On Sunday 26th November 2017 Matthew Bradley aged 19, from Bishop Auckland competed in the British Modern Biathlon National Championships Final in Solihull competing in the Junior Men’s category.
The competition started with a 1600 metre run. He completed the run in a time of 4.51.07, an improvement of 5.90 seconds on his qualifying time and a lifetime best time.
After a short respite he then swam the 200 metres freestyle. Matthew again improved on his qualifying time by swimming the race in 1.57.60 and achieving best overall swim of the entire weekend. He was the only competitor to go under two minutes for the swim out of the 800 competitors in all age groups.
Matthew became the 2017 Junior Men’s Champion and was awarded the gold medal at the awards ceremony at the end of the competition.
Matthew puts the improvement in his run and swim times down to continued commitment to swim training in the pool at Newton Aycliffe Leisure Centre, where he trains regularly as part of Sedgefield 75 Amateur Swimming Club and regular gym training which he receives as part of his Durham Institute of Sport membership.
