Competitions

Modern Pentathlon is a very difficult competition to stage because it requires a minimum of three venues and a lot of expertise on the part of the volunteers. For this reason, LOCs (local organizing committees) are given a lot of leeway in organizing competitions. 

In championships or world cups, competitions are held over a three-day period, with each division completing all five events in one day. The women might do all four (or five) sports on the first day, with the men competing on the second day. The third day would be devoted to team competitions.

If there are a lot of competitors, the competition might extend over four or five days.

Smaller domestic competitions, however, usually take place in one or at most two days, with Youth competing on a separate day than the Juniors and Seniors. Pentathlons compete according to their division and gender. Generally, pentathletes compete in their age group – kids age 12 to 13 compete in Youth C; kids age 19 to 21 compete in Juniors, etc.  However, people can compete up to higher divisions. To compete more than two divisions above your level requires a doctor’s note and special permission from the organizers.

Divisions

Divisions (age on December 31 of that competition year)

                        􀂉 Youth E (10 & under)

                        􀂉 Youth D (11–12)

                        􀂉 Youth C (13–14)

                        􀂉 Youth B (15–16)

                        􀂉 Youth A (17–18)

                        􀂉 Junior (19–21)

                        􀂉 Senior (22 & older)

                        􀂉 Masters (Men 40 & older) (Women 35 & older)

Disciplines

Swimming: This is a freestyle race with athletes seeded in heats by their personal best competition times. The distance swam varies by division.

Youth E: 50 meters                  Youth A: 200 meters

Youth D: 50 meters                  Juniors: 200 meters

Youth C: 100 meters                Seniors: 200 meters

Youth B: 200 meters                Masters: 100 meters

Fencing: Athletes fence other competitors in a round robin. The one-minute bouts are scored by who gets the first touch. If neither competitor scores a touch, the bout is scored as a defeat for both competitors.

Riding: Only the Juniors, Seniors, and Masters compete in the riding discipline. The horse an athlete rides is determined by a draw and the athlete’s standing in the competition at that point. They are given 20 minutes to warm up the horse over a maximum of five jumps. Then they ride the horses over a course with 12 obstacles up to 4 feet high, including one double and one triple.

Run/shoot: The run/shoot is a combined discipline adopted last year. In the run/shoot, competitors have a handicapped start determined by their points earned so far. The competitor with the most points would start at 0 on the clock and race to the firing line. He/she must shoot five targets before starting the run cycle of 1,000 meters. If, at the end of 70 seconds, the competitor has not downed all five targets, he/she is then released for the run.

Competitors in the Junior and Senior divisions come to the firing line three times and run three 1,000-meter laps, one after each firing session. Youth A does the same except Youth A has a 90-second time limit at the firing line.

Competitors in Youth B and Masters divisions only come to the firing line twice and run two 1,000-meter laps, one after each firing session. Youth B also have a 30-second firing time limit.

Because Youth C, D, and E are not recognized by the UIPM, there are no official scoring tables for them. Since the run/shoot has begun, we have been following this format in the US: The Youth C, D, E will shoot three sets of five shots (90-second limit) and run three 500-meter laps. Youth D and E can fire with two hands, unsupported.

What Happens at a Competition

Scoring

Pentathletes score points in each discipline. In the swim and run/shoot, there is a chart showing an optimum score or time. For each second (or fraction of a second) faster or slower than optimum time, points are deducted or added. (See Rulebook) Fencing scores are tabulated according to the win/loss ratio. And in the ride, riders start with 1200 points, with points deducted for refusals, knocking down rails, etc.

The run/shoot is a handicapped event and it usually is the last event. After the first two (or three, if you ride first) events, the scores are tallied. The person with the highest score gets to start the run first. Then the person with the next highest score gets to go next, and so on. The number of seconds between each runner is tabulated on the difference between the runners’ total scores at that point.

So, let’s say Mary is ahead with 3,000 points. She starts the race at 00.00 seconds. Karen, who has 2,500 points, starts at 00.30 seconds. Jill, who has 2,000 points, starts at 01.00 minute. If the competition is set up so that the run/shoot is last, whoever wins the race wins the pentathlon. That means that if Jill really hauls and passes Mary, Jill wins—no matter how many points she has.

Smaller competitions sometimes don’t use the handicapped start. But most of the larger ones do.

Arrival

Pentathletes arrive at least a day before the competition. Juniors and Seniors should arrive in time for the jury ride in which volunteer riders demonstrate the horses that will be used for the competition. The smart competitors take notes or even videotape the ride to study later.

At registration, there is also a weapons check where they will check your epees, your body cords, your mask, your gun, and your helmet to make sure they are up to standards. Then there is a technical meeting in which the organizers, directors, and technical delegate go over specifics of the competition the next day and discuss any unusual circumstances.

Organizers can arrange the events in any order they choose. Often, swimming is first, followed by fencing, the ride, and the run/shoot.


Swimming:  In swimming, the pentathletes are seeded in heats and compete for the best time. There are different distances and different optimum times for each division. See the charts for the optimum time for your division. Again, the optimum score is 1,000 points with every .33 of a second either adding or subtracting 4 pentathlon points.

Fencing:  Fencing has a lot of complex rules so please check the Rulebook for details. Always take three epees to a competition. That way, if an epee breaks, you have backups. It is poor form to ask to borrow equipment from a team mate, because then they are left inadequately prepared. Take responsibility for yourself.

You fence with epees which have electronic tips mounted on springs. Each time a hit is made, the spring on the electronic tip contracts and completes an electrical circuit and one of the lights flashes on the scoring machine, indicating a hit.

If both lights (one for each fencer) go on at the same time, that indicates a tie, which is registered as a defeat for both pentathletes.

The target for epees is the whole body, so you could score by touching a hand or a foot. Pentathletes fence round robin, which means every pentathlete fences every other pentathlete in his or her division. Winning 70 percent of your bouts is considered an optimal score for 1,000 points.


Riding:  Pentathletes who compete in Juniors or Seniors are required to ride. Pentathletes in the lower divisions do not compete in riding. The organizers provide horses that the pentathletes have never ridden before. The horses line up on one side of the arena and the riders line up on the other. The horses each have numbers painted on their left front hooves corresponding to numbers in a hat. The pentathletes in first place draw a number out of a hat to determine which horses each pentathlete will ride.

Each pentathlete has 20 minutes to warm up on the horse. During that time, he or she can only jump five times. Then the pentathlete has to go into the arena and jump a course of 12 obstacles in the allowed time.  Each pentathlete starts with an optimum score of 1,200 points. From this score, there will be deductions for a variety of errors, including faults, refusals, knockdowns and going over the allowed time.

Run/shoot: In the run/shoot, competitors have a handicapped start determined by their points earned so far. The competitor with the most points would start at 0 on the clock and race to the firing line. He/she must shoot five targets before starting the run cycle of 1,000 meters. If, at the end of 70 seconds, the competitor has not downed all five targets, he/she is then released for the run.

Competitors in the Junior and Senior divisions come to the firing line three times and run three 1,000-meter laps, one after each firing session. Youth A does the same except Youth A has a 90-second time limit at the firing line.

Competitors in Youth B and Masters divisions only come to the firing line twice and run two 1,000-meter laps, one after each firing session. Youth B also have a 30-second firing time limit.

Because Youth C, D, and E are not recognized by the UIPM, there are no official scoring tables for them. Since the run/shoot has begun, we have been following this format in the US: The Youth C, D, E will shoot three sets of five shots (90-second limit) and run three 500-meter laps. Youth D and E can fire with two hands, unsupported.

Please see the Handbook  and the Pentathlon Rulebook for more details.