Master marksman still shows the way

Press, 28 December 1977, Page 15

Master marksman still shows the way

By

BOB SCHUMACHER

lan Ballinger has been the champion of smallbore rifle competition for the last decade and nobody has proved capable of whisking that honour away from him yet. The esteemed master marksman from Christchurch headed the six South Island shooters who will combine with six chosen from the North Island trials to fire for positions in the team to represent New Zealand at the world championships in South Korea and at the Edmonton Commonwealth Games next year. In the highly-com-petitive and demandingly intense field of smallbore shooting, Ballinger has proved time and again that he has the sharp eye and steady trigger finger to represent his country with distinction in international competition. A lot of weight on the choice of the New Zealand team for the world and Commonwealth Games events next year will depend on the two national trials. The first will be held at Wanganui on January 28 and 29 and the second will be at the Burnett range, Christchurch, on February 11 and 12. Ballinger, now 52, admits that the shooting he really enjoys these days is at the trials to finalise the New Zealand representatives. He is a respected rival but a popular personality among the smallbore fraternity and the trials provide him with an opportunity to renew acquaintances with friends that he has known for many years on a competitive plane. Ballinger is aware that his reputation is at stake

at trials and that everyone is out to “gun him down.” But that is the type of challenge that brings out the nest in the sports goods dealer. Vanity, he said, was one of the main reasons that kept him on the pedestal for so long. But Ballinger is anything but conceited, and his deep concentration and determination are essential factors that have kept him in the limelight since his memorable performance in 1968 when he returned from the Olympic Games in Mexico with the bronze medal. Ballinger’s record in national trials is irnpres* sive. In fact, the only time he can remember being headed was before his unforgettable trip to Mexico. Shooting is an individual sport and Ballinger confesses that the first time in his life z when he really shot for his country and not for himself was at Mexico. That statement, made in all honesty, is not an indictment of Ballinger, nor does it mean that he is unconcerned or complacent when representing New Zealand. It means, simply, that the main target is to keep getting bulls-eyes and for that purpose the mind must concentrate solely on that objective. The final result and any laurels come only when the shooter leaves the bay after completing his 60 shots. As far as next year’s world and Commonwealth Games competitions are concerned, Ballinger, by competing in the regional, island and national trials, has declared his availability. He has already repre-

sented New Zealand at three Olympic Games, a world championship and at the 1974 Christchurch Commonwealth Games when he was fourth after starting badly. However, Ballinger did hint that the 19S0 Olympic Games was still at the bad; of his mind. Only the

redoubtable Les Mills, New Zealand’s strong man in discus and shot put throwing over a long span, has competed at four successive Olympic Games. Ballinger said that the standard of smallbore shooting had improved considerably in the last few years. It was his consistency over all that enabled him to top the provincial trials rather than a run of spectacular high scores. Without seeing the North Island shooters yet, Ballinger was impressed with some of the individual scoring at the regional trials, especially that of his team-mate at the 1974 Commonwealth Games, Jack Scott (Timaru). “He shot brilliantly at Lynford, opening with 597 on Saturday and following

that score with 598 on Sunday — and conditions were not easy. “I was firing next to him and his elevation was fantastic in the breeze. I told him I could not see him doing a similar score over the third match. He started well and the high concentration was still there, but then he had a rest and when he resumed he dropped six points in eight shots.” Scott eventually dropped 15 points in the last match and left the bay completely exhausted, but Ballinger termed it a phenomenal effort. “I feel that our shooting is in world class and if everyone shot to their maximum we would give the Russians and Americans a real go in teams’ competition.” The only newcomer from the South Island to the select list for the New Zealand trials is Ballinger’s son, Graeme, who has obviously inherited some of his father’s talent. Ballinger jun, showed promise in indoor smallbore shooting and also in fullbore competition — in 1972 he won the South Island 7.62 mm belt while still a B grade shooter. Two years ago, the 28-year-old Ballinger went to Australia and. living on a rifle range, it was only natural that he put more work into the sport. He arrived home just before the start of the regional trials and, with the assistance of Ballinger sen., his rifle was “bettered” just before they commenced. While shooting no spectacular cards, the younger Ballinger still finished a creditable fourth.