South Africa benefits from UIPM Development Programmes

While the Modern Pentathlon world is looking forward to the World Cup #4 starting tomorrow in Hungary, there are also significant happenings in the development of the sports – particularly in South Africa.

Through various initiatives leaded by the UIPM Instructor Bernhard Petruchinski (GER), the UIPM is helping the South Africa Modern Pantathlon Association to broaden the horizons, develop their skills and promote the growth of the sport.

The initiative involves courses to qualify judges and coaches, and focused training sessions to athletes to improve their abilities.

See below the ongoing development programme:

Bloemfontein (13-19 April): Athletes focused training

Bernhard Petruchinski assisted with coaching of athletes particularly in the Combined event and also present at the Freestate Modern Pentathlon Championships in 17-18 April. A remarkably improvement in all athletes was noted at the competition after the week of focused training.

Stellenbosch (21-26 April): Judges course

Four new Judges were trained in all disciplines. Judges presided a fencing session with athletes to practice the rules and decision making of this discipline. Additionally, judges attended a local Equestrian event to practice the judging of the Jumping.

27-28 April: Athlete Fencing and Swimming Training

Monday 27 April, a public holiday in South Africa, was a full days training in Fencing at Paul Roos Gymnasium School, Stellenbosch, as well as a stroke correction swimming session with athletes from the Khayelitsha Multisport Club, in Cape Town. Athletes fro
m these largely poor communities show an aptitude for Pentathlon and especially the fencing discipline.
Next two Weeks

Petruchinski will run two more Biathle, Triathle and Laser-Run practices in Cape Town and in a small southern town, George. He will also continue with more training sessions in swimming, the combined event and fencing. Petruchinski`s visit culminates with the South African Championships on 15-16 May 2015, in Stellenbosch.

During the event, Petruchinski will assist the newly trained judges in order to ensure all runs according to the UIPM rules, as it is one of the main objectives of the development programme.