Modern pentathlete Harry Sykes admits he will not be resting on his laurels

RIDING high on confidence following a number of career-best results, Hartpury College modern pentathlete Harry Sykes admits he will not be resting on his laurels as he chases further success.

Last year Sykes took home the Under-17 title at the National Modern Pentathlon Championships in Solihull, much to his delight.

But proving he is equally adept on the larger stage, Sykes registered a ninth-place finish at the Great Britain Youth International Event in Birmingham this year.

Such performances have seen him selected to represent Great Britain at the Kadlece Memorial International Pentathlon alongside other potential podium athletes, with the event taking place in Prague from April 11-12.

Even more impressive is the fact he will compete in the junior age group category for 19-22-year-olds despite being just 17 years old, although Sykes intends to take it all in his stride.

“This year has probably been my best year as a pentathlete, I won the nationals, I did my first ever youth junior international and I’ve just been doing better than expected,” he said.

“Next for me, fingers crossed, I’ll be going to European and World’s this year.

“Hopefully, I’ll get a podium there but it’s going to be tough because I’m in a really tough age group but it’s definitely possible.

“I started doing horse riding and then from there I got into the Pony Club doing running, shooting, swimming and horse riding.

“About three years ago I got into fencing and really enjoyed it and then the following year I got my first podium at nationals and I was really happy with that.

“From there, I’ve just been taking it forward and progressing really.

Sykes is one of 100 athletes selected for the 2015 SSE Next Generation programme, a scheme that identifies potential Commonwealth Games and Olympic medallists of the future, providing them with financial help and mentoring from elite athletes like Olympic medal-winning diver Leon Taylor.

He is also joined on the scheme by fellow Hartpury College star, rugby player Jade Shekells, who is stepping up her return to full fitness following a broken ankle suffered last year.

“We’ve had an unbeaten season and we’re top of the league so its been a really good season so far at Gloucester,” said Shekells, who was a member of the England Under-20s team in 2014.

“The only negative for me is when I broke my ankle and was out for seven months.

“I hated those seven months, we’re training every day and I was just sat there watching and I just wanted to be out on the pitch, it’s really frustrating.

“I want to get back in the under 20’s team and then earn my starting shirt, so it’s all just starting again now.

“Playing rugby is a release, you're not thinking about anything else because you don’t have time to so it helps me get away from everything just to play something that I enjoy.”

SSE’s Next Generation programme partners with SportsAid to provide financial support and training to the sports stars of the future. Keep up to date with the latest @SSENextGen