Young biathlon star takes national championship title - 7/7/10

Published: 07 July, 2010

Myles Pillage, 12, has followed up his British Schools Biathlon Championships title in March by taking the winner's crown at the MPAGB (Modern Pentathlon Association of Great Britain) British Biathlon Championships. 

The Plymouth College Year 7 swimming scholar topped the Youth D Boys category with 2560 points. Competing against the top 43 athletes from clubs and schools around the country, Myles won the 50m swim in a new personal best time of 28.14.  He was fifth in the 1 km run. The Plymouth College team, which included his twin brother Alex Pillage and James Murphy, took the silver medal spot at the event held in Liverpool.

No stranger to winning, Myles was the British Schools Biathlon Champion in Year 5.  He took the 50m freestyle title and record at the IAPS National Swimming Championships when he was in Year 6 and clinched bronze in the National Triathlon Championships the same year.  He then went on to win silver and bronze medals at the 2009 National Swimming Championships, and in April this year he won and broke his age group record in the 50m fly at the National Arena League Cup final in Sheffield.

Myles does his swimming with Plymouth Leander, while his running and shooting development comes under the Plymouth College Modern Pentathlon Academy banner.  He is also a star rugby player.

"Winning the British Championships is an outstanding achievement and I am very proud of Myles", said Plymouth College Director of Modern Pentathlon, Andy Hill.  "He is a very talented young athlete and is going from strength to strength. With significant improvement in his shooting in the last few months, I have high hopes that he will do well in the regional and national triathlon championships later this year."