Colts Development Initiative - English Sporting
The CPSA, in their endeavour to protect the future of the sport, along with a generous donation bequeathed by CPSA Member John Dalby, and through support from sponsors, grounds and coaches are delighted to announce the introduction of a new initiative for selected colts.
The objective of this initiative is to help up-and-coming colts. To give them support and guidance as they develop and progress through the rankings, competing at county and regional level and possibly through to an England cap. The overall aim is to measure the success of the initiative this year, and to grow the programme year on year. We hope to gain additional support from grounds, coaches and sponsors to be able to offer this to more Colt members and branch out to the other disciplines in the years to come.
This was due to run in 2020, but due to the CV-19 pandemic has been postponed until the start of 2021
The CPSA are pleased to be working with the following sponsors for this programme: Rizzini, Musto, Solware, EJ Churchill West Wycombe, EJ Churchill Swinton Estate, Owls Lodge and High Lodge, who are all supporting the Colts in various ways, creating an all rounded sponsorship package.
Aims:
For the Individuals
An opportunity to gain first-hand experience and tuition from senior coaches, to have greater flexibility to attend major championships through the financial support on offer and to gain a greater understanding and respect for competing at higher level at such a young age.
For the Sponsors:
An opportunity to show investment in the future of the sport by mentoring young and enthusiastic shooters, whilst building and maintaining relationships between the CPSA, other sponsors, and the younger generations through the development initiative.
For the CPSA:
An opportunity to highlight our commitment to the colts and younger shooters by building on the resources available through sponsors, grounds and coaches, to enhance the skill, knowledge and welfare of the younger shooters coming through as The Future of our Sport .
The Application Process
This is the first time the CPSA has introduced such a scheme. With John Dalby having been a keen sporting shooting, it was decided that in the first year of this initiative (2020), to invite the Top 20 colts, ranked in English Sporting as of the classification run for the start of 2020, done in December 2019, to apply for this scheme.
- First round: Application form submitted to express interest including personal bio, shooting CV and general questions
- Second round: Invited for a short informal interview where the prospective colts discussed their shooting goals, and expectations of the initiative. [online, telephone or in-person options]
- CPSA Selection panel will then feedback and contact those successful at the second phase interview and will invite them to join the initiative as a Colt Team Member.
We have honoured the places offered at the start of 2020 which had to be postponed, to go ahead in 2021, and the CPSA are delighted to announce the participants of the initiative for 2021 are:
Alf Bartle – North Yorkshire; Barney Eastman – Hampshire; Charlie Bird – Cambridge; Darcy McBride – Hertfordshire and Jasper Pearce – Suffolk
The Sponsorship Package
Each Colt selected for the programme will receive a base package including:
- CPSA membership for a year
- Entries to the English Open Sporting and the British Open Sporting Championships
- An allowance of up to £500 to aid in attendance at shooting competitions
- A loan shotgun from Rizzini
- A Musto skeet vest to train and compete in, plus jacket, cap, and polo shirts
- Provision of shooting accessories from Solware, including hearing protection and a gun cleaning kit.
- 4 Masterclass Days throughout the summer, one at EJ Churchill West Wycombe and EJ Churchill Swinton Estate, Owls Lodge and High Lodge with their associated Head Coaches.
Congratulations to all the participants selected for 2021. The Colts progress will be followed on our website news section and social media over the coming months.