Shooting’s ‘golden girl’

Press, 12 January 1981, Page 26

Shooting’s ‘golden girl’

PA Wellington New Zealand shooting’s “golden girl,” Diane Blaymires, aged 21, won everybody’s heart at Trentham on Saturday when she became the fit st woman in its 120year history to win the Ballinger Belt. Her victory, by five clear points over her nearest rival, Keith Jacob (Cheltenham), left her slightly bewildered but just as talkative as ever. All week she had chatted

between shoots with her fellow rifleme.. as she wandered up and down the mound in a bright yellow shirt and shorts.

“She certainly brightens up the place doesn’t she,” a shooter said earlier in the week. “And she can shoot, believe me. Keep an eye on her.”

It was hard to ignore her as she shot her way —barefooted — into contention for the coveted trophy, and

throughout the final three days she stayed what she was when she arrived at Trentham, a friendly country girl. She had a smile and a wave for all her friends, and there were plenty, even as she stepped up for her final 10 shots knowing so much depended on it.

“Her secret is she can shut everything round her out,” her mother Mrs Lindsey Blaymires said. “She’s always been a farm

girl though, this won’t change her.” Bom and bred on hen father’s 254-hectare farm at Pongakawa, 20km from Te Puke, Diane made it plain she was an outdoor girl. “I can’t stand being cooped up,” she said. “I tried working in an office, it just didn’t suit me. Since then I’ve done orchard or farm work, and before I came down here I was working as a shed hand in a shearing gang.”