A sports science principal lecturer from Sheffield Hallam University has been selected to represent England in this year’s Commonwealth Games.
David Binney, 51, will represent England in the men’s 50m prone rifle shooting event at the Commonwealth Games, which start on 4 April and takes place on Australia’s Gold Coast.
David, who lives in Sheffield, was first selected to shoot for Great Britain in 2016 and won bronze at the IWK Berlin International that year and in 2017.
David also took home gold and silver at the Commonwealth Shooting Championship (European Division) in 2016.
He is currently ranked number one in Great Britain in the short range event and number two in long range.
David said: “Joining Team England in the Commonwealth Games was a major goal I wanted to achieve. I’m honoured and very proud to represent England in the sport that I have come to know and love.”
In 2009, David took a step back from his previous love of climbing, to have more free time for his family and to prepare for the birth of his daughter.
However, after developing an interest in shooting after seeing the 50m prone rifle event on TV at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, David joined the Hallamshire Rifle and Pistol Club and quickly grew a passion for the sport. He now trains at Staveley Rifle and Pistol Club in Chesterfield.
“I became a bit obsessed,” recalls David. “I chose to finish climbing because the idea was to have more time for my family but then I started shooting three times a week and the rest is history.”
In 2012, he was inspired to compete at an elite level when fellow shooter and double Olympic gold medallist, Nicco Campriani, lived with David and his family whilst the Italian was studying for a sport engineering degree at Sheffield Hallam, where David has been a lecturer since 2005.
David added: “I’m really grateful for the support that I have around me; from my family, coach Phil Swain, Staveley Rifle and Pistol Clubs, and of course to Sheffield Hallam University, who have been behind me every step of the way and helped to make this possible.”
Team England will travel to Australia’s Gold Coast on 25 March 2018.
