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- Apr 2013
Pentathlon GB uses and shares defence technology to test laser pistols
Posted on Thursday, 26th Jul 2012 by Steve Ballinger
Scientists and engineers from BAE Systems have been applying defence and security technology to help the British Modern Pentathlon team to evaluate their high-tech laser pistols, which were introduced at the beginning of the 2011 season, replacing traditional air pistols.
Subsequent changes in training programmes and the specifications of the laser pistols have presented athletes and coaches throughout the sport with technical challenges. A key difference compared with air pistols is that lasers leave no physical mark on the target: scoring is entirely electronic. In addition, with complex electronic components any malfunctioning – actual or potential - is more difficult to spot.
As part of its Technology Partnership with UK Sport, scientists from BAE Systems adapted laser systems originally used to protect aircraft from hostile attack in a series of bespoke laboratory tests and examined how the laser pistols performed, including tests on power output, beam profile and laser pulse duration.
The BAE Systems team created a mobile laser pistol evaluation device called ‘ULTeMo’, which athletes can take to compeions, to help with last minute checks and to give athletes 100% confidence in the new technology. To use this system athletes simply align the pistol in the device and fire a single shot. The ULTeMo device immediately gives an indication how well the laser is performing, measuring the strength of the laser pulse.
BAE Systems’ test results showed that the laser pistols used by the British pentathletes were performing correctly and to specification, which has alleviated technical concerns among Pentathlon GB’s athletes and their coaches. Testing also [censored]essed whether environmental conditions such as moisture, temperature and sunlight affect the reliability of the lasers.
Jan Bartu, Pentathlon GB’s Performance Director, has publicly thanked UK Sport for its engagement with and funding of BAE Systems’ [censored]istance with the laser technology:
‘This test process removes one of the enduring concerns for athletes - that some unseen technical problem may affect their shooting. It means that Britain’s pentathletes are able to enter compeions with full confidence in their equipment.’
Jan Bartu has decided to make the evaluation device available to all pentathletes competing in the Olympic Games, no matter which country they are representing:
‘We would not be interested in winning a medal just because someone else’s laser equipment did not work properly on the day: that would be a step too far in my view.
Pentathlon GB will be offering use of the evaluation device to athletes competing at the Olympic Games.
And he added: ‘BAE Systems deserves full recognition for a very good job - from us and from the sport in general.’
Kelvin Davies, BAE Systems Project Leader of the UK Sport Technology Partnership said: ‘With experts in laser technology and optics and a suite of laboratory facilities, we have been able to help to verify the correct operation of the laser equipment.
This kind of technology has never been available to the sport before. It allows the pentathletes to test their equipment in the minutes leading up to a compeion, helping to eliminate any last minute concerns which could affect their performance - and potentially make the difference between winning and losing.
The challenge in building this system lies in the fact that the laser pulse is very short. High speed electronics are needed to perform the analysis and provide the athlete with the result. The ULTeMo system offers a high degree of usability, portability and provides instantaneous results.’
News from June 2013
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| Date | MYSQL Date | Headline | News Item | Posted By |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wednesday, 19th Jun 2013 | 2013-06-19 | Recruitment - Apprentice Coaches | PENTATHLON GB COACH APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMME Apprentice Coach Recruitment Location: To be discussed with candidate Salary: To be discussed with candidate Pentathlon GB believe that the development of our home grown coaching force is an integral part of the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic Cycle Plan. The continuation of British Modern Pentathlon success on the international stage beyond 2016 will require training of a new generation of competent, enthusiastic and inspirational coaches. Our Coach Apprenticeship Programme (CAP) will be launched in October 2013 so that we can develop and nurture coaching talent over two years to deliver long term success. The successful candidates must have perseverance, ambition, and initiative. Experience in coaching and a sporting background is essential. Competition for the CAP places will be fierce, so candidates will need to demonstrate uncompromised commitment, awareness of related responsibilities and allegiance to Pentathlon GB and our athletes. Candidates also need to be capable of working as both part of a team and individually as no day will be the same. Pentathlon GB now invites candidates to apply for the limited number of available places. Further details related to the content and organization of the CAP will be provided on individual basis to the successful applicants. Applications should be in the form of a CV and covering letter and must be submitted via e-mail to Eleanor Guest at eleanor.guest@pentathlongb.org Any questions regarding the position should be directed to Jan Bartu, Pentathlon GB Performance Director via e-mail jan.bartu@pentathlongb.org
The closing date for applications is 1700 22 July 2013. |
Eleanor Guest |
| Sunday, 16th Jun 2013 | 2013-06-16 | Youth B Europeans Minsk BLR - Relay Results | More confusion today at the Yth B European relay events. But not falling at the door of GBR Team, we had a good day with the Girls and Boys teams taking Bronze in the team relay event. Full results and photos can now be found at: http://www.pentathlon.by/95-viza.html |
Stuart Mason |
| Thursday, 13th Jun 2013 | 2013-06-13 | Youth B Europeans Minsk Belarus Report | After being left in hotel all day and only getting the coach to the venue at 4pm this afternoon and the serious delays due to a power cut and then sunshine too bright sunlight for the targets to function, the combined event managed to get under way. Aylish Paisley, Kerenza Bryson and Georgina Summers went in the first detail. All three girls had a good combined event and moved themselves up into the top 15 hence ahead of some in the final detail. This confirmed their performances that have been seen in training. Naomi Craig went off 2nd in the final detail and had 2 of the best shoots of her life coming into the 3rd shoot in 1st place but unfortunately she timed out on 50 seconds on the last shoot and dropped herself down to 10th place. 43 girls and 10 teams started the day. The boys were all in the 2nd detail due to their strong swims with Henry starting in 2nd place and Myles in 4th, William in 21st and Harrison 26th. The boys had 56 starting with 12 teams. Henry had not his best day on the range and came in to the final shoot in 3rd place but unfortunately stood on the range and dropped to 12th place at the end of the final run. Myles dropped to 29th and William to 24th but the performance of the boys was Harrison Yarnold who moved himself into 8th place with a very strong shoot and run. Overall results: Harrison Yarnold 8th Naomi Craig 10th |
Stuart Mason |
| Thursday, 13th Jun 2013 | 2013-06-13 | Updated Laser Safety Statement - 13 June 2013 | On 17 April 2013 PGB posted a notice about the safe use of laser pistols. We reinforce and expand this as follows: LASER SAFETY
In summary, do not use continuous beam unless advised that you should do so – and never point a laser pistol at anyone.
Jon Austin
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Eleanor Guest |
| Thursday, 13th Jun 2013 | 2013-06-13 | Recruiting - Freelance Coordinator - South East Region | Pentathlon GB are looking to recruit a Freelance Coordinator for the South East Region. We are seeking an enthusiastic individual with strong administrative and inter-personal skills to be a freelance co-ordinator who will nurture our future talent in the South East Region and provide the stepping stone to towards their possible inclusion in our World Class Programme. We envisage this would be a contract for services and fees will be agreed with the successful contractor based on the delivery of agreed outcomes. If you would like to discuss this further then please speak to Peter Evans on 07855 957924. To make an application please send your CV and covering letter to eleanor.guest@pentathlongb.org by the closing date of Friday 05 July 13. |
Eleanor Guest |
| Tuesday, 11th Jun 2013 | 2013-06-11 | Junior Europeans Team Selection |
Jan Bartu, Performance Director E-mail: Jan.Bartu@pentathlongb.org, Mobile: +44(0)7921 100859, Office: +44(0)1225 384021
Team Selection Update 10 June 2013
Junior European Championships, Sofia – Bulgaria, 17 – 25 June
Women: Joanna Muir, Eilidh Prise, Kerry Prise and Alice Fitton
Men: Joseph Evans, Luke Tasker, Samuel Curry and Thomas Toolis
Leader: Patricia Prise Coaches: Istvan Nemeth and Michal Janca
Jan Bartu Performance Director On behalf of the Pentathlon GB Performance Team
The Pentathlon GB Ranking List No.2 has been published here.
|
Jan Bartu |
| Sunday, 9th Jun 2013 | 2013-06-09 | Hungarian Open Championships Live Coverage | You can watch the GBR Team live online now at http://www.compentint.hu/live And the results are being shown on the UIPM Website |
Stuart Mason |
| Wednesday, 5th Jun 2013 | 2013-06-05 | Medal Success for GB Biathle at Italy World Tour | ![]() Great Britain once again proved the best team at the Biathle World Tour in Tirennia, Italy. The small team of fourteen athletes came away with 11 medals. In the younger age groups There were emphatic wins for Sophie Mabbs, Jessica Sutton, Hannah Stanton and Bradley Sutton. The next World Tour event will be the British round at Weymouth on 6th July. Full results from Italy will appear on the results page.
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Alexia Jones |
| Monday, 3rd Jun 2013 | 2013-06-03 | Fell to take part in the John O'Groats to Land's End challenge | As one of Britain’s top modern pentathletes and Olympic silver medallist at the 2008 Beijing games, Heather Fell is highly skilled across the disciplines of fencing, swimming, show jumping and running and shooting. However, Fell - who trains locally at the Pentathlon GB High Performance Centre at the University of Bath - is about to step out of her comfort zone by undertaking the Deloitte Ride Across Britain ultimate cycle challenge to raise money for the Bath Rugby Foundation. Deloitte Ride Across Britain: Caption: Heather Fell at Bath Rugby's Farleigh House (Deloitte Ride Across Britain for Bath Rugby Foundation) Picture Credit: Taking Pictures-Sport.co.uk |
Steve Ballinger |
| Saturday, 1st Jun 2013 | 2013-06-01 | Young Brits secure top-10 finishes at World Cup Final | Young British athletes Jamie Cooke and Joe Evans secured top-10 finishes at the Modern Pentathlon World Cup Final in Russia today (Saturday). Cooke came home in sixth place with Joe Evans just behind him in seventh at the sport’s biggest competition since the London 2012 Olympics. |
Steve Ballinger |
News from May 2013
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Posted on {Date} by {Posted_By}
| Date | MYSQL Date | Headline | News Item | Posted By |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friday, 31st May 2013 | 2013-05-31 | Spence seventh at World Cup Final | Britain’s Mhairi Spence came home seventh at the Modern Pentathlon World Cup Final in the Russian city of Nizhny Novgorod today (Friday). The World Cup Final is the climax to the annual World Cup series of modern pentathlon competitions.
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Steve Ballinger |
| Thursday, 30th May 2013 | 2013-05-30 | Shadow Minister for Sport meets Olympic silver medallist on Bath tour | Shadow Minister for Sport Clive Efford MP met London 2012 Olympic silver medallist Samantha Murray and Pentathlon GB Performance Director Jan Bartu during a recent visit to the University of Bath Sports Training Village. |
