Lot 2995

Description

Rifle shooting, hand engraved in gold (9ct, 7.3g, 38x30mm), by 'W.A.', hallmark for Birmingham, 1907, reverse inscribed 'Shooting/Champshp./1908/E.Ballinger'; P.D.R.C., handcrafted in gold (9ct, 5.5g, 29x33mm), unknown maker, reverse inscribed 'Teams Champ/E.Ballinger/1911-12'; P.R.C. (Petone Rifle Club), handcrafted in gold (9ct, 12.9g, 31mm), no maker, reverse inscribed 'P.R.C./Won By/E.A.Ballinger/Club Champion/1926-27'; hand engraved in silver with gold shield on front (29x29mm), reverse inscribed 'Champion/Of/Champions/Won By/E.A.Ballinger/1950', all with ring top suspensions. Very fine. (4)

These medals spanning nearly 50 years, were won by a member of the well known family, Ballinger.

The oldest sports trophy in New Zealand is the famous Ballinger Belt, the symbol of the utmost prowess in rifle shooting. A Wellington family, the Ballingers, were among the prime movers in the formation of the Petone Rifle Club, and foundation members. From 1879 to 1907 the N.Z. Rifle Championship was won by one or other of two brothers Ballinger on five occasions. In 1873 the Government donated for annual competition a black leather belt with a silver-ornamented cartridge pouch supported by a shoulder strap.

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. The belt was then thirty-four years old, already a venerable trophy. Arthur donated it to the National Rifle Association for perpetual competition.
As the 'Ballinger Belt' it has been put around the shoulders of every National Champion to this day. The Ballingers were keen supporters of the Volunteer Forces. Whilst Arthur's wins in 1893 and 1897 occurred during his membership of the Wellington Guards he was at that time an active member of the Petone Rifle Club.