Modern Pentathlon 1 University of Bath Archives MODERN PENTATHLON COLLECTION A catalogue of the papers and correspondence of Pentathlon GB (1923-2017) Title: Catalogue of the papers and correspondence of Pentathlon GB (formerly the Modern Pentathlon Association of Great Britain) Compiled by: Adrian Nardone & Lizzie Richmond Description level: Fonds Date of material: 1923-2017 Extent of material: 95 boxes, c 2895 items Deposited in: University of Bath Library Reference code: GB 1128 Modern Pentathlon Collection 2018 Library, University of Bath. Cover image: Modern Pentathlon World Championship, Fort Sam Houston, Texas, USA, 1-5 October 1977 (G/1/128). Modern Pentathlon 2 Modern Pentathlon 3 University of Bath Archives University of Bath Archives LIST OF CONTENTS Items Page GENERAL INTRODUCTION 4 SECTION A MODERN PENTATHLON ASSOCIATION A/1-A/10 8 OF GREAT BRITAIN/PENTATHLON GB SECTION B UNION INTERNATIONALE DE PENTATHLON B/1-B/3 44 MODERNE (UIPM) SECTION C ARMED FORCES MODERN PENTATHLON C/1-C/5 61 ORGANISATIONS SECTION D CIVILIAN MODERN PENTATHLON D/1-D/9 88 NOT ALL THE MATERIAL IN THIS COLLECTION ORGANISATIONS MAY YET BE AVAILABLE FOR CONSULTATION. ENQUIRIES SHOULD BE ADDRESSED IN THE SECTION E PRESS CUTTINGS E/1, E/2 98 FIRST INSTANCE TO: SECTION F RESEARCH, HISTORIES, EXHIBITIONS F/1-F/3 102 THE ARCHIVIST & BIOGRAPHICAL MATERIAL LIBRARY UNIVERSITY OF BATH SECTION G PHOTOGRAPHIC MATERIAL G/1-G/3 108 CLAVERTON DOWN BATH BA2 7AY SECTION H COMPETITIONS H/1, H/2 147 SECTION J EPHEMERA J/1-J/4 290 Modern Pentathlon 4 Modern Pentathlon 5 University of Bath Archives University of Bath Archives GENERAL INTRODUCTION Northern Ireland. The Scottish Modern Pentathlon Association was also incorporated in 2003 and was replaced in 2014 by Pentathlon Scotland. PROVENANCE The organisation and growth of modern pentathlon in the UK reflected developments happening The material was assembled over a number of years by Mike Egan and Andy Archibald on behalf of overseas as the sport steadily became more popular. The armed forces were at the forefront of modern Pentathlon GB (formerly the Modern Pentathlon Association of Great Britain). It was deposited at the pentathlon from the outset, with military personnel dominating in terms of both management and University of Bath Library in a series of instalments beginning in 2009. participation, but from the late 1950s civilian involvement gradually increased and youth competitions were introduced to encourage wider take up. It was not until the 1970s that women really began to compete seriously at domestic and international level. OUTLINE OF THE HISTORY OF MODERN PENTATHLON Modern Pentathlon was the brain child of Baron Pierre de Coubertin (1863-1937) one of the founders DESCRIPTION OF THE COLLECTION of the modern Olympic movement. It was his long held ambition to introduce to the Olympic programme a competition that would be the ultimate test of the truly all round athlete requiring moral qualities, skill The material is presented in the order given in the contents list. It covers the period 1923 to 2017. and physical ability. The sport was finally adopted in 1911 at the fourteenth session of the International Olympic Committee in Budapest and made its Olympic debut the following year at the fifth Olympiad Section A, Modern Pentathlon Association of Great Britain/Pentathlon GB, contains items relating to in Stockholm, Sweden. The competition (for men only) took place over six days; the order of the five the UK governing body and its successor Pentathlon GB. These include committee minutes, events was shooting, swimming, fencing, horse riding and running. In addition to the men’s individual constitutional documentation, training and coaching literature and handbooks. Correspondence in this competition, a men’s team competition was held at each Olympic Games from 1952 to 1992. The first section covers topics such as the organisation of international events, funding cuts, youth engagement women’s individual competition was held at the 2000 Olympic Games, in Sydney, Australia. Over the initiatives and testing for prohibited substances. There is also a comprehensive collection of periodicals years the rules relating to the modern pentathlon at the Olympic Games have changed frequently. At and publications covering the period from 1960 to 2006. After 2006 the volume of printed literature the present time there are individual men’s and women’s competitions, each held over a single day declined as the Pentathlon GB website became the main channel of communication with members. consisting of fencing, swimming, horse riding and a combined run and shoot event. There is a small amount of regional material mainly consisting of committee minutes and newsletters. At first the sport of modern pentathlon at an international level was administered by a sub-committee Section B, Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne (UIMP), is comprised of material relating to the of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) under the title Comité Internationale de Pentathlon international governing body for modern pentathlon. It contains documentation relating to statutes, Moderne Olympique (CIPMO). A separate governing body for modern pentathlon, the Fédération regulations and rules, the annual meeting of congress, competition organisation and associated Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne (FIP), was founded at a meeting in Sandhurst, Berkshire, UK, administrative papers. A series of periodicals and other official publications and promotional literature on 3rd August 1948. In 1949 the CIPMO was disbanded and the IOC ratified the FIP, but under the cover the period from 1960 to 2009. title Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne (UIPM), as the sport’s international governing body. From this time onwards the number of international modern pentathlon competitions held around the Section C, Armed Forces Modern Pentathlon Organisations, contains material representing the world began to increase. branches of the UK armed forces with a modern pentathlon association, but focuses particularly on the Army Modern Pentathlon Association (AMPA) and the Combined Services Modern Pentathlon National governing bodies existed in a number of countries from an early stage. The Modern Association (CSMPA). The section includes committee minutes, administrative papers, newsletters Pentathlon Association of Great Britain (MPAGB) was founded in 1923. In 2003 the MPAGB was and a range of material relating to the management of the Army Modern Pentathlon Training Centre, incorporated and rebranded as Pentathlon GB governing modern pentathlon in Great Britain and later the Southern Region Centre of Excellence and the National Training Centre for Modern Pentathlon. Modern Pentathlon 6 Modern Pentathlon 7 University of Bath Archives University of Bath Archives Section D, Civilian Modern Pentathlon Organisations, comprises material relating to UK civilian modern Section J, Ephemera, is composed of items, with a promotional or commemorative function, associated pentathlon clubs arranged alphabetically by the name of the club. Records relating to the Lewisham with individual pentathletes or with modern pentathlon competitions and organisations. It includes Lions (Sealions) Modern Pentathlon Club are of particular significance. Material ranging in date from neckties, pennants, posters, clothing and trophies. There are also two official’s cloth arm bands used the 1950s up to the 2000s, includes correspondence, committee records, administrative papers, during the 1948 Olympic Games in London and items of official British Olympic team strip worn by reports, newsletters and circulars. pentathletes competing at the 1952 and 1976 Olympic Games. Section E, Press Cuttings, contains both collections of press cuttings, covering the period from 1948 to 2003, and loose press cuttings covering the period from 1924 to 2014. The 1976 Olympic Games in ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Montreal, Canada and the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia are both well represented. We are very grateful for the work and support of Andy Archibald, Terry Bunyard, Mike Egan, Monty Section F, Research, Histories, Exhibitions & Biographical Material, consists of material gathered by Mortimer and John Woodbridge in making this material available. In addition we acknowledge the individuals and groups concerned with creating exhibitions, writing histories and promotional pieces or assistance of former USA pentathlete William Vendl and Malcolm Heppolette, pictorial archivist at establishing an archival resource. It includes documentation associated with a display to mark the 50th REME Museum of Technology. anniversary of Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne (UIMP) in 1998, and short histories and explanatory texts relating to the sport of modern pentathlon. In addition the section contains biographies and biographical material relating to various prominent figures in the modern pentathlon A. Nardone, University of Bath, 2017. world. Section G, Photographic Material, comprises a wide range of modern pentathlon related prints, negatives and transparencies covering the period from 1924 to 2008. Individual pentathletes, teams, competitions, both in the UK and overseas, training sessions, publicity campaigns and other events are all well represented. There is a substantial amount of material that it has not been possible to date. There are also a small number of personal photographic collections assembled by Leslie Wieler, Robbie Phelps and Errol Lonsdale. Section H, Competitions, the largest in the collection,