BRITAIN’S Jamie Cooke won the first Modern Pentathlon World Cup medal of his career on Sunday and he did it in style, taking gold in Budapest.

The 22-year-old from Shipton Oliffe, who won the World Junior Championships in Argentina in 2011, had to produce a gritty and spirited performance to battle back from 24th place after the fencing.

But the world number 40-ranked athlete was the fastest in the pool, went clear in the ride and then produced a terrific run/shoot to take gold.

It rounded off a fantastic weekend for the British team in Budapest where reigning world champion Mhairi Spence took bronze in the women’s final on Saturday. Cooke’s team-mate Sam Weale finished sixth in the men’s event.

Cooke went into the run/shoot in fourth, 21 seconds behind event leader, Hungary’s world number two Adam Marosi, the bronze medallist at the London 2012 Olympics who had already won World Cup gold in Rio in March and silver in Palm Springs in February.

But Cooke overhauled him on the third visit to the shooting range, using just six shots to hit the five targets in 10.35 seconds. Marosi needed nine shots and 20 seconds to start the third of his four 800m runs. Cooke remained calm, again using just six shots to hit the five targets and left the range for the last time with a nine-second lead over the Hungarian. Cooke’s lead never looked in danger on the last run and he crossed the line ten seconds clear of Marosi.

Afterwards Cooke said: “This was my first World Cup medal, so I’m so happy. I never thought I would do this after the fencing this morning, but I had a good swim, a good ride and a good combined. My shooting was definitely the key today.

“Adam (Marosi) was awesome all day and I was definitely scared with him behind me at the end. I just ran as fast as I could.”

Jan Bartu, Pentathlon GB Performance Director, said: "This was a fantastic conclusion to the four World Cups this year and a good start to the Rio Olympic cycle for us.

“It was an amazing performance by Jamie and a massive milestone for Pentathlon GB. He seemed to be fearless in the combined event today. It was the hardest World Cup this year, all the top athletes were competing here, but it all came together for Jamie.

“I was pleased to see two athletes finishing in the top six in the men’s final. It’s the first time I can recall that happening in my 15 years as Performance Director.

Cooke’s results: Fencing: 15 wins - 760 points (24th).

Swim: 200m freestyle 1.54.88 (more than a second faster than the next quickest time) - 1,424 points (14th).

Ride: Clear round inside the allowed time - maximum 1,200 points (4th).

Run/Shoot: Fastest of day – 11.18.75.

World Cup 4 in Budapest was the last opportunity for athletes to score points to qualify for the World Cup Final, which takes place at Nizhny-Novgorod in Russia from May 31 to June 2.

World Cup 4: Gold: Jamie Cooke (GBR) – 5,872 points; Silver: Adam Marosi (HUN) – 5,832 points; Bronze: Jean Maxence Berrou (FRA) – 5,768 points; 6th: Sam Weale (GBR) – 5,736 points.