ASKERSWELL teenager Harrison Yarnold continues his fledgling pentathlon career today as part of the Great Britain team at the European Youth B Championships in Belarus.

The 14-year-old, who already has experience of competing for his country in two international competitions this year, flew out to Minsk from Gatwick yesterday in readiness for the 20-nation event.

After some well-deserved rest last night, Yarnold and the rest of the British athletes will take to the 50-metre pool at the Palace of Water Sports for the swimming element of the contest.

Tomorrow sees the 100-plus competitors go for gold in the combined run and shoot, with the shooting leg of the event utilising laser pistols.

The athletes can rest on Saturday and get the chance to take in some of the local sights in a packed cultural programme before a series of relay races on Sunday.

Yarnold is understandably looking forward to representing his country again following competitions in England and Spain having been selected by Pent-athlon GB for the World Class Talent Programme in March.

In the first of those at Hartpury College near Gloucester, Yarnold finished eighth in the 200m swim and first in the combined run and shoot to register fourth place overall.

He was also presented with a gold medal for being a member of the winning GB Youth B boys’ team for what was an excellent achievement in his first outing in the red polo shirt of Pentathlon Team GB.

In the past, the youngster from near Bridport has been a big success as a biathlete and last September he won a gold medal in the Youth C boys’ race at the Biathle World Series event in Viareggio, Italy, coming home 20 seconds ahead of team- mate Bradley Sutton.

Now, nine months later, Yar-nold heads to Eastern Europe bidding to climb another few rungs on the pentathlon ladder and will be facing some stiff competition from athletes from all over the continent.

Countries taking part include Austria, England, Belarus, Bulgaria, Hungary, Germany, Greece, Spain, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Turkey, Ukraine, France and the Czech Republic.