University of Bath’s proud history of hosting modern pentathlon – both training and competition

This week’s eagerly-awaited European Championships will be the fourth international modern pentathlon competition to be staged at the University of Bath – the proud long-term home of Pentathlon GB. The sport’s National Training Centre was established at the University in 1998, with a host of pentathletes going on to enjoy both sporting and academic success. Five Olympic medallists have come through the Performance Pathway System during the past 17 years, starting with Dr Stephanie Cook...

16 August 2015

World Junior Champ Francesca Summers ready for senior European stage

Newly-crowned World Junior Champion Francesca Summers will have another chance to test herself on the senior stage next week when she competes in the Modern Pentathlon European Championships at the University of Bath. The 19-year-old warmed up for the Rio 2016 Olympic qualifying event in style by winning two golds at the World Junior Championships in Mexico City last week – the individual women’s title and the women’s relay with Mathematics student Eilidh Prise. She...

15 August 2015

England’s Netball World Cup dream ended by ruthless Silver Ferns

Costly mistakes from England saw them succumb to a 50-39 defeat at the hands of New Zealand in their Netball World Cup semi-final in Sydney on Saturday morning. The Silver Ferns were able to capitalise on numerous England failings in possession to secure their place in the final and send the Roses into a bronze medal play-off against Jamaica. Team Bath Netball’s Stacey Francis was an unused replacement during the semi-final, which saw England trail...

15 August 2015

Freyja Prentice completes Pentathlon GB team for home European Championships

Freyja Prentice has been confirmed as the final member of the Pentathlon GB women’s team for next week's Modern Pentathlon European Championships at the University of Bath. The 25-year-old has recovered from severe bone stress to her tibia to edge out former World Champion Mhairi Spence and join Samantha Murray, Kate French and Francesca Summers in the women's individual competition. “The thought of competing at the Europeans is what has kept me going," said Prentice,...

14 August 2015

Stacey Francis “excited” as semi-finalists England seek Netball World Cup history

Team Bath Netball’s Stacey Francis says she is "excited at the prospect of making history" after helping England reach the semi-finals of the Netball World Cup in Australia. A hard-fought 62-46 win over South Africa in their final Pool F game on Friday set up a last-four showdown with New Zealand on Saturday (3.10am BST). The Silver Ferns are the only team boasting a 100 per cent record in this year's competition and have been...

14 August 2015

Nick Woodbridge hoping for more home success at Modern Pentathlon European Championships

Double Olympian Nick Woodbridge is hoping for more home success when the University of Bath hosts the Modern Pentathlon European Championships next week. Woodbridge - pictured promoting ticket sales for the Europeans - is the most experienced member of the Pentathlon GB men’s squad for the continental competition, which runs from August 18-23 and is a qualifying event for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. During his 11-year senior international career, he has competed on home...

13 August 2015

Stacey Francis and Serena Guthrie inspire England to Netball World Cup win over Wales

Team Bath Netball’s Stacey Francis helped England get their Netball World Cup campaign back on track with a comprehensive 78-33 victory over Wales in Sydney on Wednesday. Francis produced some eye-catching interceptions after coming on for the second half with England – looking to get Tuesday’s loss to Australia out of their system – leading 42-16 after two dominant quarters. They started by scoring nine unanswered points and, with former Team Bath player Serena Guthrie...

12 August 2015

England and Wales suffer first Netball World Cup defeats but Brownie helps Scotland to victory

An England side with a strong Team Bath Netball influence put up a real fight before going down 51-41 to defending champions Australia in their opening ‘first eight’ group match at the Netball World Cup. Stacey Francis started at wing-defence, while former Team Bath players Geva Mentor, Eboni Beckford-Chambers, Serena Guthrie and Pamela Cookey were also in the seven that took to the Allphones Arena court in Sydney. And defences were very much on top...

11 August 2015

University of Bath students cannot wait for home European Championships

It’s where they study, where they train and could be where they set the Olympic qualifying standard – the University of Bath really is home from home for modern pentathletes Joe Choong and Tom Toolis. The two up-and-coming talents will be among the eight Pentathlon GB athletes competing at the Sports Training Village from August 18-23 when it hosts the European Championships, a qualifying event for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Both have seen their sporting...

11 August 2015

Top-four finish for Michael Jamieson at US Nationals in Texas

University of Bath-based swimmer Michael Jamieson finished fourth in the 200m breaststroke final at the Phillips 66 US National Championships in San Antonio, Texas on Monday. The London 2012 Olympic Games silver-medallist clocked 2:10.91 in a race won by fellow Scot Craig Benson in 2:09.68. Michael Phelps, the 22-time Olympic medallist, was fifth in 2:11.30. Jamieson, who trains at the British Swimming National Centre Bath, competed in the United States after missing out on a place at the...

11 August 2015