Two brothers have both become a UK champion in tetrathlon in the same weekend.
Oliver Loud, 18, and Ben Francis, 12, both came first in their respective competitions at the 2026 PC UK Tetrathlon Championships in Warwickshire last weekend.
After three days of competition the pair, who are both students at Ellesmere College, triumphed in the competition that combines equestrian cross-country riding with swimming, running, and air-pistol shooting.
Oliver took the UK Open Boys Championship winning the much coveted and historic Wilkinson Sword trophy, first awarded in 1968, while Ben took the UK Stepping Stones Boys Championship title.
Their dad Shayne Francis said it was a wonderful occasion.
He said: “This is the culmination of huge amounts of dedication and training for both boys.
“They have worked so hard and had their sights set on winning a title, so to see all that hard work pay off is wonderful.
“They have supported each other throughout and now they can finally get to relax for the last couple of weeks of their summer holiday.”
In the competition Oliver rode his horse Arko’s Lad (Archie) and achieved the second best shoot score and ran an impressive 10.29 in the 3000m cross country run. He also won the UK Senior Regional Championships the previous weekend in Somerset, just after he returned from competing on the UK tetrathlon team in Australia where he was the first placed UK boy.
He has just finished sixth form at Ellesmere, having been a pupil at the school since 2019, and is working for the racehorse trainer Donald McCain.
Ben, who goes into year eight at Ellesmere next month, has been at the school since 2022 and won his title with a clear round on his horse Timmy, a huge personal best in the swim phase, a dramatic overall win in the 1000m run in 3.15 and the third best shooting score. He was also part of the Wales & Borders regional team which took second place overall in the mixed team competition.
The brothers, from Malpas, Cheshire, have both been coached for their swimming by Old Ellesmerians Sam and Ben Holland and Shayne said the support from the school was a huge factor in their progress.
“The support the school has given both boys is a huge part of their success, they have never had to miss out on either training or academic work as they are always supported to be the best they can be in both areas of school life and I would like to say a big thank you to Ellesmere College for their continued support as they boys progress in their competitions.”
For more information about sporting academies at Ellesmere College visit www.ellesmere.com.
