Keyo Brigg Bomber Quadrathlon 26th May 2013
Congratulations to Lincsquad for putting on The National and European Quadrathlon Championships, as always they put on an excellent race. They have a superb Team of organizers and supporters and on behalf of the BQA I would like to say a Huge Thank-you to you all … Top Job Lincsquad!!
The Race took place in Brigg (North Lincolnshire). Steve Clark (GBR) and the German athlete Lisa Hirschfelder won the European title over the distance of 1.5k swim, 7k kayak, 36k bike and 11k run.
The athletes and organizers had a few concerns about the weather some days before the race, because it’s been rather cold and wet throughout Europe. But on race-day everybody was pleasantly surprised. Although it was still quite chilly in the morning, it soon got warmer as the sun came out. However, the water was still pretty cold and the official 13°C not that welcoming.
After the starting gun has been fired, Stefan Teichert took the lead as expected: with the fastest relay swimmer – Lee McCarthy – he first climbed out of the river Ancholme and got into his kayak with more than minute distance to Phil Westoby (GBR), followed by Steve Clark (GBR) with a further backlog of one minute.
During the kayak part Teichert maintained his lead but the fastest paddler Adam Norfolk and Michael Mason (both GBR) approached step by step. Once on the bike Teichert accelerated throughout the flat, but windy bike course. The question was whether his lead would be enough, because Steve Clark had nearly caught up with him because of a very strong performance on the bike.
During the run Teichert tried his best, but his legs wouldn’t run as fast as Clark’s. After six kilometers, Clark overtook Teichert and continuously extended his lead. Steve Clark thus crossed the finish-line first in front of Teichert and Westoby, who fought hard for his third place. Especially his running split was stunningly fast, nevertheless he still has to work on his kayak-performance. Adam Norfolk and Brendan Reese finally finished fourth and fifth.
Concerning the women’s race, the victory went to the German budding Quadrathlete Lisa Hirschfelder, but until she could cross the finish-line waving the German flag, it was a long way. After swimming she had indeed taken the lead, but on the paddle course, her hands were shivering because of the cold water. Although she gave everything, she had to let pass the strong canoeist Sharon Colley (GBR). Once on the bike a relentless pursuit was started. Hirschfelder gained 3 minutes, but Colley was still half a minute in front of her. The young German speeded up and got finally ahead of Colley, who then finished second. In the end, Hirschfelder won her first international Championships well-deserved. The third place went to the Irish athlete and strong triathlete Lisa Dunne.
Noteworthy was the performance of Jack Garner: although the junior “only” finished in 37th place, everybody looked in awe at his performance and cheered him across the finish-line. Garner hasn’t seen anything of the course because he is blind. The young Englishman was guided all the time by an athlete – connected by a cord while swimming and running and the bike and kayak part was completed on a tandem respectively in a K2 (two-man kayak) – respect!
Another athlete really deserving our respect was the third German starter Peter Appelt, who dared a come-back to Quadrathlon after a serious accident last year. The 64-years old athlete successfully finished the race despite a flat tire on the bike.
European Championships – Keyo Brigg Bomber Provisional results
European Championships Keyo Brigg Bomber Team results
Photo’s also available from Nigel Farrow www.nigelfarrow.com http://archive.nigelfarrow.com/gallery/Brigg-Bomber-Quadrathlon-2013/G0000k4lbBqY.Seg
Please don’t delay, and get your entry in today! We already have more entries so far this year than raced last year with a large proportion of solo entries from first timers, so could I urge you to consider entering the Brigg Bomber sooner rather than later, so that we can see exactly how many people are likely to race. If you have already entered many thanks.
Matt Stephenson
It would be nice to say that at the break of dawn the sun was glistening on the still waters of the Conway River for the start of the Fabian 4 Mountain Triathlon, but it would be a lie!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks everyone … and see you next season!
Bude Awesome Foursome was a fitting end to our 2012 National Trophy Series, a great race, well organised with a top quality field of athletes, and perfect race conditions due to the fantastic weather on Cornish coast!
Mat Stephenson was first out of the swim, but Brendan Reese showing his expert kayaking moved into first place, with Nigel Unwin close behind. Once Mat got on his bike he cycled strongly to move back into the lead, which he held on the run to finish first (and 1st Vet 40) in 1.23.37. Brendan came 2nd 1.25.46 Nigel 3rd 1.28.56. Regular BQA athletes Mark Pryor came 4th 1.36.09 and Tony Runnegar 5th 1.38.31. A great result for first timer Phil Holden in 6th 1.39.20. Peter Chappill was first Vet 50 1.45.02.