John Snowden on his way to winning the coveted Ballinger Belt. Photo suppliedIt might have taken almost 20 years to win his first, but Ashburton sharpshooter John Snowden didn’t have to wait anywhere as long to win his second Ballinger Belt in Wellington over the weekend.

The oldest trophy competed for in New Zealand sport, the Ballinger comes with plenty of meaning and history and after winning it in 2013, the quiet and reserved Snowden was rapt to have finally claimed the coveted prize – but to do it again was special.

“To come from behind and win it was special,” Snowden’s wife Coby said.

“He is absolutely thrilled.”

In a field littered with international stars, all of whom were here to check out the surrounds ahead of next year’s World Championships, only three Kiwi shooters made their way into the top 20 of the competition.

The win on the weekend comes off the back of a successful week for Ashburton shooters at the national championships with some good results across the board and higher honours to a number of local shooters – including Snowden’s daughter, Megan, claiming the honour of top scorer for the New Zealand Under 23 side.

But Snowden, who has been selected in the New Zealand team for the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast later this year, stole the show with his individual performance.

In the final he was one shot behind defending champion, Jim Bailey from Australia.

The last round consisted of 15 shots from 900 years and with two shots to go, Bailey held a two-point lead and had one hand on the belt before a gust of wind opened the door for Snowden.

Bailey scored a three on the last shot with the wind shift and Snowden kept his cool to score a five which brought the scores level. On a countback of central shots, which is the number of shots dead centre, Snowden emerged on top by one shot to claim the victory.

As is the tradition with the Ballinger Belt, the winner is hoisted and paraded by their club mates – another special moment in the whole event.

Unlike his last victory in 2013, Snowden was unable to bring the belt home with him due to fact it is so valuable and the costs for insuring it and keeping it at the Snowden home would be enormous.

The Belt was presented in 1873 by the Government as a replacement for the first Government Champion Belt won outright when won for the second time in a row in 1872 by Capt Wales of Otago by competing in the annual shooting competition to find the “NZ Champion Shot”.

It was won in 1893 by Arthur Ballinger of Wellington who won it twice more, meaning he was entitled to retain it on the third occasion in 1907.

Arthur donated the “Champion Belt” to the NRA and it was renamed the Ballinger Belt, being presented each year to the winner of the National Championships.

By Matt Markham © The Ashburton Guardian - 5 February 2018