DORSET Pentathletes produced another excellent team performance at the National Biathlon Championships in Sutton Coldfield to retain the title of ‘Best in Britain’.

It is the fifth successive year that the club has gained the accolade and this time they returned home with an amazing haul of seven team gold medals, one team bronze, two individual gold, two individual silver and two individual bronze.

Mick Flaherty’s outfit also claimed 16 top-10 finishes, which is further evidence of the strength and depth in the county ranks across the age groups.

Those achievements saw Dorset end the event with a winning margin of 80 points over Yorkshire Region MPC and North Kent, making the club the most successful in the competition’s history.

Team coach Flaherty said: “Once again the kids from the local area have done a great job in their efforts at the nationals to win so much and retain top club status.

“The time and effort in terms of training put in by the athletes each week over the last few months has paid off in their results, and I would like to thank all the coaches from the various swimming and running clubs for their continued support.

“Many of our team still have another year in the age group they competed in this year so all bodes well for the years ahead.”

RESULTS Youth E Boys’ 10-and-under: Josh Frampton (6th), Kai Luke (11th), Daniel Warland (15th) – team gold.

Girls’ 10-and-under: Emilia Foice (26th).

Youth D Boys’ 12-and-under: Jack Northmore (5th), Charlie Samouelle (11th), William Blackledge (36th) – team gold; Harry Buttle (26th), Tom Boulton (37th), Ben Macklin (41st), Alexandra Jeffries (46th) – 9th placed team finish.

Girls’ 12-and-under: Zoe Gowers (20th), Rachael Jefferies (21st), Kelly Snook (40th) – 5th placed team finish; Sacha Kelly (43rd), Katherine Ninham (46th), Charlotte Portsmouth (57th) – 12th placed team finish; Jessica Goddard (49th), Olivia Foice (53rd), and Chloe Cake (58th) – 13th placed team finish.

Boys’ 14-and-under: Harrison Yarnold (3rd), Oscar Esposti (9th), Hugh Ireland (23rd), Harvey Trehane (28th) – team gold.

Girls 14-and-under: Amie Buttle (7th), Rebecca Bowles (8th), Victoria Halford (11th) – team gold; Bethan Whittall (6th), Christiana Cole (36th), Scarlet Furness (50th), Aoife McCarthy (58th) – 8th placed team finish. Boys’ 16-and-under: Chris Perham (1st), Peter Horne (5th), Tom Mules (10th) – team gold.

Girls’ 16-and-under: Danielle Bury (3rd), Olivia Esposti (9th), Lucy Flynn (11th) – team gold.

Girls’ 18-and-under: Africa Mason (2nd), Rebecca Brown (16th), Chantelle Blackledge (18th) – team silver.

Senior Men: Scott Civil (6th).

Masters’ Men: Ian Hughes (1st), Nick Ireland (2nd), Andy Whittall (4th) – team gold; Mick Flaherty (11th), Richard Bowles (12th), John Blackledge (14th) – 3rd placed team finish.

* Anyone interested in sponsoring Dorset Pentathletes can contact Mick Flaherty at flaherty121@aol.com