Premier Pentathletes

The talented club was represented by 70 members, making up 19 teams, at the qualifying event for the national biathlon.

The championships are a swim and run competition with competitors gaining points for each discipline, depending on the times they set.

And once more the Dorset squad led from the front, winning seven out of 12 team titles and claiming six silver and three bronze medals.

In the individual events, they scooped seven of each colour, meaning 51 individuals and 14 teams have booked their places at the national showpiece at Sutton Coldfield on May 13.

The first events of the day were the boys and girls’ 10 and under.

In the girls’ race, Tabitha Samouelle took gold with Molly Northmore second, Emily Jeffries third, Erin Gowers fourth, Phoebe Mills fifth, Alice Cullinane sixth, Annie Bungay seventh, Rebecca Warland eighth, Adelaide Elsom ninth and Abbie Baker 10th.

The teams enjoyed a clean sweep with the A team first, B team second and C team third.

For the boys, Oliver Sanderson was fourth, Shem Martin fifth, Max Duffield sixth and Thomas Wood seventh, with the team placing second.

The boys’ 12 and under saw the A team claim top spot, the B team come second and the C team take the final place on the podium.

Individually, Charlie Samouelle was first, George Tester second, Ben Gittens third, Ben Samuals fourth, Jed Skilton fifth, Callum Mullins sixth, Josh Frampton seventh, Jack Mcdermott eighth, George Robson ninth, Joe Taylor 10th, Daniel Warland 11th, William Baker 12th and Tom Bradbury 13th.

In the girls’ equivalent, the A team and B team secured a Dorset one-two, with Georgia Harrison second, Eleri Brown fourth, Izzy Pryce sixth, Charlotte Metcalfe seventh, Olivia Foice 10th, Katy Ninham 11th, Aegean Bramley 16th and Madeline Johnson 17th.

Dorset Pentathletes also dominated the boys’ 14 and under category, occupying the podium positions for both team and individual events.

Harrison Yarnold scooped individual gold, Travis Bramley was second, Jack Northmore third, Bradley Seager fourth, Jacob Whittall fifth, Hugh Ireland sixth, Jonathan Greenwood eighth, Cosmo Raven ninth, Stephen Woolley 11th and Thomas Boulton 12th.

In the girls’ race, the A team took gold, B team came fourth and C team placed fifth, with Emily Yapp third, Flora Johnson fourth, Zoe Gowers fifth, Sasha Kelly seventh, Sophie Easterbrooke 13th, Aoife McCarthy 14th, Margi Chitty 15th, Madaline Wood 16th and Eillis Martin 17th.

The next age group – 16 and under – also brough success as the girls’ team came out on top with Rebecca Bowles first, Bethan Whittall second, Lucy Flynn third and Laura Chitty seventh.

In the boys’ contest, Oscar Esposti was third and Oliver Mullins came home in eighth, while Olivia Esposti and Peter Horne secured a one-two in the 18 and under race.

The Masters were up next and again Dorset took gold and silver in the team event with Nick Ireland first, Mark Bramley second, Andy Price third, Richard Bowles fourth, Mick Flaherty fifth and Andy Whittall sixth.

The club were named top biathlon team in the South West as a result and coach Flaherty said: “Once again the kids from the local area have done a great job in their efforts at the South West to win so much and retain top club status.

“The time and effort of hours of training put in by the athletes each week over the last few months has paid off.

“Also a big thank you must be said to all the coaches from the various swimming and running clubs for all their support in preparing the athletes for this event.”

The club have regular running training at Lodmoor Park on Sundays and Biathle training at Osprey Leisure Centre on Portland.

For further details on getting involved in the sport, or sponsoiring the club, contact Flaherty by emailing flaherty121@aol.com

* The Dorset Schools Biathlon Relays will take place at the Osprey Leisure Centre on May 20.

This event is open to all schools in Dorset. Should your school wish to enter, contact Flaherty at the email address above.