Aussie target as Jamie gets England tetrathlon call-up

Blidworth’s national tetrathlon champion Jamie Harby is hoping to make a dream come true and compete for England for the first time in Australia next summer.

But the 18-year-old faces a daunting task in raising between £5,000-£6,000 to join up with the team and head Down Under.

Tetrathlon is an exhausting sport that combines running, shooting, swimming, and cross country horse riding and this summer Jamie was crowned the National Open champion, competing against opponents up to seven years older than himself.

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He started out in tetrathlons aged around 10-11 and eventually worked his way into the annual national championships held at Hartpury College, Gloucestershire.

Competing at intermediate level he went from 19th in his first year to ninth the following summer.

He then moved up to the open category for 18 to 25-year-olds and came sixth in his first year, third last year and went on to win it this year. +

That success has now earned him international recognition as part of a 30-strong England team that will take on Australia, Ireland, Scotland, Wales and some Australian club teams in the Carrside Farm competition next June.

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“I need to raise a lot of money to get there and I have never done fund-raising on such a scale before,” he said.

“But I will do everything in my power to be able to get there.

“I am linking up with some of the other England team and we are going to start small in the New Year with sponsored head shaves and body waxes and then move up into sponsored rides or runs. I will run coast to coast if I have to.”

Jamie races horses all over the country while running and shooting with a club in Bingham and swimming with Sherwood Colliery SC.

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“At first I just wanted to combine all of my skills into one event,” he said.

“My pony club told me about tetrathlons and I started as a kid just trying it out. I became more involved and emotional about the sport.

“When I won the title this summer they presented me with this 6ft tall Gillette Sword trophy which was magnificent and it was an emotional moment for me and my family.

“But it take a lot of effort and a lot of money just to keep training.”

Anyone who could help Jamie with his bid to reach Australia can contact him on [email protected] or 07712 736895.

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