Friday, 20 January 2012
By ADYN OGLE
A LACK of preparation didn’t stop Whakatane shooter Brian Carter claiming New Zealand’s oldest sporting trophy on Saturday.
Carter nearly didn’t go to Trentham last week where he won his third Ballinger Belt, New Zealand’s most prestigious shooting prize, adding to titles in 2006 and 2008.
Prior to the championships Carter’s wife Linda was ill, requiring her to spend time in hospital. He thought it was unlikely he would shoot at Trentham.
“It seemed as though I wouldn’t get down there, but Linda encouraged me to go.
“Winning the belt was unexpected as I had such limited preparation.”
Conditions at Trentham were challenging for shooters as characteristic Wellington wind challenged competitors. On various occasions during the competition, shooting had to be stopped.
Carter said the north-westerly wind suited him. He won the long-range aggregate by nine points, including a top score in the 1000-yard match, and he took a six-point lead going into the final. Carter held his advantage to complete his Ballinger hat-trick on Saturday.
Fellow Whakatane shooter Mike Collings, who won gold at the 2010 Commonwealth Games, finished eighth. The Ballinger Belt was just one of seven trophies Carter won at Trentham, with the other six won on varying events throughout last week.
“Every time that north-west wind is up I seem to shoot well there.
“We shot at 1000 yards as well this year and the target circles are smaller.
“It was already a tough competition but with new challenges to overcome it made the win more satisfying.
“Mentally it is a big challenge. Going into the final, in the lead, there was expectation that I would win.
“I feel I could have dealt with that pressure a little better, you always want to strive for perfection. But in the end it was enough.”
The trophy gets its name from a Wellington shooting family, the Ballingers.
In 1873 the government donated a black leather belt with a silver-ornamented cartridge pouch. It was won in 1893 by Arthur Ballinger who won it twice more, the third occasion in 1907 when, under the rules, he was entitled to retain it indefinitely.
The belt was then 34 four years old, and Arthur Ballinger donated it to the National Rifle Association for permanent competition.
Carter’s win continues a golden time for Whakatane shooters in the past decade. Whakatane’s Di Collings won silver at the 2002 Commonwealth Games before her husband Mike took gold at the 2010 games.
Mike won the Ballinger Belt in 1998 while Di claimed the title in 1992 and 1987.