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Green & Chamizo victorious at GB Youth International

UIPM News

Great Britain’s Olivia Green and Spain’s Cristian Chamizo started their seasons in fine style by claiming victories at the GB Youth International in Solihull today (Saturday 4th March). The competition, hosted in Solihull by Pentathlon GB, was the first youth international event of the year and saw over 50 athletes from across Europe competing.

In the girls’ event, Olivia enjoyed a comfortable victory over Portugal’s Maria Teixeira Migueis with British teammate Zoe Davison finishing 3rd. Meanwhile, in the boys event a stunning laser-run from Cristian saw him ease to victory ahead of Great Britain’s George Case and Germany’s Jan Kaufmann.

Girls' Competition

The day started with the fencing discipline where Gloucestershire’s Zoe topped the girls’ standings on 15 victories and 6 defeats. Behind the 18 year old Brit were a trio of athletes on 14 victories and 7 defeats – Hertfordshire’s Alexandra Bousfield, Germany’s Franziska Schamel and Croatia’s Anna Vuletic.

The girls’ swim was dominated by the British athletes in the field with the 10 quickest times all coming from home athletes. Top of the pile was Yorkshire Pentathlon’s Genna Suddes with an impressive 2:10.29, over 3 seconds ahead of Zoe (2:13.55) in 2nd with Plymouth College’s Georgina Mitchell just 0.06 seconds further back in 3rd. It meant there was a British 1-2-3 ahead of the laser-run with Wycliffe’s Zoe leading Alexandra and Olivia.

It was all change during the final discipline though with Lancashire’s Olivia oving into the lead during the second 800m, an advantage she wouldn’t relinquish. Portugal’s Maria Migueis Teixeira produced the quickest laser-run of the day to move from 12th into silver medal position with Zoe securing bronze.

Another athlete who produced an impressive laser-run was Leweston Pentathlon Academy’s Zoe Gowers which saw her move up to 4th at the finish with Plymouth College’s Georgina Mitchell 5th. Germany’s Anne Kleidon, who is also based at Plymouth College, finished 6th ahead of teammates Lea Smirnov and Franziska Schamel. Portugal’s Margarida Cardoso came home 9th with Alexandra Bousfield, the 5th British athlete to finish, rounding out the top 10.

In the team event, Pentathlon GB’s Olivia, Zoe D and Zoe G claimed gold with the German trio of Anne, Lea and Franziska taking silver.

Boys' Competition

The boys also started their competition on the fencing pistes with Gemany’s Felix Doerks making a lightning start by winning his first 11 bouts. The 16 year old eventually finished with 22 victories and 7 defeats to top the discipline standings, 1 victory ahead of Somerset’s George Case, German teammate Dominik Olejarz and Portugal’s Joao Valido.

In the swim, Lincolnshire’s Will Swain recorded the quickest time of 1:58.00, 0.46 seconds ahead of Spain’s Marc Troya with Cornwall’s Nick Laws 3rd quickest in 2:00.04. It meant the competition was fascinatingly poised ahead of the laser run with just 5 seconds covering the top 5 of Kieran Harby, Dominik, George, Joao and Cristian and only 46 seconds separating the top 17.

Cristian and George made a break on the opening 800m lap before the Spaniard pulled away after the duo’s second visit to the range, eventually romping to victory in a stunning time of 11:23.25. It meant George’s battle was behind and despite briefly being overtaken by the fast finishing Jan Kauffman with around 550m remaining, the Leweston Pentathlon Academy athlete regained his position to claim silver with Germany’s Jan settling for bronze. Portugal’s Vasco Coelho also produced a strong laser-run to move up to 4th meaning four different nationalities were represented in the top 4 positions. Fellow Portuguese athlete Joao crossed the line 5th ahead of Germany’s Tim Knoche and Sweden’s Philip Dannfors. Hampshire’s George Budden finished as the second Brit in 8th with Spain’s Marc Troya and Millfield School’s Nick Laws rounding out the top 10.

The team event, taken from the top 3 individual scores was remarkably close with just 16 points separating the British, German and Portuguese teams. However, it was the British trio of George C, George B and Nick that claimed team gold ahead of Germany’s Jan, Tim and Dominik with Portugal’s Vasco, Joao and Goncalo Fabiao taking bronze. The Irish team of Timothy O’Brien, Sean McNamara and James Coonan finished 4th.

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