Manvers Swim Run Kayak
RESULTS
This is a BQA National Trophy Race updated points are here BQA Trophy 2026 R7 after Manvers 2
Congratulations to the Winners and well done to all the competitors.
MALE
1st Erik Meilak
2nd Jonathan O’Grady
3rd Pete Chappill
LADIES
1st Rose Durrant
2nd Janet Green
3rd Geraldine Richards
Big Thanks to Pete Chappill for his Race Report
The weather was warm and not to windy providing a little ripple on the water.
The Swim was wetsuit optional with the usual mass start with the aquathon athletes giving us the ‘washing machine experience’ but we soon stretched out. The water based marshals were well positioned and encouraging and
after 2 laps it was complete, out to transition. I chose wetsuit which was sticky to get off and took a while but eventually out and onto the run.
There was welcome shade from the trees for most of the run and the scenery made it as enjoyable as running can be! Due to the new format I had to remember to run straight to the kayak for transition and out onto the course which wraps around the top island taking in the scenery. There were many ducks out supporting, or were they laughing at us, either way it gave a focus to avoid them all, we completed 4 laps and then into the finish!
The relaxed, welcoming, supportive attitudes displayed by all resulted in a very enjoyable event oh the weather also helped. It seemed strange not completing a bike section and could benefit from a 2km run after the kayak as finishing on the water didn’t quite feel the same, but it was most enjoyable all the same!
Just get out and have a go!
Pete Chappill.
For those interested in the WQF Trophy these are the standings after 5 Races
It was also great to see people attempting the sport that probably are unlikely to ever have entered the extreme Standard…the Sprint is a real plus and m
The final race in our BQA National Trophy series is taking place in Bude on 11th October ‘The Awesome Foursome’. On the Ladies side it looks like Helen Russell can not be beaten to take the overall Trophy, but there could be some ladies age group deciders depending on who races!
Always one of the highlights of the quadrathlon race calendar, this year’s British Championship race took place on 7th September in Brigg, Lincolnshire. The 2025 national race was a sprint-distance format of 750m river swim, 4km kayak, 18km bike and 5km run and it also doubled up as the third race in the British Trophy Series.
The women’s race was very close and arguably the most exciting of the day! Last year’s Brigg Sprint winner, Rose Durrant exited the river first, just 9 seconds ahead of seasoned quadder Helen Russell. About 2 miles into the bike leg Helen caught Rose and the riders battled each other with positions swapping until the half way point when Rose pulled away and created a lead going into the kayak leg of 21 seconds. Both athletes had to deal again with the weeds in the river but just after the half way mark Helen overtook Rose paddling almost two minutes faster. Helen managed to maintain her lead throughout the run leg completing the final disciple just one second quicker than Rose to finish in an overall time of 1 hour, 43 minutes, and 19 seconds. Rose took the silver in 1.44.46 and Tora Oetgen took the final podium place in 1.56.56. In just one year Rose has improved by 5 minutes and 21 seconds, an incredible advancement in just 12 months. Tora also showed a big improvement finishing 4 minutes 59 seconds quicker than last year. Helen and Rose’s times were so fast that they actually finished 3rd and 4th overall beating most of the men!
The BQA are pleased to see that Bude Quad will be also adding a sprint course quad to your usual Awesome Foursome course.
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.
NEW for 2025: The Sprint
Special thanks to Mark Benton, David Jones and the Manvers Team for organising this great quad event, you are a wonderful ‘Team’ of people thank you for your enthusiasm and for inspiring so many to take to the water and embrace the challenge, you have put so many smiles on peoples faces at Manvers. As always the BQA are extremely grateful to everyone involved, we are a small sport, and its good to see so many competitors without a doubt it’s such a fabulous feel good event, enjoyed by everyone, from seasoned athletes to first timers and looking at the photos looks like you had a great day!
The Race this year was part of the BQA Trophy Series, but for the first time ever it was part of the World Quadrathlon Cup, so competitors were given BQA points plus WQF points, this is great to see so many British athletes with World Cup points. The GB team are now in 2nd place in the World Cup Trophy now “The Vaclav Merek National Trophy” this is given to country with the most the points at the end of the year. So huge well done to everyone who has raced so far this year! 
Onto the 30k bike stage and the course was just excellent. For me personally, I’d checked out the bike course on the previous Friday, so it was full gas all the way, tuck in, shrug the shoulders narrow and get aero, every second counts. The loop out of Waddingham and through Snitterby was just excellent fun. 49:24 later and I’m rolling back into the sports center, thinking now about the kayak leg.
So here we go, the day’s getting done now, just the run to go, 5k’s for the sprint and 9.8k’s for the middle distance event.
Sadly our National Trophy Series was down to just 3 races this year, Shrewsbury has finally folded completely, which is very sad news, and Bude was also cancelled due to lack of support. Thankfully we still had 3 excellent races in our calendar, The Brigg Bomber (World Cup Event also) Dearne Valley Sprint, and The Brigg Sprint. On behalf of the BQA I’d like to say a Huge THANK YOU to all our Race organizers and volunteers, who work so hard each year to put on these events for us, it is a big commitment and we really do appreciate your time! Thanks also to all the Sponsors who support them, and to you the BQA Members for you annual fees, which are vital so we can run the BQA Governing Body and more important provide the ever important Insurance fees to be able to support the Race Organizers…. Big Thanks! I would also like to say an enormous thanks to John Kavanagh who produces the BQA and WQF Tables after each race, this is a huge commitment and we are all very grateful … Thanks John 
