UIPM Judges Certification Programme: Dedicated months of work come to fruition in Bath (GBR)

With the UIPM 2023 Pentathlon and Laser Run World Championships rapidly approaching around the corner, years of planning is close to coming to fruition for organisers in the historic city of Bath (GBR). 

That planning has extended to all of the details, no matter how major or minor, it takes to run one of the biggest competitions in the sport. Over the past seven months, preparations for the judges who will play a crucial role in the success of the competition, which runs from August 21-28, has been busily progressing too. 

With three separate UIPM Judges Certification Programme sessions organised specifically for the event in Bath (GBR) since January, the investment in resources and time has been significant but so very worth it with 37 judges who will be directly involved with the 2023 UIPM World Championships earning their judging stripes. 

The final course of the three wrapped up last month when six British judges were put through their paces by UIPM Technical Committee Member Agnes Kulcsar (HUN) with a specific focus on Fencing and JCP Levels 1, 2 and 3 certifications being undertaken. 

That course followed two previous editions with UIPM JCP Educator and Technical Committee member Andrea Dell’Amore (ITA) overseeing a two-day course on May 23-24 in both Bath (GBR) and Melksham (GBR), which saw 10 students take part in sessions focusing on Riding and Laser Run, again at JCP Levels 1, 2 and 3. 

The first module of the year had taken place from January 12-15 with Agnes Kulcsar (HUN) again at the helm and helping to upskill 23 students from Great Britain in Fencing, Swimming and Laser Run at all three levels of JCP certification. 

The novel and dedicated approach means there are almost 40 newly certified or further qualified judges ready to play their part in the UIPM 2023 Pentathlon and Laser Run World Championships. With the competition sure to attract the very best in the sport with Paris 2024 Olympic qualification quota places up for grabs, these new judges will be relied upon to help things run smoothly and steadily. 

UIPM Executive Board Member for Sport Janusz Peciak, OLY said: “Judges play an absolutely essential role in our sport, no matter what size or scale the competition. However at a major World Championships such as the one coming up in Bath it is key to have judges who are up to speed with every aspect of each discipline.

“As a result of this detailed and diligent work by both UIPM staff and local organisers in Bath over the past few months we know we have a great group of judges who have been expertly drilled in all aspects of the job. I thank Andrea and Agnes particularly for their patient and detailed instruction and commend the organisers for their approach with these sessions and now look forward to a wonderful event.”