DORSET Pentathletes retained their ‘Best in Britain’ title for the sixth successive year at the National Biathlon Championships in Sutton Coldfield.

The thriving club took a squad of 51 competitors to the event and came home with 13 medals, including five gold, four silver and four bronze.

This year, Dorset were convincing winners with more team titles than any other region, which saw them come out on top by a clear margin of 30 points from Yorkshire Region MPC and North Kent, making them the most successful club in the history of the competition.

Team gold went to the Youth D boys 12-and-under, the Masters Men, the Youth C girls 14-and-under and the Youth B girls 16-and-under, while team silver went to the Youth C boys 14-and-under. The Youth E girls 10-and-under and the Youth D boys 12-and-under both took bronze.

On the individual front, Chris Perham secured gold in the Youth 18-and-under section with Charlie Samouelle (12-and-under), Bethan Whittall (16-and-under) and Harrison Yarnold (14-and-under) grabbing silver and Oscar Esposti (16-and-under) and Andy Whittall (Masters Men) claiming bronze.

Dorset team coach Mick Flaherty said: “Once again the kids from the local area have done a great job in their efforts at the Nationals 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 at their running and swimming has paid off for the biathletes on their results. I’d like to thank all the coaches from the various swimming and running clubs for all their support in preparing the athletes for this event.”

Flaherty continued: “This year’s competition was tough but due to the numbers of athletes taking part from the clubs’ A teams down to C teams, it enabled us to have another club win with great success at a National Championships.

“Many of the Dorset Pentathletes team still have another year in the age group they competed in this year and the fact the club has finished top team for the sixth year running is an achievement of which they can be justly proud.

“The next event is Race Three of the British Biathle Series at Greenhill Gardens, Weymouth on June 23 with the first race of the day at 10am with up to eight races to 12.30pm.”

If you are interested in sponsoring one of the most successful teams in Britain contact Flaherty at flaherty121@aol.com

RESULTS

Youth E girls 10-and-under, A team (bronze): Molly Northmore (10th), Emily Jefferies (18th), Phoebe Mills (27th).

B team (8th): Alice Cullinane (32nd), Adelaide Elsom (33rd), Annie Bungay (32nd).

Youth E boys 10-and-under: Max Duffield (21st).

Youth D boys 12-and-under, A team (gold): Charlie Samouelle (2nd), George Tester (4th), Ben Samuel (7th).

C team (bronze): Ben Gittens (6th), Jack McDermott (17th), George Robson (32nd).

B team (4th): Jed Skilton (12th), Callum Mullins (21st), Josh Frampton (24th).

Youth D girls 12-and-under, A team (fourth): Georgia Harrison (16th), Kizzy Price (22nd), Charlotte Metcalfe (27th), Olivia Foice (35th).

B team (9th): Eleri Brown (41st), Katherine Ninham (42nd), Izzy Pryce (43rd), Aegean Bramley (54th).

Youth C girls 14-and-under, A team (gold): Emily Yapp (6th), Zoe Gowers (13th), Flora Johnson (14th).

B team (6th): Sacha Kelly (24th), Sophie Easterbrooke (28th), and Aiolf McCarthy (37th).

Youth C boys 14-and-under, A team (silver): Harrison Yarnold (2nd), Travis Bramley (11th), Bradley Seager (28th).

B team (6th): Jonathan Greenwood (25th), Jamie Price (26th), Jacob Whittall (38th).

C team (10th): Hugh Ireland (27th), Stephen Woolley (45th), Tom Boulton (48th).

Youth B girls 16-and-under, A team (gold): Bethan Whittall (2nd), Rebecca Bowles (4th), Lucy Flynn (15th).

Youth B boys 16-and-under: Oscar Esposti (3rd), Oliver Mullins (21st).

Boys 18-and-under: Chris Perham (1st).

Masters Men, A team (gold): Andy Whittall (3rd), Mark Bramley (4th), Richard Bowles (14th), Andy Price (5th).