PISTOL shooting and fencing were among the unconventional sports on offer to pupils in Barnard Castle.

Youngsters from Teesdale School took part in the activities as part of its first modern biathlon, involving 62 students aged eleven to 14, supported by the Modern Pentathlon Association of Great Britain.

The students completed a 50m swim and an 800m run, with the two events deciding the overall winners of each age category.

Year seven winners included Katie Fell, Holly Deere, Olivia Smith, Robbie Lavin, Aiden Clark and Jack Parsons Munn, while the year eight winners were Sophie Jones, Amelia Nicholson, Amy Dowson, Sam Nixon, Alex Renfrew and Isaac Gibson.

Cameron Spencer, Harry Tunstall and Dean Bainbridge were all successful in the year nine boys category.

Workshops in pistol shooting and basic fencing – two disciplines which make up the tetrathlon - were held during the event.

The school’s physical education department hopes to host the event annually and has secured funding to offer further training in shooting and fencing.