The 2023 Modern Pentathlon Australian Championships saw 37 athletes from all across Australia battle it out for podium positions in what has been an epic weekend of outstanding performances in Melbourne . The new format of back to back fast paced competition on day two at Caulfield Grammar School, saw the Fencing Bonus Round, Swim and Laser Run take place in less than two hours.
Watt wins second senior title
The senior women’s event saw Tully Watt (VIC), Genevieve Janse van Rensburg (NSW) and Aleska van Heekeren (NSW) battling it out for a place on the podium. Heading into Sunday’s Fencing Bonus round, Watt carried 501 pentathlon points forward from Saturday’s Ride and Fencing ranking round, trailing Janse van Rensburg with 533 points. Both athletes were strong in the pool with Watt swimming 2.31 (247 points) and Janse van Rensburg swimming 2.16 (278 points). The Laser Run phase saw Watt with a strong run producing a time of 12.29 (551 points) giving her an overall pentathlon score of 1301. Janse van Rensburg did not contest the Laser Run finishing her competition with a score of 811 points. Van Heekeren contesting only the Laser Run produced a time of 12.52 giving her 528 points.
Both Watt and Janse Van Rensburg have only returned to Australia this week after an International competition and training block that saw these athletes contesting the first two UIPM World Cup events in Cairo and Ankara.
Lanskey wins fourth consecutive title with blisteringly fast times in the pool
The senior men’s event was hotly contested with only 9 points separating Lachlan Nicholls (VIC), Rhys Lanskey (QLD) and Timothy Oliver (NSW) as they headed into the Fencing bonus round on Sunday. Lanskey fenced well, picking up an additional 2 hits and adding a very handy 4 points to his overall score. Nicholls and Oliver both won one hit each in the bonus round.
In the pool, Lanskey swam a blisteringly fast 2.03 (303 points) which put him in the lead heading into the Laser Run phase. Impressive runs from all the men in Sunday’s Laser Run. Oliver ran the fastest time of the day with 12.05 (575 points) faster than Amos Vagg (VIC) with 12.06 (574 points). Nicholls ran well with a time of 12.20 (560 points). Lanskey managed to hold them all at bay, running a time of 12.48 (532 points) which was enough to retain the lead he had gained in the pool and winning his fourth consecutive Australian title with an overall Pentathlon score of 1333 points. Oliver was second with 1318 points and Nicholls third with 1250 points.
Junior talent on show
Zoe Addinsall (VIC) cemented her great Riding and Fencing performances from yesterday in the pool and Laser-Run course to claim the junior pentathlon title with 1168 points. The 16 year old swam 2.28 (252 points) and ran strongly with 13:42 (478 points) in the Laser Run.
Kian Blanchard (VIC) also added to strong Riding and Fencing results by performing well in the pool and on the Laser Run course to claim the junior pentathlon title with 1118 points. The 16 year old swam 2.48 (213 points) and ran strongly with 13:46 (474 points) in the Laser Run.
There is a fabulous talent pool in the Under-13, Under-15, Under-17 and Under-19 competitions, and these young athletes certainly made the most of the superb facilities on offer at Caulfield Grammar School with some outstanding results which can be found here.
John Pennell Award
The Inaugural John Pennell volunteer of the year award has been jointly won by two outstanding nominees Kate Thompson (VIC) and Adam Temesi (NSW). The impact that both Kate and Adam have had on the sport of Modern Pentathlon in Australia is far reaching and will be outlined in further detail shortly. Congratulations to you both.
These National Championships, and all the events held around the country each year, could not happen without the tireless work from the teams of volunteers. Thank you to all the volunteers, parents, athletes, coaches, supporters and officials who sourced horses, secured venues, set-up courses, adjudicated, scored, timed and overall contributed to an outstanding event.
Special thanks to everyone on the event organising committee and special mention to our Competition Director Cherie Mordue for all her work in putting together this wonderful event.
The Victorian State Government is once again a valued supporter of this event, as are our venue hosts Caulfield Grammar School and Willow Lane Equestrian Centre.
The complete results will be available shortly on the 2023 National Information Page here
Keep checking our social media channels for new uploads of the great photos and videos that have been captured from this wonderful event.
MPA
