Brigg Sprint 2023
Big Thanks to LincsQuad Quadrathlon Club for hosting the race, and to the ‘Small but amazing Team’ of organizers and Marshalls who work timelessly to make this event possible! The race consisted of a 750m river swim, followed by a 19km road cycle, then a 4km Kayak and finishing with a 5km run. The course is flat, fast and ideal for both experienced quadrathletes and those wanting to race the shorter distance. There was a good turnout of 22 athletes, a lot of them looking for those vital National Trophy Points, as it was the final trophy Race of the Season!
The weather was kind, warm with no wind and it stayed dry, so a great morning for racing. The air temperature and river temperature were almost the same, so everyone enjoyed the swim and came out smiling!
The rain stayed away and despite the roads being wet the bike leg was ok, though Wayne Smith did have an incident but thankfully carried on the finish strongly.
The kayak went smoothly for everyone, though Nicolas Farnell did do a bit of fishing on the way back home, thankfully it didn’t slow him down too much as he went on to take the win!
The run is out and back, a lovely run back along the river fast and flat and always gives the athletes chance to encourage, and see everyone in the race!
Well done to all the athletes racing, some newcomers, and off course our ‘year in year out’ BQA Quadrathletes who are the back bone of our sport, constantly supporting all our races each year! We even had an International competitor ‘Tristan Mannix’ from the USA, he had a great time, smiled all the way despite his difficult kayak leg, if he comes back next year, we promise we will find him a kayak that only goes in a straight line! He loved the event and has gone home with lots of ‘BQA and Lincsquad Stash’ so he’ll certainly be spreading the Quad News back in the USA!
So Congratulations to Overall Winners, Nick Farnell and Natalie Abbott plus all the Quadrathletes that raced, it was so good to see the enthusiasm and commitment as you all embraced this great Sprint Event! Well done to everyone who crossed that finish line and to all the Prize Winners and BQA Trophy Winners too!
As always we must say a big Thank you to Lincsquad for organizing their 2nd Quadrathlon of the year! It gets harder and harder each year especially with rising costs, finding enough people to commit to helping out, its a difficult task each year, but you all certainly did an amazing job and you put so many smiles on all those athletes faces!
So again its a Big Thank you from the BQA and it’s members, Be Proud you all help keep our small sport moving forwards 🙏 #smallsportbigheart 💜
Congratulations to the Overall Winners and Age Group Winners! As always Thanks to our BQA Members, its your Support and Membership Fees that help keep our sport ALIVE!!
MEN
1st Nicholas Farnell 1:40:47 (Vet60) BQA
2nd Jason Frary 1:41:37 (Vet50)
3rd Lance Ball 1:44:25 (Vet50) BQA
4th Philippe Jumeau 1:45:00 (Vet60) BQA
5th Jeff Chappill 1:50:50 (Vet50) BQA
6th Wayne Smith 1:50:58 (Vet50) BQA
LADIES
1st Natalie Abbott 1:53:17 (Vet60) BQA
2nd Gilian Melia 1:55:24 (Vet50) BQA
3rd Hermione Ball 1:57:43 (Under20) BQA
4th Clare Addy 2:05:16 (Vet40)
5th Donna Chappill 2:08:12 (Vet50) BQA
6th Emma Mitchall 2:09:12
7th Caroline Jones 2:27:20 BQA
FULL RESULTS Sprint Quad Results
Well done also to Team Winners ‘Swim Bike Cake’ 1:51:48 The team stared 2 supportive BQA members Pete Tindle and Lizzie Angood getting back into things after a new addition to their family … Congratulations!
It was also the Final BQA Trophy Race of the Season, its always a great pleasure to present these Trophies and Age Group Prizes each year, along with our Eric Hatliff Trophy Winners. Congratulations also to our Overall Winners: Nick Farnell and Gillian Melia, and our Age Group Winners: Lance Ball (Vet50) Donna Chappill (Vet50) and Philippe Jumeau (Vet60) they have all produced some fabulous results this season!
The truly deserved Winners of the Eric Hatliff Trophy are Daivd and Caroline Jones, who not only race but also give so much back, coaching, motivating and organizing races at Manvers Lake! We have great depth in strength and experience in our athletes they are all great ambassadors of our sport and we are very proud to have them in our BQA Quadrathlon Family! Well Done to you all!
Full Trophy Standings 2023 BQA British Trophy 2023 RESULTS
Thank you to Lance Ball for his Race Report, and Congratulations to him on his brilliant race season, and to his daughter Hermione who continues to improve from strength to strength!
I have been participating in Quadrathlons for over 10 years. However this race at Brigg was going to be particularly special for me. I raced together with my daughter Hermione Ball as a pair just a couple of weeks ago at the Awesome Foursome in Bude where we had a fantastic race. Hermione has previously raced in other quadrathlons, but this event at Brigg was to be our first ever father and daughter race where we would be competing in the same event against each other.
As always, we started off by getting into the river Ancholme to acclimatize. Hermione entered well before myself. It was a little chilly so a couple of minutes acclimatizing was plenty enough for my liking. After a brief countdown we were off and without any intention I found myself swimming right alongside Hermione as we proceeded along the river. The last time I swam with my daughter must have been a few years ago when she was much slower. I don’t know when she improved so much, but here she wasn’t just keeping up with me, but started to pull away. I decided that the best option was to tuck in behind and just stay on her feet.
As we approached the turn around point I was still right on Hermione’s feet and Hermione was right behind someone else. This did cause a little dilemma of what to do at the turn with no buoy to go around. As the person turned in front of Hermione, Hermione stopped where she was and I stopped behind Hermione. Now stationary, should we turn in front of each other, around each other, try and follow some sort of arc that the person in front has done? I probably only hesitated for a couple of seconds, but it felt like I confused myself for ages. I looked across to the bank to see Pete Chappill waving at me to start swimming back towards the leisure centre, so I took this as a sign to stop messing about and to just start swimming in the opposite direction. Approaching the pontoon, Hermione was still in front of me, but I tactically swam to the left immediately behind someone else, which sneakily blocked Hermione out to the right. As a result we were absolutely neck and neck as we clambered out of the water and headed off to transition.
T1 was the second time I became a little confused, since I’m used to getting into transition to find many more spaces where bikes had previously been racked. I’m sure what exaggerated the feeling was that the triathlon competitors swimming inside the leisure centre had yet to come out, so there was a whole sea of bikes in transition, giving the impression that no bike had left. I inquired with my fellow quadrathletes who confirmed that we definitely were cycling next and not kayaking, so I duly set off as anticipated with a bike in hand.
I’ve completed several long distance cycling challenges recently, so I was more than happy to be out on the bike course, enjoying every minute of it.
Approaching the halfway point, I caught up with 2 competitors that were both keeping towards the left, all the way around the roundabout. I took the racing line around the roundabout and managed to overtake both in the process before accelerating with a tailwind back towards Brigg.
Not long after leaving the roundabout I noticed my Masters 50 rivals, Wayne Smith and Jeff Chappill approaching in the opposite direction. I had hoped that I’d have created more of a gap, since I knew that they were better runners than myself. I was particularly pleased to see Hermione approaching sooner than I expected and knew that she must be having a good race,
Unfortunately I had no idea how many had passed me in the opposite direction when I was heading out, so I had no idea what my current position was. Halfway back to Brigg, one of the competitors that I’d been so pleased to overtake at the roundabout, came past me and just carried on pulling away. I’m not certain who they were, but I’m sure they were from the relay team, so presume that they didn’t need to save any energy for the kayak and could just go all out for their last few bike miles.
There were no dramas for T2, except that when placing our kayaks, I had started a second row for Hermione and mine, expecting others to have been in theirs before we needed ours. However not many had been moved, so it cost me a few extra seconds whilst I carried my kayak from a little further away.
Once under way in the kayak, I could see Philippe Jumeau about 30 seconds ahead of me.
I could just about tell that I was closing, but only very slightly. After passing the moored boats and heading out towards the red bridge I could see Nicholas Farnell and Jason Frary battling it out in the distance. I couldn’t see anyone else, so concluded to my own amazement that I must be in 4th position. Approaching the bridge I could see Philippe turning and appearing to take longer to do so than I should, since he was clearly paddling a kayak that was much more unstable than mine. I thought that this was my big chance to catch up. Unfortunately the turn wasn’t one of my best, having intended to turn under the bridge I ended up drifting beyond the bridge, turning later than I needed to. I still managed to make up a few seconds and that helped with the incentive to push on hard. Halfway back to the leisure centre and I was close enough to start feeling the assistance from being behind Philippe. Once there it was reasonably quick to catch up and begin the overtake. Somewhere near the moored boats I managed to complete the overtake but knew that I wasn’t going to be able to pull much ahead, if at all. However getting to the pontoon ahead was likely to be beneficial in receiving the first help in exiting the water. I’m sure it was as Mark Pryor encouraged me to run on as he took care of my kayak.
A quick T3 transition meant that I headed out onto the run probably 20 to 30 seconds ahead of Philippe which I doubted would be enough.
At the ‘run’ halfway point, there wasn’t anyone close in front of me. I saw the turn around marked on the floor, but decided to continue running past this point and instead ran around the marshall standing slightly further along the path, just to make sure that I’d gone far enough! Much to the bewilderment of the marshall. Heading back I saw Phillippe wasn’t far behind and that it would be a hard fought last few kilometers. My tactic to try and stay ahead was to sing AC/DC songs in my head.
It was again good to see all of my fellow quadrathletes as we passed each other out and back on the run. Weighing up how well each of our races must be going we still offered each other encouragement to push on. Natalie Abbott was having a great run as the leading female. Hermione was still going strong, continuing to have a really great race.
As I approached the leisure centre I was still feeling good, looked around and couldn’t see any of my rivals. Nicholas Farnell had already finished first a few minutes earlier, closely followed by Jason Frary. I crossed the line in 3rd place to claim my first ever individual podium finish.
Philippe crossed the line about 30 seconds later and immediately came over to congratulate me.
Natalie Abbott continued with a very fast run to become first female finisher, followed in by Gill Melia. I was particularly looking out for Hermione and was so thrilled when she came across the line after Gill to claim 3rd female.
For our first race competing against each other, both Hermione and I absolutely loved the event. Not just because we both had great races, but because of the friendly atmosphere amongst all of the athletes taking part that are just too many to name here. Most of all though, we are so grateful to Lincsquad, the marshalls and all of the volunteers that enabled this race to take place, providing a great friendly atmosphere and giving us encouragement all the way around.
Thank you so much everyone, we look forward to seeing you all again next year.
Regards, Lance and Hermione.
Thanks to Lincsquad’s Donna Chappill for her recollection of her race! Well yesterday I completed one of the toughest challenges yet, the Awesome Foursome Quadrathlon. I’ve been wanting to do this for years, having watched Pete, Jean, Jac and other BQA members, but never had the courage to enter. However, this year I decided that I would and I am so pleased that I conquered my fears and entered (probably drunk at the time).
This leaves the BQA Trophy Series wide open and will depend on the results from the final race in the Series ‘Brigg Sprint’. Trophies are awarded each year, provided each winner has done 3 races in the series, and must be a current BQA Member. (In the event of a tie the 4th race points will count to decide the winner).
Bude Quadrathlon 
The race makes the very most of Bude’s geography and features. The open water swim takes place within the shelter of Bude’s breakwater. The cycle ride includes some amazing coastal hills (including the 1 in 3 climb at Millook). The kayak leg takes place on the tranquil Bude canal. And the final run follows the canal towpath onto the coastal path and back to Bude. The fastest athletes will take around 3 hours to complete the course with most finished within 4 hours.
It was our 6th Deva Divas Quadrathlon, and once again the weather was kind despite a brisk wind it was warm and dry …. but whatever the weather there was always going to be sunshine in everyone’s heart and as always plenty of very happy ladies!
1st Eleanor Young Senior – Senior 2.00.06
BQA Members
It’s my 5th year racing the Deva Diva Quad and probably my favourite event of the race season because of the reasons stated above. This year was to be no exception and if I’m honest the support for the athletes just grows and grows year on year.
First into the river are the Quad. and Aqua Bike athletes. As we were counted in to enter the water I spotted David, my husband sat in his kayak giving me a wave and wishing me luck. He had volunteered for safety duty and would be following the second wave down of Tri. Athletes. With thirty seconds to go I warmed up and looked for a good spot on the starting line. Ten seconds to go – a round of Oggy Oggy Oggy and I find my spot. Five, four, three, two one … the hooter sounds and we’re off – 750m of swimming ahead. My starting spot wasn’t so good as I thought! Getting hemmed in I kept a level head, increased my speed, and found clear water for the rest of the swim.
Out of the swim in fourth place knowing that Liz Dawson, Clare Addy, and Pauline Percy (who was competing in her first Quad.) are strong swimmers and would be well on their way from transition onto the kayak. Having a “bit of difficulty” with my wetsuit 
Surprisingly my kayak to bike transition was good 
Deva Diva- Quad. Tri and Aqua Bike is a brilliant, friendly, fun event what ever you choose to do. The special bit is that its all put together by volunteers who give up their time so us athletes can go out and enjoy ourselves because yes, that’s what’s it all about, enjoying ourselves.
We started the morning at 8.30 with the QuadKidz Tri and Quad race a huge well done to them, they were all amazing all finished their races in fantastic style , most certainly our stars of the future!
In the Ladies race, Gill had a strong bike and soon went into the lead, she paddled well and went into the run well ahead of Helen Adams and Clare. Helen moved into 2nd place after the bike, she had a good kayak, but by now the sun was very hot and everyone found the run tough. Clare came in smiling excitably to take 3rd!
At Manvers the Bike leg is 2nd, and after a quick strip of the wetsuit, shoes and helmet on and some vital hydration unrack the bike and run to the mount line. I had not got far and I couldn’t clip my shoes shoe in, what was wrong, and after trying a couple of time I decided to stop and check out the problem. I had not removed my cleat covers! New lesson learnt, and covers removed I was back on my way, that’s one for the check list next time.
The Norfolk Superhero is a charity quadrathlon for those who relish an endurance challenge. Participants take part in teams of two and together cover a course that includes a 1 mile swim, a 4 mile kayak through the creeks, a 45 mile circular cycle route and an 8 mile run across the beach finishing with the last mile over the marsh. Teams must stick together and help each other out although there is a good mix of competition on show as well.
As always this has been an amazing Event, take a read of this years Race Report, if you fancy a crack at it next year you’ll need to get your Entries in Early … its always a sell out!
Manvers Waterfront Boat Club are ready to Welcome you!
A great day was had by all in Brigg at the World European Championships, we were blessed with warm sunshine though quite a brisk breeze on the bike course. The numbers were on the low side but it was good too see Quadrathletes coming over from Hungary, Spain and Belgium!
The Belgium Team did the fastest time of the day 02:32:01, but with only 48 seconds to spare … a superb effort from our European Champion Ferenc!
MENS Results (TOP 10)
FEMALE Results
I’d been looking forward to the first race of the season for a long time ….and was incredibly nervous as such, my training in general had been good , but not consistent which had been my own fault.
I just wanted to introduce you to the WQF our World Governing Body, behind the scenes they work very hard, to keep ‘World Quadrathlon’ moving forwards. The World Quadrathlon Federation (WQF) is the international sport governing body for Quadrathlon. It was established 1997 as ‘European Quadrathlon Federation’ and exists since 2001 as ‘World Quadrathlon Federation’. The WQF has her seat in the Czech Republic and is there registered in the Ministry of Interior, Electoral and Association Department. Our Voting member Nations at present are CZE, GBR, GER, and HUN.
WORLD CUP RACES 2023