British Shooting called an Extraordinary meeting yesterday to discuss the future of their World Class Performance Program following the drastic cut (78%) made to their 2009/2013 funding agreement by UK Sport.  As a result, the Board have decided that the post of Performance Director is to be made redundant.  There are two major casualties in the making of this decision; one is the athletes themselves and the other is John Leighton-Dyson who has headed up the WCPP for the last eight years.

This was no surprise to Leighton-Dyson as during his presentation to the Board earlier in the day, he highlighted that the figures in his budget for the four year period going forward, showed all to clearly that the funds available will simply not stretch to the employment of a PD.  His concern is for a number of athletes, which due to the necessary reduction in numbers needed, will now no longer be part of the program.

On behalf of everyone who has been involved in the program over the past eight years, the Board would like publicly to extend to John our sincere thanks for his dedication, contribution and unstinting efforts during the time he has worked for British Shooting.  John has agreed to continue to work with British Shooting until the 31st March when his funded position ceases.

“It sounds illogical to those not involved in a program such as this but the funding UK Sport have offered shooting is not enough to allow us to put together a meaningful World Class Performance Program.  We believe that the PD role is a very necessary part of our program and in the run up to 2012, Shooting has never faced such an uncertain future” stated Chairman Phil Boakes.