Kate French and Myles Pillage take top honours at second Pentathlon GB ranking event
- Rio Olympian French makes it back-to-back victories in 2019 Pentathlon GB ranking series
- French beats Olivia Green and Freyja Atkinson at the University of Bath and West Wiltshire Equestrian Centre
- Francesca Summers drops from second place after being eliminated in the riding discipline
- Plymouth’s Pillage beats Olympians Jamie Cooke and Joe Choong in thrilling men’s battle
Kate French and Myles Pillage took top honours at the second Pentathlon GB National Ranking Competitions after thrilling battles at the University of Bath and West Wiltshire Equestrian Centre yesterday (Saturday 9th February). Kate finished ahead of Olivia Green and Freyja Atkinson in the women’s event after Francesca Summers, who was in second heading into the ride, was eliminated in the final discipline.
In the men’s event, Myles edged out Rio Olympians Jamie Cooke and Joe Choong with the order of the top three changing throughout the day as Britain’s best modern Pentathletes pushed each other hard at the venue of the 2019 European Championships.
Women’s competition
At National Ranking Competition 1, French was in charge throughout the day but on this occasion she was forced to come from behind with Holly Parker leading Amy Silk and Freyja Atkinson after the fence with the Rio Olympian back in sixth. French’s charge started in the swimming pool as she topped the discipline times in 2:18.50, moving into third place overall behind Parker and Summers. An exciting laser run battle ensued with French edging out her younger rival to hold a slender advantage heading into the ride.
With Summers eliminated following a fall at the last fence, French had a comfortable gap and although not at her best in the final discipline, her score of 272 ensured she topped the standings for the second consecutive ranking competition. Summers’ error allowed those behind to profit with Olivia Green finishing 2nd and Freyja Atkinson 3rd. Behind the leading trio, Zoe Davison, Kerenza Bryson, Holly Parker, Charlie Follett and Georgia Hannam rounded out the top eight places.
Men’s competition
The men’s competition was a topsy-turvy affair with Pillage leading Choong and Cooke after the opening discipline in Bath. The swim saw the leading trio maintain those positions before another fascinating battle in the laser run which saw Orpington’s Choong come out on top as he led Pillage by a couple of seconds over the line.
However, things changed again in the final discipline. First Choong was penalised for an infringement during the course walk before reigning World Champion Cooke piled the pressure on the leading duo with a perfect clear round. Plymouth’s Pillage was up to the task, a score of 293 giving him the provisional lead and when Choong also rolled a single pole, the victory was the 21-year-olds with Cooke 2nd and Choong 3rd as his penalty came back to haunt him. That meant it was another bronze medal position for the 23-year-old after he also finished 3rd at the Budapest Indoor Competition last week, the first international of the 2019 season.
Behind the top three, Tom Toolis, Sam Curry, Bradley Sutton, Kieran Harby and Josh Miller completed the top 8.
This weekend’s competition completes the senior and junior ranking competitions for 2019 and focus now turns fully to the international season, beginning with the opening World Cup in Cairo at the end of February.
Courtesy of Pentathlon GB
