WEYMOUTH’S Victoria Halford has gained a place on the Pentathlon GB England Talent Pool Programme.

This is the first formal stage of the talent development pathway for athletes in the sport of modern pentathlon, which has the ultimate aim of developing athletes to progress through to the World Class Pathway. The international biathlete and Year 10 pupil at Leweston School, Sherborne, has been selected following her performances in running, swimming and biathle/biathlon competitions in the South West regional events and the international events she has competed in (she forms part of the current Under-16 GB world champion biathle team).

She has been identified as having potential to go further in modern pentathlon. The programme starts towards the end of July and will develop her skills in each of the five pentathlon disciplines.

Halford has had to sign up with Pentathlon GB to an athlete charter and her continuance on the programme is dependent on her progress and development over the five disciplines. A school spokesperson said: “This is the latest in a string of outstanding sporting success for Victoria and we wish her all the best with her pentathlon training.”