Bishop Burton College named as regional centre for Modern Pentathlon
08 March 2010
Bishop Burton College has been named as a Regional Training Centre for Modern Pentathlon and the two organisations – Bishop Burton College and Pentathlon GB, have announced that the College will host a Modern Pentathlon Training Camp at the beginning of August.
The news further cements the College’s commitment to developing and promoting sport in the region.
Bishop Burton’s Equine Centre has been approved as a training camp for London 2012 and the College will host the prestigious FEI European Pony Championships this summer.
In 2011 the College will also be the venue of the Polocrosse World Cup – the first time this event has ever been held in the UK.
The Olympic sport of Modern Pentathlon was first introduced at the 5th Olympiad in Stockholm in 1912 and comprises the contemporary sports of pistol shooting, fencing, swimming, horse riding and running.
Peter Hart, the chief executive of Pentathlon GB paid a visit to the College to discuss the plans for creating a regional training centre for modern pentathlon including a training camp this summer.
Mr Hart said: “The College is a fantastic venue for pentathlon training with world-class facilities and we are delighted to work in partnership with Bishop Burton College, the students and community of Yorkshire in focussing our activities at the College.
“We are delighted to use the support we are receiving from Sport England to help us achieve this.”
Ann Marshall the regional development officer for Yorkshire continued: “By organising regular regional training at Bishop Burton College we can bring in world-class coaches for weekend or mid-week sessions and the athletes can train together as pentathletes rather than single-discipline athletes, which will benefit them enormously.
“The training camp which is planned for the summer will give regular athletes a concentrated opportunity to train in all five sports and will also be open to athletes from other parts of the country.”
Bishop Burton College’s director of sport Nick Gandy said “We have been working together for some time already and it was clear that a partnership would be of great mutual benefit and we are looking forward to working closely with Pentathlon GB and contributing towards Modern Pentathlon’s continued success at future Olympic Games.
“By establishing these links the athletes will benefit from the College’s fantastic resources and the learners will benefit by seeing the hard work and dedication of these sportsmen and women and perhaps by trying the sport themselves.”
Group shot Photo shows (l-r): Nick Gandy, Ann Marshall and Peter Hart
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