1957-58

572
MODERN PENTATHLON
It was not until the V Olympiad of the present series that a
Modern Pentathlon competition was included for the first time at
Stockholm in 1912. The Committee desired to include in the
Games a competition which would embody all the qualities of a
modern sportsman. In this competition the athlete is required to
ride a horse across country, fence with the ep6e, shoot with a pistol
in a practice requiring the greatest precision, swim 330 yds., and
conclude by running 2 J miles across country—all this in the space
of five days.
At Stockholm Great Britain's best competitor, R. E. Cliverd, was
placed 9th, and a full team has always been entered at every Olym-
piad since 1912, in which our most outstanding successes have been
Vokins 7th rat Paris in 1924, Turquand Young 6th in Amsterdam
in 1928, and Legard 8th at Los Angeles in
1
932•
The Modern Pentathlon Association of Great Britain was formed
in 1923. One of the main objects was, and still is, to encourage
the competition and ensure that Great Britain is well and properly
represented at the Olympic Games. In 1948 the Modern Pentathlon
International Union was formed and since then an international
competition has been held annually.
In 1929 the British Olympic Association presented to the Modern
Pentathlon Association the cup which had been presented to them
by the Rev. R. S. de Courcy Laffan in 19o8, and bequeathed by him
to the B.O.A. for any purpose connected with the Games which
they might think fit. The Pentathlon Association decided to use
this cup as a Challenge Cup for a Pentathlon Team Competition,
and from 1929 the competition has been held on both team and
individual lines, a Challenge Cup having been presented by Col.
G. N. Dyer, C.B.E., D.S.O., for the best individual competitor.
Later a second Individual Trophy was presented in memory of
the late Major I. E. F. Campbell, D.C.L.I. This cup is awarded to
the Champion Cadet of the year.
In
1949
His Majesty The King of the Hellenes expressed a per-
sonal desire to mark the departure of British Troops from Greece
by offering to the British Army a Greek Shield which would bear
the names of Army formations and their Commanders who served
in Greece and Crete during the
1939-45
war.
The Army Council in accepting the Trophy agreed that it should
be competed for annually during the Modern Pentathlon Champion-
ships and that it should be awarded to the Army team gaining the
highest place in the competition. Teams from Australia and New
Zealand Forces are entitled to compete.
The Trophy was received in 1952 and presented for the first
time at the Modern Pentathlon Championships of Great Britain in
that year.
In
1955
a Combined Services Modern Pentathlon Assocation
was formed. The object in future years will be for each Service
to hold its own Championship which will be followed later in
the same year by a Combined Service Championship with a limited
number representing each Service.