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Josh and Isla star stateside




Team Kennet athletes Josh and Isla Ladds represented the UK at the Spartan Race World Championships in Florida last month.

The Spartan Race is the world's premier obstacle course race, designed to push athletes to their limits. The 2022 event was held in the city of Sebring, Florida's leading endurance racing destination.

Josh, who attends Kennet School, qualified for the event after finishing second at the UK National Series race in Wales while Isla, who is a pupil at Thatcham Park Primary School, secured her place with a magnificent win at the European Championships in October.

Josh and Isla all smiles
Josh and Isla all smiles

Some 200 athletes from across the world descended on the Sunshine State to tackle the three mile course, set amongst Florida's marshy wetlands and complete with 27 signature obstacles including climbing a 15 foot rope, scaling six feet walls and running with 40 pound sandbags.

To add to that, competitors had to deal with testing terrain, 28 degree heat, watch out for the region's notorious fire ants and even avoid a bull that strayed onto the course.

The boys' race set off first and Josh, who was targetting a top 20 finish, came home in an impressive 17th place.

Josh Ladds (centre) with his game face on pre-race
Josh Ladds (centre) with his game face on pre-race

Isla, at 10-years-old one of the youngest competitors in the field, was next up in the girls race and the European Champion delivered the performance of her life to finish third, earning a memorable podium place alongside China's Zijin Wang and America's Giuliana Nelson.

Ladds becomes the first ever British female athlete to podium at the prestigious event, a truly remarkable feat.

Isla Ladds (left) on the podium at the Spartan Kids World Championships
Isla Ladds (left) on the podium at the Spartan Kids World Championships

The Ladds siblings are now back on home soil and their attention turns to the UK National Series in April, with qualification for this year's European Championships in Hungary on the line.



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