A week of strong performances and valuable international experience marked the 2026 U17 European Championships in Pontevedra, Spain.
Pentathlon GB athletes travelled to Pontevedra from 6–12 July to compete at the 2026 U17 European Championships, with many representing Great Britain at a Pentathlon Major Championships for the first time.
The week opened with the men’s and women’s relay events, where both teams secured top-10 finishes. The gender relays also provided Valentina, Zara, Nathaniel and Elliot with a valuable opportunity to gain experience at their debut championships ahead of their individual events.
In the individual competitions, four women and three men progressed to their respective finals following strong qualification performances. They were closely supported by fellow Pentathlon GB athletes Ava, Zara, Dan and William, who narrowly missed out on Finals places, while Lucas and Valentina delivered solid performances at their debut major championships. Unfortunately, Kruze suffered an OCR elimination which prevented him from progressing to the final.
Highlights included Cecilia’s impressive eighth-place finish on her return from injury, top-seven finishes for Jemima and Oliver, and successful European Championship debuts for Nathaniel, Thomas, Kiki and Pollyanna, who reached the men’s and women’s final respectively.
The mixed relay team of Kruze and Jemima also produced an excellent performance, finishing fourth after recording the fastest combined obstacle course time of the day and missing out on bronze by just three points.
The championships provided valuable experience for the squad as they continue their preparations for the World Championships, School Games and the 2027 season.
Athletes selected for the 2026 U17 World Championships in Lithuania are:
Women: Ava Chappell, Jemima Chetwood, Cecilia Huepfl, Kiki Fletcher and Pollyanna Warman
Men: Kruze Frampton, Thomas Lay, William Reed and Oliver Stenhouse
