This unique event, which combines the skills of shooting, swimming and running at youth level, was dominated by the strong Hungarian team. It was also a double triumph for the Modern Pentathlon Association of Ireland, who successfully organised their first major international event, and saw the Irish relay team of Emily Greenan, Emma Fleming and Sive Brassil fight it out for a podium position among the best athletes in Europe.
In the largest ever Youth European Championships, which saw more than 120 athletes and 21 nations participate, the dominant Hungarian team took the two individual and two team gold medals on offer on Friday. The shooting event, which took place at DCU, was dominated by the old eastern block countries, but a competitive swimming phase at the national aquatic centre opened up the competition. Impressive running from Valentine Belaud of France saw him move from 15th place at the start of the handicap run, up to the silver medal position, though he was never going to catch Mate Telek of Hungary, who led from the start of the handicap run to take gold, with team mate Istvan Malits taking bronze. Zsofia Foldhazi of Hungary proved too strong for the opposition in the womens event, dominating from start to finish, with Magdalena Drab of Poland taking silver, and Gulnaz Gubaydullina of Russia taking bronze. In the team event, Hungary again stole the show, with gold in both the mens and the womens events, while Poland proved to be second strongest all round, taking the silver medal in both events. Russia took the bronze medal in the womens event, and in an exciting finish to the mens team event, France just pipped Belarus for bronze on the basis of team position in each of the shoot, swim and run, after the two teams finished on the same team pentathlon points at the end of the competition.
In the team relay event, which took place on Sunday, it was Russia who set the early pace in the womens event, with a dominant performance in the shoot, accumulating 1036 pentathlon points. In a great day for the young host nation, the Irish team of Greenan, Fleming and Brassil shot their way to an impressive 2nd position, with a large group of teams snapping at their heals, including newly crowned European Team Champions, Hungary. The swimming event at the National Aquatic centre saw significant shifting in places, with Hungary and Great Britain moving up the leader board after some world class performances in the pool, though Russia further strengthened their lead with the fastest swim time of 3:00,41 for the 3 x 100m relay. Russia started the run with a significant lead, but no lack of focus as Hungary bore down on them in 2nd. A mouth watering battle lay in store for bronze, with Italy in 4th, hosts Ireland lying in 5th, and the Poland in 6th. The run delivered on its promise of an exciting finish, with Hungary steadily hauling in the Russian team to snatch gold, and a strong performance from Poland saw them move up to bronze medal position, with Ireland finishing in a very creditable 7th place in their first major continental championships. In the mens event, it was again Hungary who dominated, using their advantage built in the shoot and swim to lead from start to finish of the handicap run, despite the best efforts of the Polish team who held on for silver. Anchored by individual silver medallist Valentine Belaud, France again produced an impressive performance in the run, clawing their way from 9th position to snatch the bronze medal.
