Upper Hutt has been the home of the sport of Target Shooting for more than 125 years. The Seddon Range at Trentham began way back in 1891 when Captain Collins negotiated a lease on McCullochs farm now encompassing the Ranges associated with the NZ Defence Force.

The Nationals Rifle Association and Fullbore shooting is not the only Shooting Sport in the district. Hutt Valley Clay Target Club is just over the hill in Whitemans Valley, Heretaunga Pistol Shooting is adjacent to Seddon Range on the Collins Range, the Greater Wellington Muzzleloading Club and Maidstone Outdoor 50m Club shoot on the Allen Range Off Dante Rd, the Hutt Valley Deerstalkers shoot at Kaitoke and the Upper Hutt Indoor Smallbore Club shoot at Maidstone Park adjacent to Maidstone Max.

The City can be justified in calling itself the Target Shooting Capital of New Zealand.

Next week from 12 -17 January Seddon Range host the NRANZ National Championships. The culmination of the week will be the crowning of the Ballinger Belt winner. New Zealand’s oldest active sporting trophy. This Championship began in 1861. This year will see the field including multiple winners of the Ballinger and the 2015 World Champion from Australia, Ben Emms. Champion New Zealanders include Mike Collings, John Snowden, Malcolm Dodson and Upper Hutts own three time winner John Whiteman.

The Fullbore Nationals now embrace other disciplines that include the amazingly accurate F Classes, 300m 60 shot events and vintage 303 rifle.

The 2026 Championships will see at least 100 competitors. In 2019, the NRANZ hosted the Long Range World Championships where close to 400 competitors attended. The NZ Under21 Team were World Champions. Upper Hutt hosted this championship twice before, in 1979 and 1995.

Visitors who are keen are welcome to attend the Championship Finals commencing at 1pm on Saturday 17 January on the Seddon Range. Follow the sign off Messines Avenue – and the crowd – just over the stop bank to watch the Champion being carried off on the famous chair accompanied by the Scottish Piper. The extensive and historic Trophies will be on display ready for the presentations.

A “thank you” to Ross Mason for sending this article to The Upper Hutt Connection.

05/01/25