Modern pentathletes bound for Ballarat

BALLARAT will host the 2025 Modern Pentathlon State Championship for the first time on February 15.

Modern Pentathlon Victoria (MPV) will also run a multisport festival at the same time, all centred in and around the main venue at Ballarat Grammar in Wendouree.

Other venues are the Ballarat Pony Club in Newington and Ballarat Ninjas in Alfredton.

MPV president Cherie Mordue said up to 50 competitors are expected to contest the state title, coming from as far away as Coffs Harbour and Newcastle in New South Wales, and from throughout Victoria.

Ms Mordue said the championship had been held in Geelong for the past two years and in Melbourne before that, but this year MPV decided to take the event to a new location.

The mother of Ballarat’s young pentathlon star and Ballarat Grammar student Zoe Addinsall, Katherine Cameron (who is also MVP treasurer), gave the organisation the impetus to select Ballarat.

“Katherine mentioned Ballarat Ninjas,” she said. “The venues are all 10 or 15 minutes away from each other.”

Ms Mordue said having Ballarat Grammar as the primary venue was “a good link,” adding that Ballarat was an advantage in terms of travel and transport for competitors.

“It was a perfect combination,”she said.

Zoe will be among competitors for state honours.

Competition on the day will include modern pentathlon (fencing, swimming, laser run and obstacles); pentathlon (swimming, fencing, show jumping and laser run); ultimate pentathlon (swimming, fencing, obstacles, show jumping and laser run); tetrathlon (swimming, fencing and laser run); obstacle laser run (obstacles and laser run); and a laser run.

In the individual laser run competition, athletes start with a handicap and run about 25m to a shooting range where they are required to hit five targets and wait 50 seconds before beginning an 800m run.

Ballarat Ninjas will host the obstacle course events and the pony club all the equestrian categories.

The obstacle course racing component is the newest aspect of pentathlon competitions and will be included in the sport at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.

The standalone laser run is a pathway sport into full modern pentathlon competition.

Ms Mordue said the state modern pentathlon championship gives winners direct entry into national competitions.

More information about the event is available on the MPV Facebook page.