The first of four semi-finals take place at the University of Bath this Sunday (22 January) with places at stake at the championships final at Crystal Palace in London on Sunday 25 March.
Further semi-finals will follow at Macclesfield Leisure Centre on 29 January, the John Charles Centre for Sport in Leeds and Crystal Palace National Sports Centre on 5 February.
The championships, which are run by Pentathlon GB – the national governing body for the Olympic sport of modern pentathlon - gives pupils the opportunity to experience the excitement of a multi-sport competition.
Young athletes complete a run and a swim, although the two disciplines do not take place straight away one after the other. They compete in 16 different groups based on age and gender.
Year 5, 6 and 7 pupils and teachers tackle a 50m swim and 500m run, with Year 8 to 13 pupils competing in a 100m swim and 1000m run.
Almost 6000 young people from across the country submitted times to try to qualify places at the semis, with many of them doing so at events organised by their schools.
Some 750 young people will compete in each of the four semi-finals.
Some of the country’s top pentathletes, such as the recently crowned world junior champion Jamie Cooke, have taken part in the Schools Biathlon Championships in the past.
Sue Hyde, Pentathlon GB’s National Competitions and Events Manager, said: “We’re looking forward to the 2012 Schools Biathlon Championships and particularly in this Olympic year, we hope it will inspire young people so they enjoy the challenge of competing at multi-sports events.”
2012 Schools Biathlon Championships schedule
Semi-finals
- Sunday 22 January: University of Bath, Bath
- Sunday 29 January: Macclesfield Leisure Centre, Macclesfield
- Sunday 5 February: John Charles Centre for Sport, Leeds
- Sunday 5 February: Crystal Palace National Sports Centre, London
Final
- Sunday 25 March: Crystal Palace National Sports Centre, London
