06 June 2004 19:42 Russia`s top gun backs British shooters Chelsea's Roman Abramovich is not the only Russian benefactor of British sport. Should Team GB's clay pigeon shooters again strike Olympic gold, as Richard Faulds did in Sydney, a little help from a Muscovite friend may have contributed. Steel magnate Vladimir Lisin, said to be worth pounds 33 billion (albeit pocket money to Abramovich) is sponsoring the sport's British Grand Prix at the Southern Counties shooting grounds in Dorset next weekend. His support is timely for a sport which struggles to attract sponsorshiop because of its misconception as being "politically incorrect". But Lisin, 48, president of the Russian Shooting Union, is backing the British event as part of the international promotion for his own luxury shooting grounds, Fox Lodge, near Moscow.
[Independent on Sunday] |