Two young pentathletes have been added to the British team to compete at next month’s Modern Pentathlon World Championships, which take place at Crystal Palace in London.

Eighteen-year-old Steven Mason and 20-year-old Russell North will both make their senior World Championship debuts at Crystal Palace. The championships get underway three weeks tomorrow on Thursday 13th August and run through to Monday 17th August.

Mason (pictured) is from Blackpool and North is from Alton in Hampshire, and both train at the Pentathlon GB high performance centre at the University of Bath.

They join Beijing 2008 Olympians Sam Weale and Nick Woodbridge, whose selection for the men’s team was announced earlier this month.

Heather Fell leads the women’s challenge and is joined by fellow Beijing 2008 Olympian Katy Livingston, as well as Mhairi Spence and Freyja Prentice. Prentice, also aged 18, makes her World Championships debut at Crystal Palace.

Pentathlon GB has also announced the selection of Gareth Evans and Louise Helyer as the team’s travelling reserves.

Jan Bartu, Pentathlon GB performance director, said: “Russell and Steven have both qualified as of right and the World Championships will be a valuable experience for both of them, as it will be for Freyja Prentice.”

The full British team for the World Championships is:

Men
Steven Mason
Russell North
Sam Weale
Nick Woodbridge
Reserve: Gareth Evans

Women
Heather Fell
Katy Livingston
Freyja Prentice
Mhairi Spence
Reserve: Louise Helyer
Posted: Wednesday 22nd July 2009