Ballinger Belt defended for first time in 149 years

New Zealand’s oldest sporting trophy – the Ballinger Belt – has been successfully defended for the first time in history. Dating back to 1873, no shooter had been able to come up trumps twice in row, but some 149 years later, Mike Collings has hit new ground. The Te Puke Club member triumphed in yesterday’s final, beating Malcolm Dodson – the 2016 champion, from the Kaituna/ Blenheim Club – by five points in typically tricky conditions at Trentham to follow up last year’s triumph, and make it three Queens No 1 badges in total, having also won in 1998. Collings did well in qualifying this week and scored 70.6 out of 75.15 in the final.