PLYMOUTH modern pentathlete Myles Pillage and his Great Britain team-mate Jess Varley claimed a sixth place finish in the mixed relay at the European Championships in Minsk on Monday.
The young British duo were competing against more experienced rivals, including several Olympians, but the pair held their own throughout the competition.
The day started with the swim, where good teamwork saw 19-year-old Pillage and 22-year-old Varley record a time of 1:59.12 – the fifth quickest in the field.
In the fencing they recorded 17 victories and 23 defeats, picking up 195 points to leave them eighth after the opening two disciplines in the Belarusian capital.
A strong ride, knocking just two poles down, saw the Brits score 269 points and move up a position ahead of the concluding laser-run.
An impressive display on both the track and range from the pair saw them pick up another place in the final discipline, crossing the line in sixth to cap a fine day in their first ever senior European Championships.
Pillage had finished 11th in the men’s relay with Bradley Sutton earlier in the championships.
Meanwhile, Plymouth College pentathlete Georgina Mitchell enjoyed an encouraging performance at the World Under-19 Championships in Prague.
The 16-year-old came through qualifying and reached the women’s individual final, where she finished 28th overall.
Earlier in the championships, Mitchell, who is still an under-17 athlete, had finished ninth in the women’s relay with GB partner Emma Whitaker.