A STUDENT has been named North Yorkshire Sportsperson Of The Year – and has also been selected by a national talent programme.

Callum Hall, a year nine pupil at St Francis Xavier School, Richmond, was nominated by his school for the award for his contribution to sport.

He had already received recognition for his talents after winning the Richmondshire Sportsperson Of The Year award.

Callum is a keen football player and cross country runner but his favourite discipline is the modern pentathlon.

He became interested in multieventing at the age of 11, competing in a biathlon, a combination of running and swimming, which led him to try the triathlon – adding cycling – with continued success.

He moved on to the tetrathlon – adding fencing – and came first in the regional competition last year.

The next step is the pentathlon which includes show jumping on an unfamiliar horse.

Callum said: “I want to take it as far as I can. I started to ride in March purely so that I can take part in the sport.”

Callum was selected for Pentathlon GB’s English talent programme, where 30 children are identified as the future potential athletes in the sport.

Once Callum has achieved his riding certificate he will start to compete alongside the others.