Oundle School pupil Jessica Varley is Olympic hope
Over the Summer, Oundle School pupil and modern pentathlete, Jessica Varley (16), who has been fast-tracked as a future British Olympian after being handpicked to join the Lloyds TSB Local Heroes initiative, came 2nd in the National Pony Club Intermediate Tetrathlon Championships, and 3rd in National Youth Modern Pentathlon Championships.
As a result Jess has been selected to represent Great Britain in the Olympic Hopes competition in Poland from 29 September to 3 October. She will also be attending a training camp prior to
this competition over the weekend of 24 and 25 September with training camps and trials for Junior/Senior teams in November and December.
Jess is a member of Peterborough Athletic Club, Burghley Pony Club, Oundle, Peterborough and Stamford Fencing Club (recently set up by Jess’ fencing coach Chris Howser) and Oundle and District Swimming Club.
Jess commented, “I've had a really exciting summer. Training has gone particularly well and I was delighted with the National competition results especially the National Modern Pentathlon Championships in which I achieved the best Combined Event (run and shoot) score, a personal best time by 20 seconds. The icing on the cake was straight A*s in my GCSEs. My focus now is on the Olympic Hopes competition at the end of September and then the Junior/ Senior Modern Pentathlon trials in December. These trials are for experience as I still have two years left in the Youth age group."
Jess’ Fencing Coach, Chris Howser commented, “Jess has been a real eye-opener having been a real novice at fencing in September she has really worked hard to become a really effective Pentathlon fencer having placed 4th in the Fencing section of the National Tetrathlon event in April after only 7 months of fencing training. Her dedication and commitment to excel in her chosen sport is exemplary and she has real potential to reach the highest echelons of the sport in the future.”
In partnership with SportsAid, the Lloyds TSB initiative is designed to ensure more talent reaches the top of their sport.