LIVE BLOG: Text commentary from Modern Pentathlon World Championships, Crystal Palace

By George Scott, Sportsbeat, in Crystal Palace

HOME HOPE: Scot Mhairi Spence won her semi-final but France's Amelia Caze, right, will be a major rival in the final

 KEEP REFRESHING FOR REGULAR UPDATES FROM CRYSTAL PALACE

20:54: Well it's definitely been a manic day here at Crystal Palace. No individual medals for the British girls but, excuse the pun, every cloud has a silver lining - in this case in the form of team silver! Thanks for joining me, it's been emotional.  

20:36: TEAM RESULTS
1. GERMANY - 16604 points
2. GREAT BRITAIN - 16328
3. HUNGARY - 16288 

20:25: INDIVIDUAL RESULTS:
1. QIAN CHEN - 5840 points
2. LAURA ASADAUSKAITE - 5736
3. LENA SCHONEBORN - 5664 

9. HEATHER FELL - 5556
14. MHAIRI SPENCE - 5444
15. FREYJA PRENTICE - 5432
23. KATY LIVINGSTON - 5328 

19:45:  There we have it! Team silver for the British girls to end a day marred by controversy in KATY LIVINGSTON'S ride. 

18:55: QIAN CHEN wins by a mile! Silver for LAURA ASADAUSKAITE. Brits racing for team event now - COME ON GIRLS!

18:53: There aren't going to be any Brit girls in the individual medals here. QIAN CHEN has got it won. 

18:48: QIAN CHEN takes only six shots to hit her five targets. She has got an absolutely huge lead, maybe 300m. Surely she can't throw it away from here? HEATHER FELL is 14th. 

18:46: Not a great start for KATY LIVINGSTON, who struggles on the range. China's QIAN CHEN has opened up a considerable lead and is about 200m away from her second stint on the range. 

18:43: And we're off! POLINA STRUCHTKOVA is first away from the line. 

18:41: The combined event gets underway in just a few minutes. Here's how it works:

The leading athlete after the three events sets off first, with the rest of the field staggered behind according to their points score (see 18:11). 

They start on the shooting range and have a maximum of 70 seconds to hit the target (10m away) five times. If they do this before their time is up they begin the first 1000m run - otherwise they begin their run after the time is up. This takes place three times - so three shooting rounds and three 1000m runs, with the final run a race for the line. 

18:24: To try and clear up what happened during KATY LIVINGSTON'S ride (see 17:38), a buzzer sounded when it shouldn't have done (while LIVINGSTON was riding), disrupting her momentum. She then proceeded to suffer a fall on the penultimate fence. Chaos. More info when I get it but, what we do know is that there is nothing that can be done about it. LIVINGSTON starts the combined in fifth. 

18:19: But that isn't only where we've got a chance of a medal. This is how the team event stands:

1. HUNGARY - 9524 points
2. RUSSIA - 9444
2. GREAT BRITAIN - 9444
4. GERMANY - 9332
5. CHINA - 8996 

It's incredibly tight at the top. It's there for the taking girls! Remember, Great Britain's team is KATY LIVINGSTON, MHAIRI SPENCE and HEATHER FELL, but of course we'll be cheering on FREYJA PRENTICE all the same. 

18:16: We know how unpredictable the run/shoot is so KATY LIVINGSTON and MHAIRI SPENCE are both still in with a real chance of a medal. 

18:11: The starting order going into the combined event is:

1. POLINA STRUCHTKOVA  +00 seconds
5. KATY LIVINGSTON  +31 seconds
11. MHAIRI SPENCE +43 seconds
19. HEATHER FELL +1 minute 10 seconds
21. FREYJA PRENTICE +1 minute 29 seconds  

17:49: Poland's SYLVIA CZWOJDZINSKA was the only rider to go clear - and stay inside the time limit. She scored the maximum 1200 points.  

17:38: MASSIVE controversy with KATY LIVINGSTON who, it seems, was interrupted by the start beeper going off twice during her ride with her heading for a clear round. More to come. 

17:34: Full results and standings to come. 

17:29: Heart break for KATY LIVINGSTON! It was all going so well but a knock-down and a fall - which sent LIVINGSTON crashing through the fence - sees her score 962 points. She'll now start the combined event in fifth place. 

17:26: Here's what we've all been waiting for! KATY LIVINGSTON is ready to go. COME ON KATY (and her horse Cathleen!)

17:12: AYA MEDANY looked like she was going to go clear but clipped the penultimate fence. She's the new leader. 

17:07: I spoke too soon! But a very good ride from MHAIRI SPENCE - two rails down and nine seconds over the alloted time. 1124 to give her 3168 points after three event. In third as it stands. Only leader KATY LIVINGSTON to go now from the British girls. 

17:05: So far, so good...

17:04:  MHAIRI SPENCE is in the arena. Massive ride this. Ziggy is the horse. 

16:38: Good ride from HEATHER FELL but two refusals on the hedge cost her 80 points and she was five seconds over the limit - 1104 points. 

16:35: HEATHER FELL is up next. She's a very strong rider so this is a good opportunity for her to move up to move up the standings after a disappointing morning. 

16:17: Germany's JANINE KOHLMANN is our new leader after scoring 1184 points with Ziggy. 

16:11:  Excellent ride from FREYJA PRENTICE - just two seconds over the time limit and one knock-down. 1172 points for her. She leads at this early stage. 

16:09: FREYJA PRENTICE knocks down the UK Sport branded jump. That'll be her funding cut, then. 

16:08: FREYJA PRENTICE is up next, riding Tyson, and currently sits in 19th place. 

16:03: This is undoubtedly the most exciting action of the day so far! Italy's LAVINIA DIANOVA is thrown off her horse and crashing into one of the obstacles. She's ok thought and is back on the horse but her time is up. 

15:50: SHOW JUMPING RULES:

Show jumping in the modern pentathlon involves jumping over obstacles up to 1.2m in height on a course between 350m and 450m in length. The athlete has a specific time limit - 1 minute, 17 seconds on this course - in which to complete the course. A clear round gives 1200 points - but for each mistake the rider loses points. 28 points are deducted for every knock-down, while 40 points are deducted for every refusal. 

If there are two refusals on any one obstacle, the rider must move on to the next obstacle and loses 200 points. If a rider falls they are deducted 40 points and after two falls the riding is terminated, with a further 300 points deducted.

Each second over the time limit sees four points deducted and the maximum time allowed is 75 seconds over the standard time. If a rider is slower than the maximum time allowed, a further 240 points are deducted, along with 80 points per obstacle not jumped. 

Got it? Didn't think so. I'll do my best to keep you informed on how the key names - including, of course, our British girls - get on over the next hour or so. 

15:48: Word in the press box is this course is particularly hard and could favour the British girls, who are strong riders. 

15:46: It's like dodgems out there for WU YANYAN! The first time I've seen show jumping turn into a combat sport. 

15:42: Just a few minutes until WU YANYAN - who sits in last place - kicks of the riding phase of the women's final. This is make or break time for all the athletes really - where it can be won or lost 

15:30: Just as we're waiting for the show jumping to start, did you know that this is the first world championships in an Olympic sport to be held in London since 1986. Unbelievable really and not on if you ask me. 

15:07: KATY LIVINGSTON and HEATHER FELL will ride number 20, Cathleen - an extremely dashing grey mare. Let's hope Cathleen has her head screwed on. She's just been paraded past the grandstand, and, I can confirm she has four legs. 

15.03: As competition leader, KATY LIVINGSTON draws first. The horse drawn by the athlete in first position is also rode by the athlete in 19th position - which by coincidence is HEATHER FELL. 

15:01: The riding arena looks excellent in the Sunday afternoon sun. 15 jumps, some modelled as London's finest tourist sights - Big Ben, Tower Bridge et al. 

14:59: The horses and athletes have assembled on the infield of Crystal Palace Athletics Stadium ready for the draw. Rumour has it there were a few bucking broncos yesterday - same again please!

14:57: Standings after two events:

1. KATY LIVINGSTON - 2284 points
9. MHAIRI SPENCE - 2044
19. HEATHER FELL - 1956
29. FREYJA PRENTICE - 1812 

14:29: There is quite a drawn out process before the riding competition starts. Horses are drawn at random - this could be carnage - and the draw will take place at 3pm. Each rider then gets 20 minutes with their horse in the practice area, with the first competition ride taking place in the arena at 3.45pm. The competition goes in reverse order according to points accumulated so far - so KATY LIVINGSTON will go last. 

14:15: And that's enough to keep KATY LIVINGSTON top of the overall standings with 2284 points. MHAIRI SPENCE is ninth with 2044 points. Full standings to come. 

14:14: Excellent late surge from KATY LIVINGSTON to grab fifth in 2:14.64. Very quick heat that one.

14:11: They're off in the fifth and final heat. 

14:10: The tannoy announcer is really struggling with some of these foreign names - much to the amusement with the name. 

14:09: Time for the final heat, featuring KATY LIVINGSTON, who leads the competition after this morning's fencing. 

14:08: EVA TRAUTMANN gets it in 2:15.27. Still a good swim form HEATHER FELL - 2:15.93.

14:06: HEATHER FELL looking very strong with 50m to go. Neck and neck with EVA TRAUTMANN. 

14:02: Heat four - MHAIRI SPENCE walks to her block, hood up, looking very focused. HEATHER FELL in lane seven. Big wave to the crowd from SPENCE as she's introduced by the tannoy annoucer. The Scot is a real character in modern pentathlon.

14:01: It's an Olympic one-two. ZSUZSANNA VOROS wins in 2:17.23, with LENA SCHONEBORN second. 

13:58: No British interest in heat three, but there are two Olympic gold medallists - LENA SCHONEBORN and ZSUZSANNA VOROS.

13:57: I'm not sure what the rules are in modern pentathlon - I shall find out - but a lot of the swimmer seem to be wearing the full body-suits which attributed to 43 world records at the World Swimming Championships in Rome a few weeks ago. 

13:55:  The heats are seeded - slowest first, fastest last. FREYJA PRENTICE touches in 2:23.91. She was seventh but the place is ultimately important, it's about time and points. 

13:53: PAULINA BOENISZ of Poland features in heat two as well. She is one of only a few athletes here to compete at the Sydney Olympics.

13:52: The swimming is underway and FREYJA PRENTICE gets a big cheer as she prepares to go in heat two. 

TEEN SPIRIT: Freyja Prentice in swimming action at the Modern Pentathlon World Championships (Getty Images)

13:34: For those of you not familiar with the combined run/shoot format - which will be today's finale - this is how it works:

Athletes run 60m, shoot at five targets in up to 70 seconds, run 1k, shoot at another five targets in 70 seconds, run 1k, shoot at a further five targets in 70 seconds and then finish off with a final 1k run. 

The start of the run/shoot is staggered so the athlete leading the field after the earlier disciplines starts first. This means the first athlete to cross the finish line is the winner. 

13:25: Have had it confirmed that HEATHER FELL is feeling under the weather today. That could scupper her chances, particularly in the swimming - where she is traditionally very strong - and run/shoot.  

13:23: The swimming - 200m freestyle - gets underway in 20 minutes. I've got fond memories of this pool, having earned my 10 00m swimming badge here many moons ago. 

13:10: KATY LIVINGSTON'S Zorro like performance - coupled with a very good effort from MHAIRI SPENCE and decent contribution from HEATHER FELL - has put Great Britain in pole position in the team event. There's a long way to go yet but it's a great start.  

1. GREAT BRITAIN - 2784 points
2. RUSSIA - 2616
3. HUNGARY - 2544
4. CHINA - 2496
5. GERMANY  2400 

13:07: Superb stuff from KATY LIVINGSTON - an exceptional performance. She won individual world championship bronze last year. An upgrade this year, perhaps? The 25-year-old is a strong swimmer so should open up a bigger lead there, although she can be suspect on the horse. 

13:01: Drum roll please... Fencing results are in.

Brits as follows:

1. KATY LIVINGSTON - 29 victories / six defeats - 1096 points. A massive personal best - four victories better than her previous. 
9. MHAIRI SPENCE - 21 / 14 - 904
19. HEATHER FELL -  16 / 19 - 784
24. FREYJA PRENTICE - 14 / 21 - 736

Selected others:
5. AYA MEDANY - 22 / 13 - 928
12. LENA SCHONEBORN - 20 / 15 - 880
13. AMELIE CAZE - 19 / 16 - 856 

12:31: The fencing is drawing to a close, but the results are a couple of rounds behind. I'll bring you the final results and standings as soon as possible. When I have them, you have them!

12:21: After 29 bouts (six to go):

1. KATY LIVINGSTON - 24 victories / 5 defeats
13. MHAIRI SPENCE - 16 / 13
16. HEATHER FELL - 14 / 15
22. FREYJA PRENTICE - 12 / 17 

12:08: We're coming to the final few bouts of a long morning of fencing - over two hours. The swimming won't get underway until 1.45pm, the show jumping at 3pm and combined event at 6.15pm. Perhaps that's the problem with modern pentathlon - it's just too long, too drawn-out for spectators. There's a decent crowd here, although I expect it's mostly made up of friends and family. 

What for the Olympic future of modern pentathlon? With the IOC looking for more bang for your buck - rugby sevens - and chasing the yankee dollar - golf - a sport so true to its 19th century roots must have its work cut out?

11:55: Here's how it stands for the British girls after 23 bouts:

KATY LIVINGSTON - 21 victories / 2 defeats
MHAIRI SPENCE - 13 / 10
FREYJA PRENTICE - 10 / 13
HEATHER FELL - 10 / 13 

11:45: Partisan crowd here in Crystal Palace - one banned reads "Fencey Spencey'. I see what they've done there!

11:32: Remember, the team event is also contested today. Each national federation nominates three athletes and, provided they make the final, their scores are accumulated. Great Britain are in with a great shout having captured European gold in June. 

11:27: ;World number one HEATHER FELL doesn't look like she's having a good time. She was suffering from a cold on Thursday and it looks as though she's struggling again today. 

Speak of world rankings...they're not wholly accurate, having been from last year, before the combined run/shoot was introduced. Still, FELL is a top-class competitor. amp;nbsp;

11:20: Russia's EVDOKIA GRETCHICHNIKOVA - I won't be typing that again! - just took out one of the knee-high boards which separates each fencing piste. She just went for her opponent - more of a bundle than a lunge!

11:15: Two Olympic gold medallists in the field - from Beijing, Germany's LENA SCHONEBORN and from Athens, Hungary's ZSUZSANNA VOROS.

It's impossible to pick a winner from a field which is littered with Olympic, world and European medals. Modern pentathlon is unpredictable at the best of times! 

11:12: BRIT UPDATE: My, my, my - KATY LIVINGSTON is fencing out of her skin - and looks very dashing too, if I may add. 15 bouts, 14 wins, one loss. MHAIRI SPENCE is maintaining about a 50/50 win-rate, as is FREYJA PRENTICE, who has really rallied after a slow start. Olympic silver medallist HEATHER FELL has six wins and nine defeats to her name. 

11:04: I commented about it on Thursday - but there's some real shrieks coming from the athletes, normally the winner! Latvia's ELENA RUBLEVSKA has just shaken the foundations!

11:01: Crystal Palace may look a bit tatty round the edges these days - but it has a rich sporting history. Think of a sport and it's probably taken place here - football, rugby, basketball, motor racing, cricket. You name it!

10:55:  KATY LIVINGSTON fenced well in the semi-final and is a strong swimmer too. At this rate she'll be in a good position going into the show jumping. 

10:52: But forget AYA MEDANY, our very own KATY LIVINGSTON tops the standings after 11 bouts - ten victories, one defeat. Sensational stuff. MHAIRI SPENCE is still going well - six victories, five defeats. 

10:46: Reigning junior world champion AND senior world championship silver medallist AYA MEDANY lists fencing as her strongest discipline - and she's proving that here, with a 100% record after seven bouts. 

MEDANY is one of the hot favourites for the title here - she's a real modern pentathlon prodigy, having competed at the Athens Olympic Games aged 13. 

10:42: Each fencing bout may seem relatively significant - however a victory is worth 24 points, or three seconds on the run/shoot. 

10:40: There's an excellent crowd in the fencing hall this morning - much better than in the semi-finals - with plenty of vocal support for the British girls. 

10:36: Jamie W is first in with the comments:

"What standard do the horses have to reach before they can be used for these Pentathlon championships? Are some of them acknowledged to be better than others?Could any rider have gone clear with Nick Woodbriges' horse yesterday?"

Each horse has to successfully jump the course before the competition, and in front of the judges, in order to be selected. So there is some sort of quality control. HOWEVER, they do this with their trainer riding, who of course is going to have a better relationship with it than your average pentathlete. Fair? Maybe not, and there must be an element of luck involved. 

Keep them coming!

10:33: FREYJA PRENTICE struggled with her fencing in Friday's semi-final, scoring only 744 points to finish 20th. MHAIRI SPENCE, on the other hand, scored 1032 to place her third - setting up what turned out to be a superb day, snatching overall victory on the combined run/shoot. 

10:29: First blood to KATY LIVINGSTON, who is off to an absolute flyer. Three victories from her opening three bouts. Her partner, HEATHER FELL, has also started strongly - two wins, one defeat, same as MHAIRI SPENCE. FREYJA PRENTICE has not faired so well - three defeats. 

10:18: Each pair fences each other to begin with - so it's Brit on Brit!

10:12: The action is underway. As in the semi-final, HEATHER FELL is paired with KATY LIVINGSTON while MHAIRI SPENCE had taken 19-year-old FREYJA PRENTICE under her wing. The format is simple - it's a round robin competition - every plays everybody - with 36 competitors. The first person to score a hit in each match is the winner. 

10:05: It's a beautiful day here in south London but it's fencing up first and, for now, we're confined to the greenhouse that is Crystal Palace National Sports Centre - it is ABSOLUTELY roasting in here. I feel for the girls in all their fencing finery!

Four British women have qualified for the final at Crystal Palace - including Olympic silver medallist Heather Fell. They will be looking to continue a proud home tradition in the event that started with Stephanie Cook and Kate Allenby in Sydney, continued with Georgina Harland in Athens while 12 mo nths ago Fell bagged silver.

Joining Fell will be Beijing team-mate Katy Livingston, youngster Freyja Prentice and Mhairi Spence, who beat a host of top names to win her quarter-final.

Hungary's Adam Marosi won the men's race yesterday - and is this the strangest celebration you've ever seen, he looks ever so slightly deranged while he's actually quite a normal and down to earth bloke.