BQA 2013 Chairman’sReport

As another race season draws to a close and those Winter nights descend it is time to reflect on our past season and plan/ train for the next.

The National Trophy Series kicked off this year with the Brigg Bomber in May. The race was to host the National Championships, European Championships and was also a World Cup Race [so it had a lot at stake]. Steve Clark was the overall winner [this was to be Steve’s only Quad this year as he concentrated on Kona Ironman with Phil Westoby coming second and Adam Norfolk taking third. Sharon Colley [who was too destined to dominate the Ladies Quad scene this season] was the first lady home, with Lisa Dunne coming home second. A big thanks must be said to the Lincsquad team who organised a quality race worthy of its championship status.

Unfortunately the second planned Quad race on the Isle of Wight had to be cancelled due to lack of numbers; a shame as we heard that it was a fantastic race last year. This meant that the second race of the year would be the sprint Off Road Quad at Box End. Box End was also suffering from reduced numbers and the race had to be re-structured to make it a viable proposition. At the race Sharon Colley was to pick up her second win of the season, with Jean Ashley coming second. In the men’s race Adam Norfolk came first with Steve King taking second.

The Shrewsbury Sprint Quad in only its second season was to be a very popular race with a good turn out of athletes [many of them trying the sport for the first time]. At least this year the river was slower and warmer then last years conditions. Steve King was the fist male across the line with Nigel Unwin coming in second. Sharon Colley took her third straight win to sow up the ladies National Trophy Series, with Jean in second place.

The fourth race of the year was that extreme event, the Fabian 4, which this year was blessed with much kinder weather then last years storm. This is a very hard race and not for the faint hearted. Adam Norfolk showed his strength and stamina by taking first position, with Ian Smith coming second. The first lady [surprisingly, not Sharon as she did not enter] was Caroline Dallimore, with Caroline Wilson coming second.

The fifth and last race in the trophy Series was the Awsome4some held in Bude, which was also our second World Cup Race to be held in the UK this year. This is another hard race with a very testing sea swim and near vertical bike route straight from the word go. Ian Smith was to triumph on the day and also confirmed himself the winner of the Men’s National Trophy Series 2013. Nigel Unwin took another well deserved second place and Jess Lynes was the first and only lady to take up this challenging race.

This year we only had 2 GB athletes at the World Championships at Ratscher-GBR. However, small though our numbers were, both athletes came back with medals. Ian Smith came 6th overall and took 1st [gold] place in V50 and Keith Longney came 11th and took Bronze in the V50 category. Congratulations to both athletes for doing a great job representing the BQA.

This year the BQA has seen a slump in personal membership, but a large increase in the numbers signing up to our Face book page! Membership fee’s and race affiliation are the BQA’s only source of income! If we do not have the membership we will not be able to function! There will be no National Trophy series and no National Body and no race insurance for some event organisers! If the sport of Quadrathlon is going to continue in its present form then we need your support! Please become a member in 2014 by downloading the form from the BQA website and it will only cost you £15.00.

The fate of the BQA and Quadrathlon in the UK rests in your hands!

Just to remind you that you need to be a member of the BQA to qualify for the National Trophy series.

This is my last year as Chairman as I will be stepping down for a new person to take the helm [if you feel you can take on the roll then please let Jean know]. Jean Ashley will continue to handle the day to day running of the BQA. We all owe a big thanks to Jean and her family as they are the backbone of the BQA, without their input we would not exist. I would also like to thank all the event organisers and their teams for all their hard work putting on some extremely varied and brilliant races this year.

I wish you all best in your future Quadrathlon Seasons!

Mark Pryor
BQA CHAIRMAN [out going]