Success runs, jumps and shoots in the Neil family
Sophie and Liam Neil of Robert Sandilands School, Newbury, were selected to represent Team GB at the recent World Laser Run and European Biathle/Triathle and Laser Run Championships.
It’s been a hectic period for the two young athletes, who flew to Lisbon to compete in the World Championships at the end of September before travelling to Athens to do battle in the Europeans at the beginning of October.
All the events contain elements of the modern pentathlon as the youngsters build up to full adult competition; Laser Run for instance contains two shooting events and two runs.
The frenetic fortnight began at the World Championships in Lisbon where Sophie, who is the current under-nine British champion, came sixth in the individual event, fifth in the mixed relay event and won silver in the team event, finishing behind hosts Portugal.
Liam also performed well, finishing seventh in the final and narrowly missing out on inclusion in the gold medal winning Team GB, finishing as the fourth fastest British athlete.
The brother and sister duo then briefly returned home before flying out to Athens for the European Championships, which took place between October 6 and 10.
Liam finished fifth in both the Biathle – run, swim, run – and the Triathle – shoot, swim, run, shoot, swim, run – and fourth in the Laser Run, performing well despite battling illness.
Sophie was celebrating her birthday, and was presented with a card signed by two-time Olympian and World and European modern pentathlon champion, James Cooke.
She rounded off a memorable Greek adventure with a fantastic performance, winning both the individual and team gold medals to be crowned European champion.
The pair returned home and were soon back in domestic action, competing in the British Modern Triathlon Championships in Nottingham.
Sophie’s sensational form continued, winning the British title in her first ever modern triathlon event.
Not to be outdone, Liam, in his own words, went into “beast mode” in the swimming leg of his event, knocking four seconds off his personal best in the pool to win his maiden British title and cap a wonderful weekend for the Neil family.
