Looking Ahead

The future of the sport in the Army is strong. Recently renewed linkages with international and national governing bodies (UIPM based in Monaco and MPAGB based in Bath) promise an exciting period of growth beyond the London Olympic Games in 2012.

The Association's President is General Sir Peter Wall, Chief of the General Staff. He is a former Army and Cambridge University team captain, combined champion and still the current Varsity record holder in the fencing element. CGS approved the appointment of a new AMPA management team from 2010 in anticipation of a resurgence of interest in the sport, the Army's specific contribution to the London 2012 Olympics and beyond.

Lieutenant Colonel Seb Pollington RTR is Chairman AMPA and Captain Frank Quinn REME is Secretary. The sports' home is at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and it enjoys funding support through Team Army from sponsors SAAB and TQ.

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Army Modern Pentathlon Association (AMPA) competition dates 2012

21-22 January
MPAGB Selection for World Championships (Bath University)

25-26 February 
Army Modern Triathlon Competition (Sandhurst)

23-26 March 
Army Team to Berlin European Competition (Olympic Stadium, Berlin)

24-25 April 
International Olympic Centenary Competition with military teams from UK, France, Italy, Germany and Sweden. (Sandhurst)

13 May 
British Modern Biathlon Championships (Birmingham)

23 May 
Army Tetrathlon Championships (Sandhurst)

23-24 June
British Modern Pentathlon Championships (Solihull)

21-22 July 
Army Modern Pentathlon Championships - Open and Military Competition (Sandhurst)

11-12 August
Army Officials at London 2012 Olympics Modern Pentathlon Event (Olympic Park, Stratford and Greenwich Park)

12 September
Army Triangular Competition with (Oxford and Cambridge Universities)

17 November
Cambridge Old Blues and Army Competition (Cambridge) 

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Get Involved

All ranks can compete for the Army's Modern Pentathlon team. Candidates for selection should make themselves known to the Secretary or Coach at any stage (see contacts below). Competitions run throughout the year and 2012 sees a particularly strong fixture list building on the Olympic Centenary of the sport. Training camps will also occur - usually in the immediate week before competition events. Sandhurst Officer Cadets are encouraged to make themselves known to Academy sport representatives (Maj Jamie Bunyard or Capt Alison Macdonald; alternatively call Sgt Meek (Coach) directly on 07411 590800).

Understanding Modern Pentathlon

Modern Pentathlon comprises five athletic disciplines: fencing, swimming, riding and combined running and shooting (Tetrathlon, based on 4 events, does not involve riding). The sport was designed by Baron Pierre de Coubertin, the chief founder of the modern Olympic Games. The concept behind the competition is that a military courier sets out on horseback to carry a message. Along the way, he has to fight a duel with epees, use a pistol, swim across a river, and then run through the woods to reach his goal. George S Patton, who later became General of the US Army, competed in the first Olympic Modern Pentathlon at the 1912 Games.

The events have changed somewhat since 1912. The equestrian event, originally a 5000m cross-country ride against time, is now a 400m show jump course. The swimming event has been cut from 300m to 200m. The cross-country running event was cut from 4000m to 3000m. The shooting event, originally a 22-caliber pistol shoot from 25m at turning targets, is a 10m air pistol shoot at a stationary target and it is soon to be based on laser technology. As in 1912, the fence has remained a round robin competition, with a single touch deciding each match.

Modern Pentathlon competitions are conducted over a single day. The first element is fencing, for which athletes are required to fence against every other athlete. The fencing is then followed by swimming (200m freestyle) and riding (jumping over a 12-jump course). Athletes are given a score for each element of the competition. After the first three elements, the athletes' total scores are converted into a time handicap. The handicap determines the starting times for the combined run/shoot element, for which athletes are required to shoot at sets of five targets after running several stretches of 1,000m. The winner of the competition is the athlete who crosses the finish line first.

The London 2012 Olympics

Modern Pentathlon is one of only five sports to sell-out its original ticket allocation. Apart from those selected to compete for the GB team, The Army will be represented in an official and supporting role.

A century after its Olympic debut at the Stockholm Games of 1912, the Modern Pentathlon competition at London 2012 will actually be the first Olympic Games at which the running and shooting elements are combined.

The competition will be held across three venues: the fencing will be held at the Handball Arena; the swimming will take place in the Aquatics Centre; and the riding and combined running/shooting will be staged in Greenwich Park.