Teenager Bradley Sutton picked to represent GB (From Basingstoke Gazette)

Teenager Bradley Sutton picked to represent GB

12:00pm Monday 18th March 2013 in Sport By Dan Cooper

A MULTI-TALENTED Basingstoke teenager was selected by Pentathlon GB to represent Great Britain in his first Youth International Triathlon last Saturday.

Bradley Sutton, who is 14 and lives in Primrose Gardens, Hatch Warren, competed against athletes from across the world and finished in a respectable 13th place at the event at Gloucester’s Hartpury College.

It was a gruelling competition, consisting of a 200-metre run, three 800-metre runs and two five- shot laser shoots.

Sutton missed out on a personal medal but it was a successful day for Great Britain, who topped the table with five medals – and Sutton said it was a day he won’t forget.

“It was a great experience to go there and then get a personal best in the swim. To see the skill and determination required in these sorts of competitions was inspirational.

It was kind of disappointing to finish where I did because, after the swim, I was in seventh place, but I really enjoyed the occasion.

“I wasn’t sure I had done enough to get picked, so when I received the e-mail I was bouncing.”

Sutton dedicates 18 hours a week to running with Basingstoke & Mid Hants Athletics Club and completes a hectic personal schedule with shooting practice, swimming for Basingstoke Bluefins and horse riding at Oakley’s Park Farm.

And Brighton Hill Community School pupil Sutton has to juggle all of this on top of his studies, something which he admits can be a challenge.

He said: “It can be difficult sometimes and there is a lot of training involved but I want to get better and that is the only way it will happen.”

Despite his tender age, ambitious Sutton has set his sights on a full pentathlon following his first international and said the London 2012 Olympics inspired him to train even harder to achieve his dream.

He added: “I started training before London 2012, but the Olympics really made me want it even more. I watched the pentathlon and I thought both the riding and the fencing were incredible. Hopefully one day it will be me up there.”

Sutton is now hoping to build on his latest experience and be considered for Youth International Triathlon events in Barcelona and Nice later this year.

He said: “To go abroad and represent my country would be an amazing feeling. Only the top three GB boys get picked to go, so it’s a big ask, but I’ll keep my fingers crossed.”