2012 West Wight Quadrathlon

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After a week of gales the weather gods smiled (well frowned) on our first Quadrathlon. 20 to 30 knot winds became 5 to 8knots and a gentle english drizzle met our intrepid competitors. A perfectly formed squad of 11 people started the great adventure. 24 lengths of a warm clean pool at 07;30 hrs was a gentle wake up for the next leg. A mountain bike course over the Tennison Downs trail. By now Mat Trautman had disappeared into the rain and by the end of the bike ride had a lead of 15mins! So as he started the kayak leg (held onthe Solent side of the Island this year) one of the safety boats had yet to lay the turning Mark! But two Honda 90 hp engines can beat even a supper fit South African. But at the end he had set a blistering time of 2:14:41(obviously the course record). BQA GB Team member and 1st Vet Ian Smith came home in 2nd place 2:30:38.

Everybody completed the course the tailenders taking 3:37:06 after a slightly shortened paddle. Prize giving took place as soon as everybody had recovered;each competitor received a small porcelain mug suitably engraved as a momento of the day.

Will we do it again next year? …… you bet we will! So watch the West Wight Sports Centre, IOW Adventure Activities and BQA web sites for next year.

A Big thank-you to Mike Raydon and his Crew for putting on this excellent Race, Ive had some great feedback and this very positive comment from BQA member Philip Nye ‘We had a great race yesterday, with weather much better than the forecast predicted a few days before. The cycle route up the downs afforded spectacular views (for those with the time to look) and although the paddle was changed from the original plan due to forecast gales (which in the end had died before Sunday), it was still a high point with a moderate easterly blowing down the Solent into a gathering tidal flow which made the later paddlers work quite hard. It was a shame not to see some more of the regular faces there – you all need to man up and face some water which isn’t mirror flat! Many thanks to Mike Rayden for a very friendly and well organized event.’

RESULTS

1st Matt Trautman  2:14:41
2nd Ian Smith        2:30:38
3rd Simon Baxter   2:48:14
4th Adam Younger  2:57:32
5th Cathy Allen        3:04:31
6th Phillip Nye         3:27:32
7th Natalie Bee        3:27:30
8th George Huston Roberts   3:32:55
9th  Nigel Selly        3:37:06
10th Sally Pulvertoft    3:31:10 (after a shortened Kayak)
11th Sarah Edminds  3:31:10  (after a shortened Kayak)