A CHESTER schoolgirl is aiming to emulate her cousin by representing her country at the top level of international sport.
Abbey Gate College pupil Naomi Craig, from Clutton, is a relative of Nick Woodbridge, who has been selected in Great Britain’s modern pentathlon team for the London Olympics.
Year 9 student Naomi is making great strides of her own in the field of modern pentathlon, which requires expertise in five disciplines – fencing, swimming, showjumping, running and pistol shooting.
A former Welsh national swimming champion, Naomi is ranked second nationally in the Youth B category at modern pentathlon and has now broken into the Great Britain team.
Her first major competition for Team GB will be the Youth B European Championships in Poland in mid-August.
Youth B athletes compete in all disciplines but do only three when competing abroad, so it becomes a triathlon – swimming and the combined event, which is running and pistol shooting.
In addition, Naomi has been selected to train with the GB Talent Team and attends Hartpury College in Gloucester for extra weekend training.
In all she trains for about 15-20 hours per week, swimming at Chester University, fencing at Northgate Arena, running at West Cheshire AC and shooting at the Wrexham Shooting Club.
Naomi’s ultimate goal is to follow in the footsteps of her cousin Nick, who hails from Shropshire. The family will be travelling to watch him compete in the Olympics.
