Ian Ballinger

Ian Ballinger was the first New Zealander to win an Olympic shooting medal and still the only one, thru 2008. He was descended from New Zealand’s premier shooting family, as his distant descendant, Colonel William Ballinger, donated The Ballinger Belt for rifle shooting in 1879. It was won three times by Arthur Ballinger in 1893, 1897, and 1907. Ian Ballinger won the belt in 1969, and in 1996, his son, Graeme Ballinger, won the Ballinger Belt. In addition to his Olympic performances, Ian Ballinger competed at the Commonwealth Games in 1974 and 1978. Ballinger’s began his business career in sporting goods, but then started Brons and Ballinger (with Maurie Brons), a business selling firearms. Ballinger bought out Brons in 1961, forming Ian Ballinger Ltd., and managed it until his retirement in 1981, after which it was run by his son-in-law.