Whakatāne’s Mike Collings has again claimed New Zealand’s most prestigious shooting title, winning the annual Ballinger Belt at the 2026 National Rifle Championship.

The championship, hosted by the National Rifle Association of New Zealand, was held at the Seddon Range in Trentham from January 13 to 17, 2026.

The Ballinger Belt is the premier prize in New Zealand target rifle shooting and is also the country’s oldest sporting trophy, first contested in 1873.

Collings’ latest victory adds to an extraordinary record.

The Te Puke Rifle Club member has now won the Ballinger Belt five times – in 1998, 2021, 2022, 2024, and 2026.

In 2024, Collings became the oldest competitor ever to win the title. His 2026 victory extends that record even further, making him once again the oldest Ballinger Belt winner in the event’s long history.

The Te Puke Rifle Club has featured very strongly in New Zealand Target shooting.

Din Collings (Mike’s father) won the title in 1977. In 1981, his future daughter-in-law, Diane Collings (née Blaymires), also of Te Puke Rifle Club, made history by becoming the first – and still the only – woman to win the Ballinger Belt.

Diane went on to claim further victories in 1987 and 2014.

Another Te Puke member, Brian Carter, added to the club’s legacy with wins in 2006, 2008, and 2012.

Target rifle shooting is deeply woven into New Zealand’s sporting heritage.

Even the Silver Fern, now a national symbol, has its origins in target rifle shooting.

In 1853, during a match between a British Royal Navy crew from HMS Sparrow and the local Army garrison at the Rewa Rewa Rifle Range in New Plymouth, New Zealand shooters pinned silver fern leaves to their uniforms as good luck charms and won – a tradition that would become iconic.

Mike Collings’ latest triumph is a powerful reminder that target rifle shooting is not only New Zealand’s oldest sport, but also one of its most inclusive – where dedication, skill, and experience matter more than age or gender.