Pentathlete returns to world champs

Off with a bang: Zoe Addinsall had to shoot a pistol and run as a competitor in the 2023 UIPM Laser Run World Championships. Photos: SUPPLIED

PENTATHLETE Zoe Addinsall recently competed at the 2023 Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne Laser Run World Championships in Bath, England.

Against high-performing global competition, the Ballarat Grammar student placed thirteenth in the under-17 women’s final race overall, which saw her shoot and run, and finished as the top Australian athlete in the division.

During the three-day meet, Addinsall and relay partner Max Clarke placed fifth in the mixed under-17 relay, which they also paired up for during 2022’s UIPM World Championships in Portugal.

“The week was definitely a lot more challenging than last year,” she said. “There were a lot more people, and lots of new faces at the competition.

“But all the results were really close together, and we all crossed the line straight after each other, so I was pretty happy with that.

“I enjoyed seeing where I am compared to the rest of the world. There were heaps of athletes from Great Britain and Egypt, and those teams were definitely very dominant.

Addinsall emerged from the comp as Modern Pentathlon Australia’s best under-17 athlete.

Modern Pentathlon is a five-discipline sport made up of swimming, fencing, show jumping, pistol shooting and running components, while laser run is just shooting and running.

Also a tetrathlete, Addinsall is ranked first on the Pony Club Australia tetrathlon leaderboard, and later this month, she will compete in the 2023 Pony Club Australia National Championships in Perth.

The riding component will be held in Melbourne, before she flies to Western Australia for the remaining running, shooting, and swimming sections.

“I had the strongest performance all of last year, so hopefully I can stay on top,” she said.

Her next goal is to be part of an upcoming trip to Ireland in 2024 with the Australian tetrathlon team.