geange, Otorohanga Rifle Club (2nd)
2009 David Rich (Australia)
Top NZer: MJ Collings, Te Puke Rifle Club (2nd)
2008 Brian Carter, Te Puke Rifle Club
2007 Mark Buchanan (Australia)
Top NZer: WH Tabor, Karori Rifle Club (2nd)
2006 Brian Carter, Te Puke Rifle Club
2005 John Whiteman, Upper Hutt Rifle Club 
2004 Edd Newman, USA
Top NZer: J.R. Whiteman, Upper Hutt Rifle Club (2nd)
2003 Ian Shaw (UK)
Top NZer: R.M. Geange Masterton Rifle Club (4th)
2002 Trevor Oliver, Onslow Rifle Club
2001 Murray Steele, Malvern Rifle Club
2000 John Whiteman, Upper Hutt Rifle Club
1999 Rick Fincham, Upper Hutt Rifle Club
1998 Mike Collings, Te Puke Rifle Club
1997 Ross Geange, Masterton Rifle Club
1996 Graeme Ballinger, Levin Rifle Club
1995 Ross Geange, Hamilton/Whatawhata Rifle Club
1994 A.J. Luckman (UK)
Top NZer: J.R. Whiteman, Upper Hutt Rifle Club (6th)
1993 Ross Collings, Karori Rifle Club
1992 Dr Micheil Sweet (Australia)
Top NZer: Mrs Diane Collings, Te Puke Rifle Club (6th)
1991 G.W. Berman (Australia)
1991 Top NZer: G.R.H. Smith, Malvern Rifle Club (2nd)
1990 A.A. Marshall, Kaituna/Blenheim Rifle Club
1989 K.T. Meade, Petone Rifle Club
1988 J.R. Whiteman, Upper Hutt Rifle Club
1987 Mrs D.R. Collings, Te Puke Rifle Club
1986 M. Buchanan (Australia)
Top NZer: C.H. Burt, Ashhurst Rifle Club (2nd)
 
1985 C.H. Burt, Ashhurst Rifle Club
1984 P.R. Cromwell, Cheltenham Rifle Club
1983 R.R. Chilcott, Clevedon Rifle Club
1982 J. Hastie, Okawa Rifle Club
1981 Miss D.R. Blaymires, Te Puke Rifle Club
1980 W.J. Blay, Kaituna/Blenheim Rifle Club
1979 K. Golder, Australia.
Top NZer: T.N. Sutherland, Okawa Rifle Club (4th)]
1978 R.J. Cammock, Waipukurau Rifle Club
1977 D.W.G. Collings, Karori Rifle Club
1976 G.L. Fuller, Gisborne Rifle Club
1975 V.A. Curtis, Christchurch Rifle Club
1974 W.H. Magnay, Great Britain.
Top NZer: M.C. Cammock, Waipukurau Rifle Club (2nd)
1973 B.P. Price, Upper Hutt Rifle Club
1972 J. Cooper, Australia
Top NZer: J. Hand, Petone Rifle Club (2nd)
1971 G.L. Fuller, Gisborne Rifle Club
1970 M.G. Gordon, Okawa Rifle Club
1969 I.R. Ballinger, Sydenham Rifle Club|
1968 T.R. Hills, Great Britain.
1968 Top NZer: M.H. Judkins, Christchurch Rifle Club (3rd)
1967 D.J. Caughley, Masterton/Opaki Rifle Club
1966 J. Caspers, South Australia.
1966 Top NZer: N.C. Petersen, Levin Rifle Club
1965 V.A. Curtis, Christchurch Rifle Club
1964 J.T. Petersen, Alfredton Rifle Club
1963 K.C. Walshe, Onslow Rifle Club
1962 N.C. Petersen, Levin Rifle Club
1961 F.J. Jeune, Gisborne Rifle Club
1960 R.S. Torrie, Akarana Rifle Club
1959 N.C. Petersen, Levin Rifle Club
1958 H.F. Tattersfield, Karori Rifle Club
1957 H.O. Judkins, Hamilton/Whatawhata Rifle Club
1956 W.J. Whitham, Sydenham Rifle Club
1955 F/Sgt. D.J. Caughley, RNZAF
1954 J.W. Curtin, Masterton/Opaki Rifle Club
1953 M.G. Gordon, Okawa Rifle Club
1952 J.W. Curtin. Masterton/Opaki Rifle Club
1951 M.G. Gordon, Okawa Rifle Club
1950 F.J. Jeune, Gisborne Rifle Club
1949 S. Kannar, Australia
Top NZer: W. Oakley, Christchurch (2nd)
1948 Major W.N. Masefield, Blenheim Rifle Club
1947 H. King, Opaki Rifle Club
1940-46 no competition
1939 Captain W.N. Masefield, Blenheim Rifle Club
1938 Colonel R. Bodley, South Africa
1938 Top NZer: D. Roots, Patea Rifle Club
1937 C.J. Nix, Featherston Rifle Club
1936 Captain W.N. Masefield, Blenheim Rifle Club
1935 F. Bowes, Auckland City Rifle Club
1934 R.H. Nicholl, Petone Rifle Club
1933 H.V. Croxton, Karori Rifle Club
1932 R.H. Nicholl, Petone Rifle Club
1931 W.J. Mclver, Petone Rifle Club
1930 P. Berry, Tararua Rifle Club
1929 Captain W.N. Masefield, Sounds Rifle Club
1928 E.S. King, Wanganui Rifle Club
1927 D. Roots. Patea Rifle Club
1926 A.L. Caldwell, Karori Rifle Club
1925 D.J. Anderson, Kaituna Rifle Club
1924 Captain H. Simmonds, Wanganui Rifle Club
1923 L. Loveday, Linton Rifle Club
1922 D. Roots, Hawera Rifle Club
1921 E.E. Vennell, Te Wharau Rifle Club
1920 H.V. Croxton, Karori Rifle Club
1919 R.J. King, Opaki Rifle Club
1914-18 No competition
1913 F.H. James, Okawa Rifle Club
1912 Private L. Loveday 9th Regiment
1911 D. Roots, Kaponga Rifle Club
1910 G. Halliday, Karori Rifle Club
1909 Lieutenant W. Duncan, Millerton Rifles
1908 G. Hyde, Opaki Rifle CIub (Belt represented as Ballinger Belt)
1907 A. Ballinger, Petone Rifle Club (Champion Belt won outright)
1906 Colour Sergeant R.M. Irvine, Nelson
1905 W.L. Milroy, Nelson Rifle Club
1904 Sergeant J.W. Ching, Waimea Rifles
1903 R.J. King, Opaki Rifle Club
1902 G. Hyde, Opaki Rifle Club
1901 W.H. Nelson, Woodville Rifle Club
1900 No competition
1899 Bandmaster W.S. King, Oamaru Rifles
1898 Private J. McGregor, Oamaru Rifles
1897 Private A. Ballinger, Wellington Guards
1896 Sergeant Wakelyn, Honorary Reserve Corps, Christchurch
1895 W.H. Ballinger, Petone Rifle Club
1894 Captain E.R. Smith, Dunedin City Guards
1893 Private A. Ballinger, Wellington Guards
1892 Sergeant Doughty, A Battery
1891 Private C. Kruse, Wanganui Rifles
1890 P.O. Williams, Wellington Navals
1889 Sergeant Parslow, Auckland
1888 Hon. Major Purnell, New Zealand Volunteers
1887 Captain White, Gordon Rifles, Auckland
1886 Sergeant Remmington, Wanganui
1885 Lieutenant Lucas, Thames
1884 Private W. Churton, Wanganui
1883 Sergeant Kennedy, Dunedin
1882 Corporal Hutchinson, Dunedin
1881 Lieutenant Paynter, Nelson
1880 Sergeant Okey, Taranaki
1879 Corporal W. Ballinger, Wellington
1878 No competition
1877 Lieutenant Paynter, Nelson
1876 Private J. Willocks, Clutha
1875 Lieutenant Skinner, Auckland
1874 Captain Hamlin, Waiuku Rifles
1873 Lieutenant Hoskins, Thames (New Champion Belt)
1872 Captain Wales, Otago (Champion Belt won outright)
1871 Captain Wales, Otago
1870 Lieutenant Goldie, Otago
1869 No competition
1868 Sergeant Taylor, Otago
1867 Sergeant Chisholm, Otago
1866 Sergeant Christie, Otago
1865 No competition
1864 Lieutenant Owen, Wanganui
1863 Lieutenant Morse, Nelson
1862 Private Holt, Nelson
1861 Lieutenant Brighton, Auckland

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