Pethathlete takes international title

Plymouth College elite athlete, Myles Pillage, 16, has beaten the top competitors from 12 nations to win a Modern Pentathlon Youth International in Birmingham.

Representing Great Britain in Youth B Boys, Myles swam close to the youth world record with a time of 1.54.8 - the world record is 1.54.4. He also won the combined event in 9.22 minutes giving him 924 points. Myles would have won a silver medal with this score at the 2013 European Championships.In the same age group, Dan Pengelly, 15, also representing Great Britain, was 10th (770 points) with a swim of 2.09 and combined of 11.11 minutes.

In Youth B Girls, Coral Hays, 14, competing for Kenya, was 8th with a swim of 2.26 minutes and combined of 11.18.87. Kerrie Johnson,15, for Ireland, was 12th with 636 points. In Youth A Girls, Chloe Campbell-Hamilton (GB), 15, was 22nd on 785 points followed closely by Catherine Bishop (GB), 14, in 23rd place and 784 points. In Youth A Boys, Paddy Erskine (Ireland), 17, was 31st scoring 950 points. International medallist, Kerenza Bryson, 15, was selected for Great Britain but could not compete through injury.

As well as Great Britain, Ireland and Kenya, the other countries competing were Germany, Hungary, Spain, Portugal, Austria, Czech Republic, Italy, Egypt and Greece. Youth A athletes competed in four disciplines - fencing, swimming and combined run/shoot - while the Youth B athletes competed in swimming and combined run/shoot.

"Myles was on top form and to beat such a strong international field was a fantastic result," said Director of Modern Pentathlon and Fencing, Andy Hill. "This is the most number of athletes we've ever had in a multi-nation competition. It was a great opportunity for them to be able to test their skills against new opponents and to gain vital competitive experience."