Biathle is not perhaps the most common sport out there. It is often considered the training ground for triathletes or modern pentathletes, in itself not necessarily the first sport one thinks of.

However, for one Ivybridge family, the sport has become something of an obsession. Dad Mark, son Travis, 13, and daughter Aegean, 11, have, incredibly, all represented Great Britain, forming what Aegean refers to as 'Team Bramley'.

It is a multi-discipline event consisting of a run, a swim and another run, with transitions, where competitors change gear, either side of the swim. Team Bramley have competed together several times since taking up the sport at the start of the 2011 season, which began in April.

As members of Dinnaton Swimming Club and also keen runners, when a friend from Dinnaton suggested biathle as something that they might enjoy, the family leapt at the opportunity.

Mark said: 'It just seemed a logical path to follow at the time. We entered our first event at Millfield School in Somerset and later became members of the nearest biathle club, Dorset Pentathletes.'

'My pride is twofold – both personal and parental. How many people can say that they have competed not only for their country but also alongside their children in the same sport and on the same day?

'We have competed in twelve events together so far, the closest in this country being in Dorset and the furthest away being the nationals in Salford Quays. It's not just about the competitions as we have been able to enjoy some great family away days and weekends at the same time.'

One particularly memorable away day for the family came in September 2011, when Mark, Travis and Aegean travelled to the world championships in Sofia, Bulgaria, to compete for Great Britain.

With mum Sally coming along to join in the encouragement, the family excelled itself in its first international outing, with Travis finishing in fourth overall and notching a team gold for GB; Aegean claiming ninth place; and Mark grabbing seventh and a team silver.

Describing the experience, Aegean said: 'It made me extremely proud and excited to be part of a GB team because I had worked hard to qualify.

'It was fun and even more special to be the youngest member of the family team...Team Bramley!

'The scariest bit was that my age group was the first race to take place on the day. I had been to Bulgaria on holiday before but not to Sofia. I enjoy travelling abroad and being able to compete was a bonus.'

Medal winner Travis said: 'It was a great feeling to be able to stand on the podium with my team mates, wrapped in Union Flags and it's an experience I would like to replicate in the future. My aim is to one day win an individual medal at an international event.'

Mark and Travis' latest adventure was to jet off to the desert skyscrapers of Dubai in the United Arab Emirates for the world championships in November of this year, which Mark described as the most difficult competition to date.

The conditions in Dubai are incredibly hot and difficult to handle at the best of times, and competitors also faced an exceedingly taxing transition from run to swim, with a long distance of waist-high water to run through before getting to swimming-depth water.

Despite these perils, Travis and Mark both put in creditable performances to finish 11th in their respective categories.

In the overall 2012 GB series league, Aegean finished sixth, Travis came second and Mark, modestly putting this down to consistency rather than raw speed, claiming the title in the masters category.

With Travis, currently 13, competing in the under 15s and Aegean, who was 10 when she was competing, in the U13s category, these results are all the more impressive.

As has been mentioned, biathle is not a well-known sport, and as such the financial help available to would-be biathletes for the costs associated with competitions, even international ones, is non-existent.

The Bramley family are entirely self-funded at this time, but would welcome sponsorship of any kind. If you would be interested in assisting a talented family to even greater heights, please get in touch with sport@

tindlenews.co.uk.

The latest progression for this fast-paced family is a not-unexpected one, with Travis having competed in the South West Series of triathlons this year, finishing third in the U15s category and winning the Bath junior triathlon.

Both Travis and Aegean are now members of Plymouth Triathlon Club, and look to follow in the footsteps of Olympic medal-winning triathlon siblings the Brownlees.

Mark reveals that not only will he consider a triathlon in 2013, but is hoping to coax the as yet untested mum Sally in to action as well.

Next year seems more than likely to be another extraordinary one for this quite exceptional family, with the sky the limit as far as Team Bramley is concerned.