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Upcoming events

Taster sessions

The first two weeks of training are completely free! Come to whatever training session you want (see training timetable below) and get to know the sport and the club 🙂

Cuppers

What better way to end our two weeks of free taster sessions than with a taster competition?

Cuppers will be held on Sunday October 23rd and comprises of fencing followed by the combined event (running and shooting), so people can get to know the competition format and, most of all, have a lot of fun!

Novice Varsity

Many people’s first real taste of competing. Novice Varsity is a tetrathlon competition (without horse riding) against our rivals at Oxford. This year it will be held in Cambridge on Saturday November 12th, with the competition held during the day and a dinner and night out to celebrate afterwards.

What is Modern Pentathlon?

Modern Pentathlon is an Olympic and Full Blue sport comprising running, swimming, shooting, fencing and show jumping. We have a wide range of abilities – anyone is welcome to join us whether they have never done any of the sports before or are a seasoned pentathlete.

Fencing

Epée fencing, one hit only!

Swimming

200m freestyle.

Laser Run

4x800m running with 10m laser shooting in between (similar to skiing biathlon).

Horse Riding

1m10 show jumping on borrowed horses.

Pentathlon in Cambridge

Weekly Training

We train for all 5 sports every week during term time. Details are in the weekly email but a general timetable can be found below.

Training Timetable

Competitions

Many fun competitions leading to Varsity against Oxford.

Socials

A lot of socials!

You can follow the club on Instagram to learn more about it.

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Timetable

Monday

Swimming

 7am to 8am

 The Leys' School

Combined

 6pm to 7:30pm

 University Sports Centre

Tuesday

Free

Wednesday

Strength & Conditioning

 7:30am to 8:30am

 University Sports Centre

Fencing

 8:00pm-10pm

 University Sports Centre

Thursday

Long Run

 6pm to 7pm

 Jesus Green

City Fencing

 7:00pm to 9:30pm

 The Netherhall school

 Experienced fencers only

Friday

Swimming

 7:30am to 8:30am

 Track

Intervals

 6:00pm to 7:00pm

 West Cam

Saturday

Parkrun

 9am to 9:30am

 Coldham's Common

Swimming

 4pm to 5pm

 The Leys' School

Sunday

Fencing

 9:30am to 1:25pm

 University Sports Centre

sign-up sheets for Riding lessons are published on a weekly basis, with multiple slots available every week

Meet the committee

Picture of Anniko Firman
Now entering my third year in CUMPC, having been treasurer and president in my first two years, I’m excited to be involved with the club carrying on as president. After our history Varsity victory last year, I plan on keeping our momentum going this year - perhaps finally winning 22/22 trophies? CUMPC provided such a welcoming environment to me when I started out as a fresher with zero experience in pentathlon, and the club has felt like family to me since. My aim is to make sure everyone, especially complete beginners, feel as welcome in the club and fall in love with the sport as much as I did.

Anniko Firman

President

Picture of Vlad Filip
Closing in on 2 years with CUMPC, I joined the club fresh without prior experience with any of the sports (except some running here and there). Since then, I have taken part in Novice Varsity and BUCS, been to the riding weekend at Jabeena’s, and held the role of social secretary. Paradoxically, my best BUCS performance was in fencing, which was the sport I least practised during term. As a final year engineer, my time will mostly be spent in the west site: pent training (combined, fencing and S&C) and pressure probe testing in the Whittle lab. I hope to be a friendly face, happy to help, engage and answer any questions.

Vlad Filip

Vice President

Picture of Harry Ellis

Harry Ellis

Treasurer

Picture of Anniko Firman
Now entering my third year in CUMPC, having been treasurer and president in my first two years, I’m excited to be involved with the club in a new capacity as women’s co-captain. After our history Varsity victory last year, I plan on keeping our momentum going this year - perhaps finally winning 22/22 trophies? CUMPC provided such a welcoming environment to me when I started out as a fresher with zero experience in pentathlon, and the club has felt like family to me since. My aim is to make sure everyone, especially complete beginners, feel as welcome in the club and fall in love with the sport as much as I did.

Anniko Firman

Women’s Co-Captain

Picture of Anna Basford

Anna Basford

Women’s Co-Captain

Picture of Rudi Bruijn-Yard
I came to CUMPC as a trained Modern Pentathlete, having attended academy training at Hartpury College and as a Whitgift alumnus. I was greeted by an overwhelmingly welcoming and committed training environment. It's been fantastic getting to know the squad, who now feel like a family (mostly bonded through the shared pain of early morning swimming sessions). As captain, I have seen enormous improvements under my instruction in shooting and fencing and hope that we can build on that this coming year. My sights (shooting pun I know... sue me) are set on another team varsity victory; let's see if we can do what we do best and crush the dark blues! I look forward to welcoming the new freshers and sharing the best club with you all!

Rudi Bruijn-Yard

Men’s Captain

Picture of Tads Ciecierski-Holmes
CUMPC’s most senior current member, I’ve been with the club since 2017, when I started as a complete novice. Since then I have competed in 5 Varsity matches, been a part of 3 winning men’s teams, won both an individual BUCS gold in 2022 as well as the team gold in 2023, taken on multiple committee positions including President, Vice-President,and Treasurer, and coached swimming and shooting for the club over the years.

Tads Ciecierski-Holmes

Secretary

Picture of Harry Ellis

Harry Ellis

Armourer

Picture of Tads Ciecierski-Holmes
CUMPC’s most senior current member, I’ve been with the club since 2017, when I started as a complete novice. Since then I have competed in 5 Varsity matches, been a part of 3 winning men’s teams, won both an individual BUCS gold in 2022 as well as the team gold in 2023, taken on multiple committee positions including President, Vice-President,and Treasurer, and coached swimming and shooting for the club over the years. With clinical rotations now taking up more of my time, I’ll be looking after the safety aspects of club life.

Tads Ciecierski-Holmes

Health & Safety Officer

Picture of Flynn Ryan

Flynn Ryan

Social Secretary

Picture of Anya Penderis
As a CUMPC newbie, I started pent as a tentative fresher looking for freestyle-based swimming sessions. Since then I have built up to my first (and only - so far…) full pentathlon at Varsity 2023. I came 2nd in the women’s competition with the help of beginner’s luck, a PC tetrathlon background, and stoic efforts from the CUMPC team to get all my sign-offs on time. I hope to spend next year making big progress with my fencing, and getting some more pentathlons under my belt while studying in the second year of my geography degree. as co-stash and welfare officer, I will also be spending the year fitting the club with the best kit for beating o*ford. Alongside that I will always be around for a confidential message or relaxed chat to make sure that everyone feels included, supported and able to get as much as possible from this lovely club.

Anya Penderis

Welfare Officer

Picture of Ross Brown

Ross Brown

Webmaster

Picture of Laura Dearn

Laura Dearn

Riding Officer

"The most perfect athletes are the pentathletes because in their bodies strength and speed are combined in beautiful harmony"

Aristotle - Pentathlon admirer

Old Blues

In the words of Anna Gibbons, Old Blues President:

“CUMPC has fantastic links with its ever growing group of alumni (or “Old Blues”, as we like to affectionately call them!). I am fortunate to be Old Blues President, which involves supporting the current CUMPC members and helping maintain the link with the alumni. The links between past and present CUMPC members are very strong, so much so we have run joint training camps abroad! We always look forward to meeting new CUMPC members throughout the year at various events, from the annual competition between current club and Old Blues, BUCS, Varsity and Annual dinner. Old Blues provide a lot of the volunteer support for these competitions and will be there cheering along from the sidelines!

I was involved in the club from 2015-2019 so know many of the recent Old Blues. I would love to hear from any alumni that wish to join our Old Blues mailing list to keep up to date with all the various events and news from the current club.”

FAQ

Most frequently asked questions and answers

How much does it cost?
We aim to keep our membership fee as affordable and accessible as possible, so we subsidise all training sessions! Subs for Michaelmas are set at £75. This includes all training sessions and coaching except horse riding – but don’t worry, we offer riding lessons at a 50% discount!
Do I need to know how to ride?
No, many people learn to ride when they start while others only train for Tetrathlon (run, shoot, swim, fence).
I don't want to ride, can I still do the other ones?
Yes! You can train for Tetrathlon and even take part in the Varsity match with the Seconds team.
Is there a varsity match?
Yes! Our annual Varsity match, held at Tonbridge School, is the main competition of the year and is consistently named by members as the highlight of their year.
I don't want to compete?
Then just train for fun!
Do I need my own kit?
No, the club provides most of it! You just need trainers and swimming kit.

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Important Documents

Code of Conduct

2023-2024

Constitution

2023-2024

Welfare Policy

2023-2024

Privacy Notice

2023-2024

Risk Assessment

2023-2024

Safety Policy

2023-2024