University Pentathlon
Pentathlon in Universities has a long history. However, since 2000 an expansion in participation has taken place with the annual occurrence of a Student Championships which has been successful in driving enthusiasm from many universities and attracting athletes from as far as Stirling University in Scotland and Trinity College Dublin. Originally begun by Matthew Gisbourne, Tom Kennedy and Harriet Thompson the event is held in Oxford around the end of term in March. The event has grown out of the very strong base which pentathlon has enjoyed for many years at the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge, each of the three founders being experienced Oxbridge competitors.
From 2003, the BUSA Biathlon Championships were run in conjunction with the National Student Modern Pentathlon Championships and in 2005 the Pentathlon Championships were awarded BUSA sanction reinforcing Pentathlon?s standing in University sport. The Championships have attracted some great international competitors over the years, but also prides itself on its roll in development, making pentathlon novices and the younger sixth form athletes very welcome.
Modern Pentathlon Clubs have been well established in Oxford and Cambridge (Oxford University Modern Pentathlon Association ? OUMPA & Cambridge University Modern Pentathlon Club ? CUMPC), both being founded circa 1957. Although such long lived participation cannot been matched by other universities, the student championships has recently triggered clubs in Bristol (BUMPA) and Liverpool (LUMPA); it is hoped that this trend for expansion will continue in the future as enthused individuals take the step from organising a team for the Championships to setting up formal clubs. With the focus of Pentathlon?s performance now being set in Bath, the University of Bath has now established itself as the strongest institution in terms of performance and results. The Student Championships has attracted teams from dozens of different institutions over it?s short history and will continue to encourage the expansion of pentathlon in the future.
Whilst the BUSA Championships have become the focus for Student Pentathlon in the UK, for Oxford and Cambridge Universities the event is followed up with their annual ?Varsity Match? in which each of the two universities are represented by a team of 6 athletes and 3 reserves in each gender. This event is held during the Easter vacation and represents the climax to the season for those competing.
Further information regarding the student championships is hosted on a subsection of the Oxbridge Old Blues web site.