Laser Run set to make UK School Games debut in Loughborough (GBR)

The growth in popularity of Laser Run will be underlined from August 30 to September 2 when the sport makes its debut at the national finals of the UK School Games in Loughborough (GBR).

Eleven sports will be on the programme and Laser Run joins the established Olympic sports of canoeing, rowing and triathlon as well as netball in appearing for the first time.

Pentathlon GB arranged 12 Laser Run qualifying events in England and Scotland with more than 400 young athletes aged 12 to 16 competing for 80 spots at the Games.

One of the qualifying events was the Global Laser Run City Tour at Leweston School in Sherborne, Hampshire on August 5, which involved all age groups from Under-11 to Masters 60+.

The young athletes who qualified for the UK School Games will represent four teams (Scotland, England North, England Midlands and England South).

The format will be the same as the GLRCT with competitors shooting from five metres and running distances varying between 2x400m and 3x400m for different age groups. There will be individual events on August 31 followed by a Mixed Relay on September 1, and the entire Games is set up to resemble a mini-Olympics with athletes staying in Olympic Village-style accommodation at Loughborough University.

To date, 19,200 young athletes have taken part in the UK School Games, with many having gone on to represent their country on the global stage. In fact, 15 per cent of the team who competed for Great Britain at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games and 20 per cent of the Paralympians the same year had experienced the UK School Games during their teens.

The School Games will be the first competition for Pentathlon GB’s new national competition and events manager, Dominic White, who said: “Laser Run offers a fantastic entry point to multi-sports and tests multiple characteristics with the challenge of having stamina and speed for the run, along with focus and composure for the shoot.

“We’re delighted that it has been included as one of just 11 sports in this year’s National School Games and it’s a fantastic opportunity for us to showcase the sport and the modern pentathlon pathway. The 12 qualifying events around the country have seen many new athletes introduced to Laser Run, helping to raise awareness of this dynamic sport.

“The National School Games will provide some of our young athletes with the experience and excitement of competing at a major competition in front of huge crowds of spectators with some of the UK’s brightest young athletes competing across the various sports.”

Laser Run is a development sport of UIPM but aspiring athletes of all ages also have the chance to compete for global titles at the UIPM 2018 Laser Run World Championships, which are taking place in Dublin (IRL) on September 28-30. You can register for the open division here and view the invitation to National Federations here.

The GLRCT was created in 2017 to deliver an exciting, dynamic and fun competition to participants of all ages and offer them an entry point to UIPM Sports.

Events took place in parks, stadiums and iconic urban venues in 60 cities around the world in 2017, with more than 15,000 participants. There are about 100 events scheduled in 2018.

Have you liked the UIPM Laser-Run Facebook page yet?