Pentathlon GB’s French set for first international appearance of 2019  

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• European medalist Kate French set for first international appearance of season in city she took World Cup gold in 2018
• World Champion Jamie Cooke and 2018 European bronze medalist Joe Choong will make first World Cup starts of year
• Tom Toolis, Myles Pillage, Joanna Muir, Freyja Atkinson and Francesca Summers complete experienced Pentathlon GB line-up

European silver medallist Kate French will make her first international appearance of the year at World Cup 2 in Sofia this month as preparations for the 2019 Europeans in Bath continue to hot up. The 28-year-old will have fond memories of the venue having taken a World Cup gold with a stunning display at the same venue last May. French will be joined by fellow 2018 European medallist Joe Choong and reigning World Champion Jamie Cooke as Pentathlon GB’s leading lights all head to Bulgaria.

Rio Olympians Choong and Cooke will be joined by Myles Pillage and Tom Toolis in the men’s British team with both athletes heading into the event in fine form after impressive performances at the opening World Cup in Cairo. Toolis finished 9^th in the Egyptian capital, his first ever top 10 finish at World Cup level whilst Pillage recorded his own World Cup best result of 22^nd, fresh off the back of a 2018 World team silver medal alongside Choong and Cooke.

Meanwhile, the British women’s team sees Joanna Muir, Freyja Atkinson and Francesca Summers joining French in Sofia. Like their male counterparts, the quartet will all head to World Cup 2 in high spirits with Dumfries’ Muir the highest placed British finisher at last year’s World Championships in Mexico. Summers was another athlete to record a World Cup PB in Cairo, an excellent 6^th place finish seeing her place on the wider podium. Meanwhile Prentice will head to the event fresh from a bronze medal at the French Open Tetrathlon Championships last month, a result which sees her set to make her first World Cup appearance for nearly 3 years.

The competition marks the next big step of a long and important 2019 season with Olympic qualifying officially starting on June 1^st before the World Cup Final, which doubles as the Tokyo test event takes place from 27^th-30^th June. Following that, a home European Championships takes place on British soil at the University of Bath in August.

The National Lottery funded event, dubbed “Gladiators Return”, will see the best modern Pentathletes from across Europe descend on the former Roman Spa town and will run from 6th-11th August 2019. As well as continental crowns, Tokyo Olympic qualifying places will be up for grabs making it one of the most important events of the season. Tickets for the Championships are now on general sale with more information available at: www.pentathlongb.org/euros2019

In Sofia, all eight athletes will compete in the individual competitions with Jamie and Frankie also lining up in the mixed relay on the final day of the competition.

Full schedule

Wednesday 10^th April – Women’s Qualifying

Thursday 11^th April – Men’s Qualifying

Friday 12^th April – Women’s Final

Saturday 13^th April – Men’s Final

Sunday 14^th April – Mixed Relay

Courtesy of Pentathlon GB