UK to host Shotgun World Cup in build up to 2012

The week long competition will mark the start of qualification for London 2012, with one Olympic quota place available per discipline. Great Britain will automatically qualify one Olympic place per shotgun discipline as host nation, but the World Cup will be a prime opportunity to gain an extra place two years out from 2012.

This will be the first time the UK has ever held a Shotgun World Cup – ranked only behind the World Championships and Olympic Games in importance. The event is likely to attract around 650 competitors from 85 countries as the battle for direct Olympic qualification places and points commences.

UK Sport are supporting the event with up to £275,000 from its National Lottery funded World Class Events Programme.

Clare Hartley, UK Sport’s Events Consultant, said:

“We are really excited to be investing in the 2010 World Cup. In addition to the lure of Olympic qualification, the event will give us a brilliant opportunity to build capacity for the Olympic Games two years later. We will have the chance to give international competition experience to around 50 volunteers and 35 officials in a technical sport where highly trained personnel are vital to the safety and success of the event.”

The event will mirror the Olympic shot gun progamme, with Skeet and Trap competition for men and women and Double Trap for the men.

Phil Boakes, CEO of British Shooting, said,

“This event will give GBR shooters the opportunity to use their home advantage to the fullest. All those on World Class, men, women and juniors will be taking the opportunity to practice and become completely familiar with all conditions on the layouts that will be used. Hopefully during the event, they will be cheered on to victory by the partisan crowd supporting them”.

The event is also being supported by West Dorset District Council, Active Dorset, the South-West Regional Development Agency and Weymouth and Dorset Borough Council.