2016 Shrewsbury Quad, A Class Turnout, First Timers, Lots of Ladies and our Great Quadrathlon Core!

It was the 5^th Shrewsbury Quadrathon … and once again we had a great day’s racing, a true testament to the Event organizers Gill Otto and SYTri. The Event goes from strength to strength and this year we had a great entry, more first timers and more women than ever before! The weather was kind after a very wet ‘set up day’ for the organizers and with the worry of possibility rising river levels over night. The river did rise throughout the day but we were lucky enough to have completed the swim and kayak legs before it engulfed the beach area!

A calm fast river, if a ‘tad’ cold, with a strong current downstream but hard work for the kayaks back up! A slight wind on the undulating bike course, and a fast flat run with the occasional muddy patch … all in all great conditions for racing! We had good strong field of Quadrathletes, our top athletes and age groupers, plus plenty of newcomers who all gave it their best and finished with happy faces and podium places!

Congratulations to Winner Steve King who took the lead from the start, unfortunately his closest rival Adam Norfolk had to withdraw due to injury, but Chris Carter (Adam’s Friend from Nottingham KC) came along in the hope of catching Steve! Steve put in the fastest splits across all 4 disciplines to win comfortably (1.22.43). So the battle was for 2^nd place. Chris and Phil Holden played cat and mouse throughout, but Chris just had the edge and ran home 2^nd (1.35.41) with Phil 3^rd (1.36.49).

There was a real battle going on for the next 4 places, 3 BQA members all looking for valuable Trophy Points Russel Brayer, Peter Chappill and Cliff Odgers all Vet 50 category, (this could get very close at the last race in Bude!) Cliff went from the Swim/kayak first and stayed in the lead on the bike, whilst Russel and Peter were very close throughout, it was Russel’s strong running that moved him into 4^th he just pipped Peter on the line just 1 second ahead! Russel 4^th (1.42.26) Peter 5^th (1.42.27) Cliff came a very creditable 6^th (1.42.34), a great way to celebrate his 50^th Birthday!

There were more solid performances from our BQA Members, and so good to see them flying the flag for us. John and Nigel both from MADCC having a friendly battle from start to finish!

8^th John Kavanagh (1.44.04)

9^th Nigel Leeson (1.44.05)

10^th Lance Ball (1.47.49)

12^th John Redmond (1.52.26)

13^th Jeff Chappill (1.55.19)  great to see him back racing again!

17^th Alistair Bates (2.02.57) another great BQA supporter who’s paid up for 2017 already … thanks Alistair!

There was a fantastic 18 Ladies competing in the event, with more than half first timers! Jean Ashley was first out of the Swim/Kayak but was overtaken by 2 very speedy bikers, Helen Russell and Kate Burgoyne both looking very strong. Helen had a very strong run, came 4^th overall and 1^st Lady (1.37.37) with Kate 5^th overall 2^nd lady (1.41.41). Jean and Jacqueline Davies came in on the bike together but Jean moved ahead on the run to hold 3^rd place (1.44.29) with Jac in 4^th (1.46.23). We had 5 other ‘BQA Girls’ racing very well and earning vital Trophy Points.

6th Mary White (1.50.54)

7^th Victoria Price (1.52.26) having a Brilliant first Year in Quadrathlon!

9^th Margaret Huyton (2.00.15)

11^th Donna Chappill (2.03.26) in her first EVER Quad, great result!

13^th Louise Beedham (2.06.50) her 3^rd Quad of the season and nailing the U23 BQA National Title for 2016, so pleased for her a great achievement … Well Done Louise!

A great effort from all the other females who for many of them it was their first Quad …. and judging by their smiles ‘not their last’ … Looking forward to seeing them again!

There was a great turnout of BQA Members, all getting valuable National Trophy Points, with 2 more races left there are no clear winners in the Men’s Races just yet! So Good Luck to everyone racing at the Fabian 4 (18^th Sept) and then the National Championsips at Bude (24^th Sept) …. let’s hope we get Sunshine to finish off the end of the season!

Full Results hear Shrewsbury Quadrathlon 2016

I would like to say a huge thank-you to Gill Otto and SYtri for letting us, once again be part of their triathlon, British Quadrathlon really appreciate this ….. Superbly organized, very friendly and great value for money, you left no stone unturned! The marshals were brilliant and a special thanks to Shrewsbury Canoe Club for the river cover, I had ‘Julian Brewer’ singing there praises after they rescued his kayak as he got pushed by the currant into the pontoon, so big thanks to them!

It was so good to see plenty of onlookers enjoying the Quadrathlon, and I have had so much positive feedback from the Quadrathletes, and from Triathletes all wanting to add another discipline next year! We hope SYTri will have us back next year for another great race …..thank you for our 5^th Shrewsbury Quad!