OCTOBER sees the South West Modern Pentathlon Association's Biathlon qualifier at Blandford for the National Biathlon of Great Britain in Sheffield in November.

The first six in each age group are offered the opportunity to compete for the South West at the Nationals. Kelly College were successful in the trials and seven boys and three girls will be attending the nationals in November.

The qualifiers start from the youngest upwards, so Kelly were led away by Matthew Henry, 11, in the Youth D boys. Matthew came fourth in the run and first in the swim, ending up first overall.

Youth C girls followed with Louise Amery (14) who came fourth after the run and swim and Jenny Onyon (14) eighth overall. Gavin Stokes, 14, and Saul Rogers, 14, both qualified for the nationals - Youth C boys — in fourth and sixth place, Gavin taking first place in the run convincingly.

Youth B girls saw the Foster sisters fighting it out for first place with younger sister Lauren, 15) just squeezing out Kimberley, 16, to win the swim and overall first place.

In the boys' B event Matthew Slator, 16, easily won his run and came a fine second in the swim to take the overall title, with Jordan Hewitt (16) only 300 points behind in fourth place.

The top group, Youth A boys, was contested by two Kelly College competitors who were first and second at last year's National Biathlon Championships, Robert Pratt, 17, and Peter Freedman, 17.

This time, however, it was Peter who took the honours, coming home before Robert in the run and only just behind him in the swim. Yet another first and second for Kelly College.

The ten competitors are now hard in training for their trip to Sheffield in November for the National Biathlon Championships of Great Britain.