Three pupils from Loughborough Grammar School, along with their coach, delivered an outstanding performance at the European Laser Run Championships in Alanya, Turkey, held from 5–9 November. Competing in temperatures reaching 30°C and facing strong international fields, the team brought home five medals for Great Britain.
Ewan McKittrick (Year 12), Alastair McKittrick (Year 9), and Eddie Trotman (Year 8) all impressed in their respective categories. Ewan secured gold in the mixed U19 relay, following a strong sixth-place finish in his individual event earlier in the day. Eddie also claimed gold in the boys’ U13 relay, an exceptional achievement considering this was both his first international competition and first year competing in laser run.
Reflecting on his debut, Eddie shared:
“It was a fantastic experience — something I will always remember as I got to meet a lot of new people and form new friendships.”
Alastair demonstrated determination across three challenging events, and his progress was recognised recently when he was invited to join the Pentathlon GB talent pathway, a national programme designed to identify and support emerging athletes.
The school’s coach, Clare McKittrick, also competed in the masters category after being selected for the event. She delivered an outstanding performance, winning the masters title, a team gold, and a silver medal in the mixed relay.
A former GB athlete herself, Clare plays a key role in developing the school’s modern pentathlon and laser run programme, focusing on technique, skill development, and race preparation.
Speaking after the team’s success, Clare said:
“The boys really helped and supported each other while we were in Turkey, during training, race preparation, and on race day itself. Ewan took the lead in demonstrating what good preparation looks like, and both Ewan and Alastair supported Eddie in additional sessions before the competition.”
She added that the coaching team — including Sarah Allsopp (Head of Learning Support) and Dr Al Waters (Assistant Head) — is excited to see how the boys progress, particularly with both the World and European Championships scheduled for Madeira in 2026.
Beyond sporting excellence, the pentathlon programme at Loughborough Grammar School offers pupils a strong sense of community, teamwork, and belonging.
Eddie’s parents also expressed their pride:
“We are absolutely delighted that the school gave Eddie the opportunity to try a completely new sport. The fact that he represented Great Britain at the European Championships — and won a gold medal — has exceeded all our expectations.”
The team’s achievements provide strong momentum heading into upcoming competitions, highlighting the school’s growing reputation in the modern pentathlon and laser run disciplines.
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