First Eleven Spring Issue

EDUCATION FACILITIES
Millﬁeld School’s Arthur Lanigan-O’Keeffe,
18, from Kilkenny, is a rising star of the
modern pentathlon.
“I came to Millﬁeld from Glenstal Abbey
in Ireland towards the end of my GCSE
year on a scholarship because the modern
pentathlon facilities here are so great,”
explains Lanigan-O’Keeffe, who is hotly
tipped to represent Ireland at the 2012
Olympics. “At ﬁrst, I was shocked at how
hard it was to organise myself and my work
✒
must be doing something right.
but then I learned to manage my time
better, with help from school. Now I’m
And having said that the facilities are
focusing on improving my weaker schedule; we swim four mornings a week, run
nothing to shout about, our daughter
disciplines like fencing.” three afternoons after school, and ﬁt in the
has taken up music and drama, in
An extraordinary all-round athlete who other disciplines at weekends. On Tuesday
which she had no previous interest. All
previously reached national junior level at nights to we go to Glastonbury Fencing Club
the facilities are there […] it’s just not rugby, swimming, triathlon and Pony Club or Bath University, a top national centre,
the same glitzy package you get from tetrathlon, Lanigan-O’Keeffe underlined his
and fence with current Olympians like Katy
boys schools.”
prodigious talent by representing Ireland Livingstone and Heather Fell, so Arthur’s got
The setting and facilities , however,
in the senior World Modern Pentathlon every chance to fulﬁll his potential.”
do have an impact on how the school
championships last August when he was still “Competing at the Olympics is my
ultimate dream” says Lanigan-O’Keeffe. “I
is perceived by both parents and
only 17 narrowly missing a place in the ﬁnal.
“Arthur’s tremendously committed,” want to make my family and country proud,
pupils. When asked how her son likes
enthuses Drew Wilshire, Millﬁeld’s head of and popularise modern pentathlon in Ireland
Radley, Hughes is unequivocal. “He
modern pentathlon. “If he continues his as we’re minnows in the sport compared to
adores it, of course. I adore Radley – I
current progress, he should be in the top Britain, Hungary and Russia. I’m convinced I
want to go there! It’s the setting, the
15 at his ﬁrst Olympics. It’s a very tough can be among the best in the world.”
wow factor, the whole package.”
Parents choose schools for a mixed
cocktail of motives, by no means all
rational. “I’ve always maintained that
to my teachers when I need time off for
expensive sports, drama and music
competitions and the master-in-charge of
facilities distract from the core stuff,”
shooting, Nigel Ball, is a former international
says Philip Smith, who nevertheless shooter so he understands the pressures
spent a six-figure sum putting his son and is a great coach. I don’t like mornings
through Radley.
so, although I’m not a boarder, if I have an
“My godson’s at Radley and I
early start, I can stay over at school which
have become a much more attentive
saves getting up at 6am.
godparent since he went there,”
“I train around 16 hours a week carrying
out a mental programme to keep me calm
says another parent, “because he
Hannah Pugsley, junior women’s shooting
under pressure and doing physical work
occasionally invites me for a round
champion, is currently at Wellington
like sit-ups, press-ups etc, to improve core
of golf. Who’s to say his putting
College and has her sights ﬁrmly set on
stability so I don’t tense my arm muscles
skills won’t serve him as well as
selection for the 2012 Olympics.
and get the shakes in competition. On most
his A levels?” %
Hannah Pugsley astounded shooting
days, lessons go from 8.30 until noon but on
insiders by coming within a point of
mid-week afternoons I do prone 25 metres
reaching the ﬁnal of the coveted Queen’s
work on the Wellington range; which is not
Prize against the world’s best, just three
an Olympic discipline but good practice. I
months after taking up the event, which
also train every Wednesday on the
helped her secure a valuable Talented
Olympic 3x20 at Chobham. Luckily,
Athlete Scholarship Scheme (TASS) bursary
the skills are transferable.
to fund her increasingly expensive training.
“They will probably pick three women
L
O
O She insists her school’s support has for the Olympics” she continues, “and being
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contributed to her success. “I’ve had a
versatile and competitive in both disciplines
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fantastic time at Wellington,” Pugsley
should boost my chances. If I get the call-up,

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says. “They help balance my different
it would be amazing – deﬁnitely something
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commitments. My house mistress explains
to tell my grandch
:
D
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ildren.”
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38 FIRST ELEVEN SPRING 2010 WWW.FIRSTELEVENMAGAZINE.CO.UK
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