Woodbridge named GB Pentathlon athlete of the year

World Championship silver medallist Nick Woodbridge has collected the British Modern Pentathlon Athlete of the Year Award for 2013.

The double Olympian made a piece of history when he won the individual silver medal at the World Championships in Chinese Taipei in August.

His medal was the first individual World Championships medal won by a British male pentathlete since Richard Phelps’ gold in 1993.

The trophy is provided by the British Olympic Association and Woodbridge received if from Jan Bartu, Pentathlon GB Performance Director.

Woodbridge, who ends 2013 at 15th in the senior world rankings, thanked his team-mates, coaching staff and the English Institute of Sport staff for their support.

“The team has been amazing this year and I don’t think this would have been possible without all of them,” he said.

Other Shropshire athlete also figured prominently in the end of year Pentathlon GB awards. Joe Evans collected the Newcomer of the Year Award, which marked a terrific debut season on the senior international circuit.

Evans won a bronze medal at his first World Cup, at Palm Springs in February. He made to further finals at World Cups, came seventh at the World Cup Final and helped the British team to relay bronze at the European Junior Championships. He ends the year ranked second in the world junior rankings and 13th in the senior rankings. The Newcomer of the Year award trophy was donated by Athens 2004 Olympic bronze medallist Georgina Harland.

A pair of Outstanding Performance of the Year Awards were also presented. Jamie Cooke collected his award for a year that saw him win his first World Cup gold, at Budapest in May. He ends the year ranked fourth in the world.

And Kate French helped British teams to team gold at both the World and European Championships as well as securing individual 10th place finishes at both competitions in a year that also saw her graduate with a Sports Performance degree from the University of Bath.

Bartu paid tribute to the performances of the GB team over the year and thanked the coaching staff, headquarters support team and English Institute of Sport staff for their contributions to the team’s success.

“This was definitely the best year for Pentathlon GB as far as results and performances go. My congratulations to you all,”  said Bartu at the annual team celebration, which took place at Bath Cricket Club.

The British train at the Pentathlon GB high performance centre at the University of Bath.