Editing Antony Leadbetter (section)

== Planet Eclipse ==

=== Establishment ===

In 1991, Leadbetter and fellow Banzai Bandits player Julian Carr became involved in the Manchester paintball retail business that developed into Planet Eclipse.

The business initially specialised in selling imported paintball equipment and customised components.

Leadbetter and Carr's experience as tournament players influenced the company's focus on developing equipment for competitive use.[2]

Jack Wood, another Banzai Bandits player, joined the business during its early development and subsequently became closely associated with the design of Eclipse paintball markers.

The company's early custom products included modified Autocockers, Automags, Sterlings, Spyders, Shockers, Impulses and Angels.[7]

=== Equipment development ===

Leadbetter was involved in the commercial development of Planet Eclipse during its transition from a paintball retail and customisation business into an international marker manufacturer.

A significant milestone was the introduction of the [[Eclipse EBlade]] electronic trigger system for the [[Autococker]] around 2002.

The EBlade project involved engineering work by Jack Wood and electronics development by Steve "Flash" Monks, another former Banzai Bandits player.[7]

Leadbetter subsequently participated in testing the company's first complete electronic marker, the [[Eclipse Ego]], with Nexus.

His role included gathering feedback from professional players and helping the company respond to the demands of tournament competition.

Planet Eclipse introduced the Ego in 2005 and subsequently expanded its marker range to include the Geo, Etek, Etha and Gtek families.[2][7]

=== Business leadership ===

Leadbetter remained a co-owner and senior figure within Planet Eclipse following its international expansion.

In a June 2010 interview published on the company's official blog, he identified his occupation as co-owner of Planet Eclipse.[8]

In January 2021, ''Paintball Sports'' published an interview identifying Leadbetter as the head of Planet Eclipse and documenting the company's history and equipment development.[9]

He has also been associated with the company's European business operations.

The legal disclosure for PE-Paintball.de GmbH identifies Leadbetter, Julian Carr and Dennis Ullrich as managing directors of the German company.[10]