The award recognises that the club are working to the high standards that Modern Pentathlon, and its constituent sports and Sport England, working through North Yorkshire Sport, endorse, and that the volunteers within the club are well organised and educated in running a sports club, to create a friendly and safe environment for its members in which to train and compete. Modern Pentathlon consists of 5 key disciplines which are Swimming, Shooting, Fencing, Running and Horse Riding.

The award is the one of the first of its kind in the Country to be awarded to a Modern Pentathlon Club and also recognises North Yorkshire Sport as a licensed organisation to administer the Clubmark award to the clubs in the County.

North Yorkshire Sport Executive Director David Watson commented: “Becoming one of the very first Clubmarked Modern Pentathlon club in the country is a fantastic achievement and we are delighted to have been able to facilitate this here in North Yorkshire. Club Mark provides a strong frmaework for quality and excellence and that is why North Yorkshire Sport have taken the step of becoming a Licensee for the Award. This club is the first we have awarded the standard to and we look forward to supporting many more clubs through the standard, working with local partners, in the future. I offer my sincerest congratulations and thanks to everyone involved in this achievement.”

Brian Parkinson, Chairman from the Yorkshire Modern Pentathlon Club, commented on behalf of the committee “We are very pleased to have achieved Clubmark. The club, along with Pentathlon North East, have both been the first to gain this prestigious Award. We are looking forward to the advantages that Clubmark will make to further the development of Modern Pentathlon in Yorkshire.”

Ann Marshall, Development Officer for Modern Pentathlon, commented “Yorkshire Pentathlon Club achieving Clubmark will make significant impact in working with schools in the County and also in utilising Leisure Facilities, and provides the general public reassurance that the club are up to speed with important issues such as child protection and equality of access. The award will also open up opportunities for them to access additional opportunities to develop the club even further and through funding opportunities. I offer my congratulations to them on this fantastic achievement.”

The club were awarded their certificate, which is valid for 3 years, at Hambleton Leisure Centre on Wednesday 28^th July. More information on the club can be found at http://www.pentathlongb-yorkshire.co.uk with more information on Clubmark available at www.northyorkshiresport.co.uk