Events – Page 7 – British Quadrathlon Association

2019 Middle Distance World Champs in Brigg!

November 22, 2018 Jean Ashley

Lincsquad and the BQA are so pleased to announce that the ‘Lincsquad Keyo Brigg Bomber 2019’ will be the Quadrathlon Middle Distance World Championships …. This is just fantastic News for British Quadrathlon, and a Big Thanks to Lincsquad for taking on this event, I have no doubt they will do us proud!

The Keyo Brigg Bomber has always been part of the BQA National series and a WQF points race many times, but in 2019 BQA members can be part of ‘TEAM GB’ racing on British soil at the World Championships at one of the biggest Quadrathon races on the calendar!

I can confirm that all 2019 BQA members will be eligible to race for ‘TEAM GB’ so join the BQA, wear a GB Tri Suit, support your Governing Body … and Race in a World Championships! Lets help Lincsquad, give them the support they deserve and make this a World Championships to Remember. It would be fantastic to field a large team of GB quadrathletes to chase down those medals in all the age categories, but just as important to embrace this opportunity, to fly the flag and be part of this brilliant event!

Lincsquad are proud to be hosting this event and I know the club will pull together to put on an event to be proud of, they will put on a ‘big show’ for the worlds best quadrathletes and for every single athlete racing on the same stage!

Entries are now open and we encourage you to enter as soon as possible. (Early bird entry prior to Feb 1st 2019). Brigg-Bomber Entry

More details about ‘Team GB’ to follow …. Be there see you on the start line!

BQA Races 2019

October 13, 2018 Jean Ashley

Whilst you are all enjoying some rest and recovery time, (hopefully) The BQA Team and Race organizers have been clarifying next years races. This week all currant BQA members will have received our BQA AGM report, Annual report and Finance report … these will be added to the website when all have been discussed and approved by our members.

I have had athletes asking for next years race dates so here is a quick preview … so get them in your diaries!

BQA 2019 Trophy Series
CONFIRMED 26th May – Brigg Bomber
CONFIRMED 16th June – Dearne Valley Sprint & QuadKidz
CONFIRMED 30th June – Box End Sprint Quad & Quadkidz
CONFIRMED 1st Sept – Shrewsbury Sprint Quad
NO RACE until 2020 Sept – Fabian 4 Conwy Mountain Tri (Biannual)
CONFIRMED 21st Sept Awesome Foursome Quad

QuadKidz Series
CONFIRMED 16th June Dearne Valley QuadKidz
To be Confirmed ? Lincs QuadKidz Event
CONFIRMED 30th June BoxEnd QuadKidz

Races supported by BQA (not Trophy Races)
CONFIRMED 18th May – Montgomery Canal Triathlon (Charity Event)
CONFIRMED 22nd June – Norfolk SuperHeroes Quad
CONFIRMED 6th July – Artemis Great Kindrochit Quad
CONFIRMED 14th July – Deva Divas Quad

2018 National Trophy Champions

September 18, 2021 Jean Ashley

The BQA started a National Trophy Series in 2005 this is a series of events which are generally spread throughout the country. Each event contributes points towards finding a National Champion, with the best three results for each individual to count.

This is our Hall of Fame, since the Series started in 2005 BQA-Hall-of-Fame-2018

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).

Overall Winners Perpetual Trophy for Male and Female. BQA Kit vouchers for winners Male and Female in each age category, Juniors (u23), Seniors, V40+ V50+ V60+ Vet 70+

Eric Hatliff Memorial Trophy awarded each year ‘For Endeavor’ given to an athlete showing his enthusiasm and commitment to the sport of Quadrathlon.

2018 National Trophy Full Results 2018-BQA-trophy

2018 National Trophy: The Mens Trophy was still in contention up to the last race of the season, and with the age Group slots still up for grabs Bude was going to be the decider! Michael Mason took 3 wins in the series, but as the rules state the winner must be a currant BQA Member that takes the Trophy. So the Trophy rolled down to Alan Cole after he finished 3rd in Bude. Alan won the Vet 40 event, so there was then another roll down to 2nd place. Despite Bryce Dyer coming 3rd in the overall positions, in the Vet 40 category he had joint points with Peter Tindall, so the rules quote ‘we then take the points from the 4th race into account’. Peter having done 5 events had the extra points, so took the title. Peter has had a great first season in Quadrathlon, apart from one race sadly he got lost on the Conwy Mountain Tri, so missed the cut off time on the run. Vet 50 went to Nigel Unwin and Vet 60 to Nicholas Farnell. For the first time ever we had had a Vet 70 winner, we are proud to have the veteran Canoe Slalom Olympian supporting us … Congratulations John Macleod!

The Ladies Trophy, had been decided before Bude, with Helen Russell winning all her 4 races. Newcomer to our sport Elizabeth Angood in her first year of Quadrathlon took the Senior prize. The very supportive seasoned quadrathlete Jacqueline Davies took the Vet 50, in what is proving to be our most competitive age group. Jean Ashley won the Vet 60 catagory, quite a mile stone 20 years in the sport, she did her first Quad when she was a young 40 year old!

Congratulations to John Kavanagh (Vet 60) and Lance Ball (Vet 50) for showing ‘true commitment’ competing in all 6 of our Trophy Races!

Finally ‘The Eric Hatliff Memorial Trophy’ was presented to Nigel Unwin he has shown enthusiasm and commitment to our sport, and has raced at a very competitive level for many years, showing true dedication to Quadrathlon, long may he continue to compete and enjoy!

A big thank you to everyone who has competed in our National Series, and all our BQA members we really appreciate your support, we need you to keep our small sport Alive and Kicking … so see you all in 2019! Next Years dates and Races are in the making …. watch this space ……

National Championships Bude Awesome Foursome 2018

September 25, 2018 Jean Ashley

The Final Race of the season and our National Championships for 2018, as ever Bude lived up to its reputation, and we were in for some great racing! A strong turnout of athletes, the regular BQA members, all fighting for those extra ‘BQA Trophy Points’ and age group placings, plus a couple of strong newcomers, and locals from the local surf-lifesaving scene, some compete as individuals but there are also lots of teams or pairs competing too.

It had been wet and windy the day before, and their was plenty of heavy swell in the sea. It was a little chilly at 7.00 am on race day, but we had sunshine and light winds, and as the day went on it got warmer and proved to be good race conditions, even though most of us found the sea challenging!

After the race briefing we all headed down to the sea lock, the swim consists of two 400m loops split by a 200m run across the sands of the beach, the tide was higher than expected and the beach was completely flooded. so the beach run was a wade through knee deep water instead. In the individual event Alan Cole was out first (20.28) with newcomer Billy Butler in 2nd place (22.10) with Nigel Unwin (23.30) and Andy Parrritt (23.30) close behind, there were a lot of locals in the team and pairs event amongst the top swimmers, all looking strong in the choppy swell.

The Bike is a course of two halves, a very hilly 1st half, along the coast road to Widemouth and then up those 30% climbs out of Millook, the 2nd half is very fast down the A39 into Bude. Alan managed to hold onto his lead for a while but his legs were still suffering from the Conwy Mountain Tri the week before. Nigel loves this bike course and put in the fastest bike split of the day (54.49) which took him into the lead. Alan stayed in 2nd (58.58), there were some good splits from Peter Tindall (56.00), Nigel Leeson (57.01) all looking for those Trophy points!

The 10km kayak section consists of two loops of the canal, with tight turns at either end, it was nice and calm and had started to warm up. Nigel pulled away and opened up a gap between him and Alan, but then paddler Billy Butler started to make huge gains on everyone, he produced the fastest kayak split by far (44.52) leaving everyone in his wake! Nigel was still 2nd fastest (51.29) Andy Parritt (53.05) with Alan (53.41) and Nigel (53.54). Race organizer Simon Hammond also produced a strong kayak split (54.36) … so all the age groups were still in contention!

The first couple of miles of the run are along the flat tarmac of the canal towpath, then up hill across fields and down to the coast road into Widemouth Bay, where you climb up the coastal path towards Bude, before a final descent to the Canal Warf. Billy had built up a strong lead, and maintained his position with a good run split (43.47). Nigel running the fastest time of the day (42.02) couldn’t quite catch Billy so held 2nd place, with Alan in 3rd (45.17) . There were some excellent age group performances, but the National Championship Title was well deserved by Billy Butler producing a fine win in his first ever Quadrathlon!

In the Ladies race Helen Russell came out of the swim in first place (22.51) with Jacq Davies 2nd (24.59), Natalie Abbott 3rd (26.23) followed by Alison Parritt, Bethany Goodlad, and Jean Ashley. Helen increased her lead on the bike (1.01.00), Natalie also having a strong bike moved into 2nd place (1.05.44) with Alison close behind (1.06.25).

Going into the kayak Helen maintained her lead (57.19), and the positions were to change again. Natalie was some what disadvantaged paddling a heavy sea kayak, so Alison moved in to 2nd (58.45) and Jacq into 3rd (1.00.03). Jean in her favorite discipline started to make up time and had the fastest kayak (56.48) which moved her into 4th place.

Helen maintained her lead and went on to take the National Championship Title for the 2nd year on the run, Alison stayed in 2nd place with Jean running into 3rd place. Some excellent racing from the ladies with a good quality of field, great to see newcomers to our sport performing well and strong performances from our BQA members too.

A special congratulations must go to our 2 BQA members who have done all 6 races in our BQA Calender, John Kavanagh and Lance Ball … a superb effort! Lance also deserves another mention, he was just at the start of the famous Millook climb when his chain broke, he quickly got his ‘chain tool out’ and proceeded to mend it … he then noticed a fellow ‘athlete in distress’ just ahead of him, who also had a broken chain …. so he mended hers so they both could continue to finish the race. Genuinely a top guy, showing us what a true advocate he is to our sport!

Everyone that completes this awesome course finishes it with a huge sense of achievement, its a true testament to the standard all our Quadrathletes, some out at the front, and some behind … equally your all just as important… Strong motivated and giving 100%, that’s what makes you all special!

A big thank-you to Simon Hammond and his Team for putting on another brilliant race, as always very friendly plenty of support, great commentating and lots of happy smiling faces!

National Champions 2018

1st Billy Butler Elite winner 2:51:00
2nd Nigel Unwin Vet 50 winner 2:51:42
3rd Alan Cole Vet 40 winner 2:58:24
4th Nigel Leeson Vet 50 3:02:50
5th Des Gosling Vet 50 50 3:09:31
6th Peter Tindall Vet 40 3:12:03
7th AndyParritt Vet 60 winner 3:12:49
8th Simon Hammond Vet 50 3:13:43

1st Helen Russell Vet 40 Winner 3.07.33
2nd Alison Parritt Vet 50 Winner 3:24:50
3rd Jean Ashley Vet 60 Winner 0 3:28:42
4th Natalie Abbott Vet 50 3:29:18
5th Bethany Goodlad Elite Winner 3:33:42
6th Jacqueline Davies Vet 50 3:36:02
Emma Whitehouse Elite 3:50:46

BQA Members
Peter Chappill Vet 50 3:32.57
John Kavanagh Vet 60 3:34:44
Lance Ball Vet 50 3:39:52

Full Results Bude 2018 results

This was also the last race of the Quadrathlon Trophy Series for 2018. This trophy is awarded to BQA members only and is based on your best 3 finishes out of the 6 trophy series races. Alan Cole took the overall Men’s trophy series win this year, whilst Helen Russell defended her Female British Trophy Series Champion status with the overall in the women’s series.

BQA Trophy Series 4 down-2 to go!

September 5, 2018 Jean Ashley

This weekend saw the 4th race in our BQA Trophy Series, its hotting up at the top of the table in the men’s event, with Alan Cole in the lead, Bryce Dyer 2nd and Nigel Unwin 3rd. These 3 are all Age Groupers so there could be a role down too! With 2 races left things could still change, Conwy Mountain Triathlon is on 9th September and Bude Awesome Foursome on the 15th. It is also our National Championships, the Trophies and Age group prizes will be presented there, and as always its a great end to our season!

We have just 2 of the categories finalized – Congratulations to John MacLeod our first ever winner in the Vet 70 category, and to Helen Russell has won the overall Ladies Trophy again this year.

Check out your latest points updated after the Shrewsbury Quad Race 18-BQA-trophy results

Just to remind everyone – OVERALL Male & Female 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).

Overall Winners Perpetual Trophy for Male and Female. BQA Kit vouchers for winners Male and Female in each age category, Juniors (u23), Seniors, V40+ V50+ V60+ Vet 70+

Eric Hatliff Memorial Trophy awarded each year ‘For Endeavor’ given to an athlete showing his enthusiasm and commitment to the sport of Quadrathlon.

Bergsee Ratscher Sprint European Championships 2018

September 3, 2018 Jean Ashley

A big thanks to Russel Breyer for his detailed race report and his shorter version below! 🙂 Short version:
Helen R: world class.
Helen D: awesome.
Russel B: held his own with the other old boys.
All: did British Quadrathlon proud!

This is the 7 hours on the Harwich ferry version
A seven hour drive from Calais or Harwich might seem like a long way to go for a sprint quadrathlon. But if you want the World Cup points, you’ll do it. And if you love this small, friendly sport, well, why not?
Bergsee Ratscher is a small lake, about 1500 metres across both ways, and more or less surrounded by the forested hills of the vast Thuringa Wald. (Germany constantly surprises with it’s delightful, unheralded landscapes).

Along one side of the lake runs a large campsite, with spacious grassy slopes giving every camper a view of the lake. The race was based here. The nearest town, Schleusingen, a couple of kilometres away, is an appealing place with a large castle and pretty houses. The international quadrathlon crowd was out in force, with over 60 racing, plus relay teams. So nice to see the familiar faces.

The swim was a one lap triangle, then off on the bike (briefly, does anyone know why German races tend to be bike, paddle, whilst ours are more often paddle, bike?).
The bike route started by going along the dam wall, then two laps of a tight loop, and back along the wall. The roads are perfectly smooth and the whole course is undulating, so you are either working hard to go up, or enjoying the fast downs. I had overcooked the hill training during the week, being unable to resist the temptations of the High Tatras in Slovakia, so had a shocker on the bike. The wind was getting up too, at this point.

The kayak leg was 4 laps of a triangular course, one turn being round a cute little island in the middle of the lake. Fine, but this meant a turn roughly every 400 metres and with 60 plus boats on the course, plus a stiffening breeze, some caution was required. Helen D and myself both found ourselves going wide to keep out of trouble. As our Ipswich CC race coach is fond of saying, ‘you can’t paddle fast if you are upside down’. But I made up some time anyway, so no complaints.

Then the run…a slightly odd course, twice round a V shaped loop, each lap taking us out and back along the dam wall, then out and back on a parallel path below the wall (on the side without the water in, obvs). Nearly all flat, mercifully, and it made the run seem strangely short, so I got a move on and made up a few more places.
And that was it. The presentations, which included World Cup prizes, were almost longer than the race, and seemed mostly to involve Helen R smiling gamely from a podium whilst various people showered her with more trophies and prizes than she could reasonably be expected to hold on her own. Her second world class performance of the day!

Russel Breyer

Final 3 British Quadrathlon Races of the 2018 Season … Enter Now!

July 24, 2018 Jean Ashley

Its been a great season so far for British Quadrathlon, and after the last race at Box End there are plenty of good strong and enthusiastic Quadrathletes about this year! We have 3 great races left in our Series, all of which are very different, with each race having plenty to offer, short fast and dynamic – off road, exciting and challenging – just AWESOME in historic Bude and our National Championships!

Take a look at what they have to offer, and get your Entries in as soon as possible, to support our committed race organizers who do a great job every year for the BQA!

RACE 4 – 2nd September – Shrewsbury Sprint Quad – Only a handful of spaces left! This race just keeps getting stronger and stronger, an excellent fast, flat sprint race, running on the back of a very popular Triathlon. A great day out with a superb race atmosphere, with lots of support especially on the 3 lap run course around the Showground! A real ‘feel good friendly race’ instigated and organized by one of our very passionate quadrathletes along with SYTri … one not to be missed! Shrewsbury Quadrathlon

RACE 5 – 9th September – Fabian4 Conwy Mountain Triathlon– The long-awaited Fabian4 Dyffryn Conwy Mountain Challenge is back for 2018. Last year’s event (2016) was the best yet, & here at Fabian4, we’re already working hard to make sure that next year’s is even better! Where else can you find a well-organised, non-commercial, realistically-priced, serious sea to summit adventure, much of it taking place in Snowdonia National Park. All the profits will be donated, as always, to the Snowdonia Society. Fabian4 Conwy Mountain Triathlon

RACE 6 – 16th September – National Championships- Awesome Foursome Quad – This is one of our longest running established Quadrathlons, in beautiful Cornwall in the surfing town of Bude. It never ceases to amaze me, I have raced it in all weathers …. it is always a brilliant exciting and challenging race and a great end the race season! Swimming in the sea, there’s plenty of hills on the bike, a historic canal for the kayak and amazing coastal views on the run! It’s one of those addictive races that keeps drawing you back. The race is on a Saturday so plenty of time for sun, sand and surf too! Awesomefoursome.quadrathlon

If anyone is having a holiday in Bude there will be another event the following Sunday September 23rd ‘The Cornish Nutcracker’ and it’s an eight Hill hill-climb series on the coastal roads between Bude and Boscastle and back, including Millook in both directions, certainly one to test those legs – 100% of money goes to Bude Surf Life Saving Club!

World Championships Long Course Hannover 2018

October 10, 2018 Jean Ashley

Russel Breyer and I went to Fly the GB Quadrathlon Flag at the ‘The Hannover Long Distance World Quadrathlon Championships, it also slots in a number of well attended triathlons over all distances, Sprint, Olympic, Half and Ironman, plus the Sprint and Long distance quad. Although there were only 30 individual starters for the LD quad, there were a number of relay teams. It was a busy weekend with literally thousands of competitors buzzing around, the venue can handle it, and it made for a great atmosphere. Quad Race Organizer ‘Tomas Kälble’ from Kayak-Club Limmer let us stay at the club, a superb set up, we stayed in our camper, but other athletes camped and others used the bed flats, kitchen, showers, etc the facilities were excellent and we were made to feel most welcome!

Russel had done the event 2 years previously but in a relay team. For me it was its my first attempt at this long distance race and I was so looking forward to this challenge, though a little worried about the long swim, as it was rumored to be a not wet suit swim as it had been so hot! Fortunately for me, the weather Gods were on my side, and it clouded up the day before the water temperature dropped so wetsuits were declared!

So, into the water for a 7:15 start in the 3.8km swim, which took place in a ship canal. It’s a bit weird swimming under industrial cranes and what have you, but the water seems clean enough (indeed, you can see the obligatory shopping trolleys/old chairs etc at the bottom). Neither Russel or I were near the front of the swim, it was 2 laps, almost 1km up, 1 km down x 2. Lucky for us the Ironman had started 15 mins earlier, so as a lot of the Blue swim Quad caps disappeared on the 2nd lap we started to catch up the red caps, back end of the triathlon … this certainly motivated me to push harder I knew once I was out I could began to relish the fact of the great day ahead!

There was then a 300m run up hill to the bike transition, for a three lap 90km through pleasant countryside, and small villages. It was a fairly flat, fast course, not unlike Brigg, with the notable difference being that the traffic was managed (in favour of cyclists) by a large number of police officers at absolutely every junction. Heaven knows what the council tax must be, though on the plus side accidents must be a rarity. The roads were so quiet, and we were quite spread out by this time, though the Ironman race was well underway and they had 6 bike laps to do so I soon started to hear those disc wheels powering up behind me! There were plenty of crowds as we came into transition, and lots of encouragement as we ran down the road, over the tram lines at least 800m to the kayak transition.

The 20km paddle was up and down a stretch of canal just over a kilometer long, so 18 lengths in total…the scenery gets a bit repetitive, but at least the lengths flash by. Another word on that scenery…the backdrop, right by the canal, is a derelict Contintenal tyre factory which was a concentration camp in WW2, where many (slave) laborers perished. Not making a point here, just paying respect! The weather was beautiful 24 degrees and I was so looking forward to getting back on the river in my kayak, it was quite choppy in parts with over 30 kayaks on the short stretch, 9 laps so you could see everyone paddling. The standard of the paddling was certainly ‘Top of the Quad World’ the main contenders were on fire and they were using wash hanging tactics to pull each other along, and had very slick turns around buoys! Thankfully the ladies were a little bit more sympathetic, though I must say this being my best discipline I did push my boundaries and cut up a few turns rather tight! This was the first time I had seen Russel, he was just short of one lap behind, we encouraged each other at our passing points and kept each other going! On my last few laps I ran out of hydration so I had to get Dave to squirt water in my mouth from the bank … I was quite surprised at what a good aim he had, enough to keep me going until the end of the kayak section!

Looking at the quadrathletes running along the bank after being in a kayak for around 2 hours it was clear that getting out of the boat and going onto the run was going to be painful! Russel’s words were ‘So, out of the boat with my glutes so trashed, generating any power through the legs for a half marathon run is out of the question. I ran a pained shuffle for a couple of hours, then, around the (attractive and mercifully flat) local park, and over the finish line for a well-earned collapse! I also did take a while to get into my running stride, but after about 2km and a good feed at the water station I began to get into my rhythm, I really enjoyed the first lap, and saw the winning Ironmen going past (very sprightly), I even got a high five from the lead Ironman on my second lap … which really perked me up! At the turn a round point I could see Russel coming towards me, I did think he was closing, we exchanged ‘good friendly GB banter’ and that gave me the incentive to dig a bit deeper! My second lap seemed to go really fast, though looking at my garmin my splits were almost the same. Im my mind the last 2km felt so good, not sure if my legs agreed, my good friend ‘Lisa Teichert’ who had long finished cheered me on up the last hill, her enthusiasm motivated to push hard to the finish line! I did have tears of joy in my eyes, I was so proud to be finishing what had been my ultimate Quadrathlon Goal for a few years … it had been such a brilliant day!

I was 5th Lady and the World Long Distance Quad Vet 60 Champion (mind you I was the oldest chick in the race!) 9hrs 23mins. Russel wasn’t far behind he came home 9hrs 33mins both of us very proud in what was a top class field of strong Quadrathletes!

Russel’s words ‘The distances in this race equate roughly to doing a standard quad three times over. Not being much of a long distance athlete, I found the format really tough…I’d take 3 x Briggs any day!
The results pages show what a high standard of racing there was. The standard of organsiation, and general friendliness, was really great, though we did struggle a little bit with the translation at the race briefing, it was a good job Jean and I had a good recki before hand! The Hannover L.D. Quad is something every quadrathlete should do once, though in my case it maybe just the once!’

Jean’s words I enjoyed almost every moment of this day, (it improved dramatically after the swim) It has been a long term goal now ticked, and also part of my 60th Birthday Challenge for #beat charity. www.justgiving.com #Beat jean-ashley Thank-you to all my training buddies, friends … and my amazing (long suffering) DAVE who supports me along the way … he polished my kayak, my bike and cheered me on for 9hrs 23mins on a very hot day … he’s a star! Would I do it again ….. Never say Never … and probably YES, my mind will be willing lets just hope the body can cope!

A Big Thank-you to the Wasserstadt Hannover-Limmer Triathlon & Quadrathlon Organization, I really enjoyed your Quad, big thanks to all those marshals and to the Team that made it all possible! See you in 2020!

Report by Jean and Russel.

Full Report and Results quadrathlon4you.com 2018 Hannover Report

National Trophy Standings – after 2 races!

June 14, 2018 Jean Ashley

Here are the latest Trophy Standings with the first 2 races done, the Brigg Bomber and Dearne Valley. Chris Carter (Nottingham Kayak Club) is in the lead with 204 points. Just behind with 200 points is Nicholas Farnell (Ludlow Tri Club) and in 3rd Peter Tindall (Lincsquad) with 197. So its all close up at the top, Box End is the next race, so no doubt there will be lots of great racing to gain those extra points!

In the Ladies trophy Helen Russell (Worcester Canoe Club) is in the lead, with 2 outright wins 240 points, with Mandy Greenaway (Wakefield Triathlon Club) in 2nd place on 199 points, these are the only ladies who have done 2 races so once again Box End is where we expect more ladies to be looking for those points!

Don’t forget Box End will give you BQA and WQF Points its our 2nd World Cup Race!

Check out your Trophy Points and Age Group positions, a big Thank-you to John Kavanagh who produces these tables for us after every event … superb work!

2018-BQA Trophy after Dearne Valley

TROPHY PRIZES

The BQA Perpetual Trophies and BQA kit vouchers are awarded to the Overall Winners. The Age Group winners receive BQA kit vouchers. The overall winner will NOT win a age catagory prize too, it will role down. In the Event of a tie the points from a 4th race will be counted. Each winner must do 3 races in the series, and must be a current BQA Member.

Age Groups Male and Female – Senior, Vet 40, Vet 50, Vet 60, Vet 70.

Here are the latest world cup points also – WQF Trophy World Cup Standings after 4 races

2018-WQF World Cup after Hannover

Dearne Valley Quad 2018

June 12, 2018 Jean Ashley

A brilliant sunshine day for the Dearne Valley Quadrathlon, our 2nd Trophy Race of the Season, lots of passion for our sport, with non stop smiles as juniors, first timers, and seasoned quadrathletes crossed the finish line! Organizer Mark Benton and his ‘Team’ of volunteers and marshals hosted a great race for us all, there enthusiasm and friendliness shone through, to make their 2nd time of running the event a huge success, thank-you you did your selves proud yet again!

The kids races got underway at 8:30am and everyone seemed to be having a good time. Those that were fast were giving it their all, but those that weren’t so fast were supported well the whole way around. The ethos of the Manvers Waterfront Boat Club is one of inclusivity and giving everyone a chance, which is just how it should be, this was clear throughout the weekend and it was good to see the kids giving it their all. One or two gave a little too much and returned from the bike bloodied and bruised after overcooking it on a corner or capsized their kayaks but from what I saw they all continued on and had a good time despite a few mishaps. The kids presentations were made at around 9:30am. The jubilant podium finishers collected their certificates, proud parents cheered and the adult Quadrathletes and Triathletes assembled ready for their races.

It was a real mixture of athletes racing 50 in total, with 27 doing the quad and 23 the Triathlon, with 18 of those BQA members, so plenty of National Trophy points ready to be picked up! There were plenty of athletes giving the quad a go for the first time, and they looked like they had given everything and had a great time! BQA members took the top 11 places, with plenty of friendly battles between themselves along the way.

Alan Cole was 1st out of the swim (12.10) with Helen Russell in 2nd (13.36), Bryce Dyer (14.26) and Jacqueline Davies (14.51) a close 3rd and 4th. There was then a steady stream of swimmers coming in between 15 and 17 mins, it was a 2 lap course, nice a calm and reasonably warm, there were plenty of paddle boards and canoeists encouraging the slower swimmers along the way.

The bike was off road and using part of the Trans Penne Trail which consisted of unmade tracks, there were a few boulders, and gates, 2 bridges and a few road crossings to slow you down, so you had to keep your whits about you! It was ideal for cross bikes, as they proved to be the fastest over the course and it was out and back so great to see where everyone was in the race! Alan was out in front with Bryce trying to catch him, though Bryce did the fastest split (32.42) it wasn’t enough to catch Alan (33.25). Peter Tindall (34.11) and Nicholas Farnell ( 34.36) also had strong bike legs, and Chris Carter was catching up too (35.18).

Alan paddled very well in his ski (24.36) leaving Bryce and Chris the job of trying to chase him down. Chris did the fastest kayak split (24.19) with Bryce (25.07) still holding onto 2nd place. John Kavanagh was also paddling well producing the 4th fastest split (25.58). It was 5 laps of the kayak course and compared to last year it was very calm, it was good to see some great kayaking, all types of boats, but a big improvement this year as most were K1 types or river racers and sea kayaks, so it was good to see paddlers moving on from short plastics!

Onto the run and once again Alan had the fastest split (21.39), Greg Lyle (22.14) and Pete Tindall (22.44) were both quick, but neither would alter the top positions. Bryce held on to 2nd (24.10) with Chris in 3rd (24.43). Nicholas Farnell came in 4th, Pete Tindall 5th and John Kavanagh 6th. Some great results and some big improvements in personnel performances since last year, Pete Chappill, Andrew Lawson, Wayne Smith and Lance Ball all had significantly faster times this year … well done everyone!

Special mention goes to our Vet 70 super fit BQA Member John MacLeod who did the 14th fastest canoe split of the day (31.36) He is very modest, and has an Olympic Gold Kayak Medal from Munich 1972 at home, so he has clearly not lost his touch! Well done John, great to see you out there again.

In the Ladies race, Helen was in the lead from the start, she was 1st lady out of the swim (13.36) with Jacqueline in 2nd (14.51) Laura Syndney in 3rd (16.04) with Jean a minuit down in 4th (17.10). Helen had a good bike (37.23), Jacq also just a minuit behind (38.23) Jean peddled past Laura and moved into 3rd place (39.10).

So onto the kayak, Helen had worked hard on her kayak training over the winter and produced a good time staying in the lead (27.17) Jacq and Jean set out to chase her down, but she was almost a lap in front. Jacq stayed in 2nd ((28.24) with Jean (really really working hard to catch her … I can assure you I was!!) couldn’t quite get there but produced a great split (26.41) 5th fastest overall.

Helen ran well to take the win (24.24) …. Jacq went out on the run pushing hard (31.07), Jean new she would have to push it and make up ground, so digging deep and leaving nothing in the tank she managed to pass Jacq around 2km (28.06) to take 2nd place. Mandy Greenaway came 4th having improved by 8 mins since last year, and Helen Adams, a first timer to quadrathlon had a brilliant race finishing in 5th. It was so good to see plenty of women racing and producing some good solid performances, new BQA member Lizzie Angood was inspired by the Brigg Bomber 2 weeks earlier so it was so good to see her racing with a huge smile! Amanda Knagg also had a huge improvement of 13 mins from last year … so well done all the Girls too!

A special mention must go to Caroline Jones, I spoke to her after the race she had done the triathlon last year and decided the Quad looked so much fun she got her kayak out, trained up and entered! She finished in fine style, was buzzing with enthusiasm and full of admiration for our supportive Quad Family, she’d had a great day loved every moment and had smiled all the way! Seeing her so happy just made my day too … it makes it all worth while when people are inspired and motivated by our friendliness and also by our wonderful race organizers who make us all feel Very Special!

Once again a Huge Thank You ‘Mark Benton’ and ‘Manvers’ …. we hope you’ll have us back next year!

Full results Dearne Valley Results

There are more photos on our Facebook page BQA facebook

Alan Cole has a Blog post so if you want to know all the knitty-gritty here is his race report from – get a coffee, put your feet up and get some much deserved R&R as you settle down for 10 minutes recovery while you read it:

alananna.co.uk/blog/2018/dearne-valley-quadrathlon-race-report/

Category: Events