Category: World Cup

THREE World Cup Races to count – up to two results from one country, for the championships.

World Cup Races & Championships 2013

Admin

The WQF have been working hard during the past few months to put together a brilliant race schedule for the WQF Quadrathlon World Cup 2013. The coordination of the races is not that easy and really time consuming – but 2013 promises a lot of excitement and adventure in the various international Quadrathlon races.

IBIZA, ESP 4th  May – The World Cup is traditionally opened up by a Quadrathlon (middle distance) on the Spanish island of Ibiza,  although the information in the run-up to the event is often sparse, the organizer Pepe Ribas ensures the best care on location for every athlete. The  competition offers the possibility to be combined with a small training camp too.

BRIGG BOMBER  GB, 26th May – The next stop for the World Cup will be Brigg in England. Same as last year, the European Championships over the middle distance will take place in Brigg on the 26th of May. The organizers of the Lincsquad-community offer a great competition, which will certainly be one of the highlights of the season.

OBERPFALZER SEENLAND, GER  2nd June – Only one week later, another middle distance will take place at the Steinberger See in Germany. The Upper Palatinate region offers not only a picturesque landscape, but also a race at the highest stage. Located near to the Czech border, the competition site is easy to be reached by athletes coming from the neighbouring countries.

BALATON, HUN  8th June – After a long time in history, its good to have a World Cup race represented in Hungary. Near to the famous Lake Balaton, another middle distance will take place. The date will be Saturday, 8th of June. However, depending on the conditions on the lake (concerning the kayak-part), the organizer reserves the possibility to change race-day from Saturday to Sunday.

TYN nad VLTAVOU, CZ  22nd June  – The first sprint distance can be found on the agenda: in Tyn nad Vltavou in the Czech Republic. The traditional event receives a special honour this year with the organization of the World Championship over the sprint distance, which will certainly be a further highlight of the season.

SAMORIN, SLOVAKIA 3rd August – An exciting race is also expected on the 3rd of August, when the European Championships over the sprint distance will be held in the Slovakian Šamorín. Next to Bratislava, the young organization team has provided a fantastic event in the last two years and has much going for the European Championships, too.

POLSKAMAN WOLSZTYN, POL, 17th August -A world premiere is going to take place in Wolsztyn (Poland) next year, as the World Cup schedule lists the PolskaMan as a Quadrathlon middle distance on 17th of August. The WQF is very pleased about this race, because the organizer is very professional in the run-up to the event. The race will be interesting, especially for German and Czech athletes, because Wolsztyn is suited only 100 and 200 km respectively from the German and Czech border.

With regret the WQF has to accept the decision of the organizer Václav Marek: in 2013 there will be no Quadrathlon in Sedlcany (Czech Republic). Lack of sponsors and increasing regulatory burdens weight the organisation of a quadrathlon. Looking ahead to 2014, the WQF hopes that this is not a final decision. The World Championships will now take place in Ratscher.

 World Championships – RATSCHER, GER 31st August – The races in Ratscher have always been superbly organized, it’s such a wonderful venue! The WQF are looking forward to this big highlight in the World Quadrathlon callender.

VELENCE, HUN  7th September – The World Cup will make a second stop in Hungary, this time on a long distance – the first since 2010. Once again, it remains to be seen whether the race will take place on Saturday or Sunday (depending on the conditions on the lake). Furthermore, it is still unclear if this long distance can even be a World Championship – this detail is depending on the organizers’ will to pay prize money. The final decision will be made by the end of January.

AWESOME FOURSOME BUDE, GB 14th September – Finally promises to be a grand finale of the World Cup 2013. In Cornwall a demanding middle distance is waiting for the athletes: steep climbs and difficult trails need to be overcome. However, the beautiful countryside with a lovely sea sight makes up for all the hardships.

For all international championship races the organizers have committed themselves to paying prize money so that as many good athletes as possible will participate.

During the WQF Congress in November, also a slight modification of the World Cup concerning the points in each race was decided. For international championship races and the last World Cup race of the season the points are enhanced by 20 points for each place. For example: instead of 100 points for the 1st place, the winner gets 120 points and the 30th receives 21 points instead of only 1 single point. This will help to design the championships even more attractive and the battle for the World Cup will remain a bit longer open to changes. Furthermore, it is ensured that in the last race of the season as many athletes as possible are standing at the starting line in order to have a condign celebration ceremony for the overall World Cup. The rule that a maximum of 4 races come in the final rating with up to two results from one country was confirmed.

Another point that has been changed were the age requirements for single entry in longer Quadrathlon distances. Although the WQF still recommends that longer distances are only attempted by adult athletes, younger athletes can take part in longer distances if they can show a written parental consent. The age categories for the Masters in 10-year steps was confirmed once again.

In the end, the WQF asks all athletes to register early for the competitions. By registering as soon as possible, you help the event hosts to organize a well-planned race – only then, a great competition can take place!

For more World Cup Information visit the website http://www.quadrathlon.com/index.htm

The WQF wishes all athletes an injury-free preparation and is looking forward to exciting competitions in 2013!

Regards

Stefan Teichert, WQF Executive Board

Brigg Bomber Quadrathlon 2013

Admin

The entries have been opened for the Brigg Bomber Quadrathlon 2013 organised by Lincsquad.

The date has been brought forward to the bank holiday weekend of Sunday 26th May, so that the event can become even bigger & better. This has meant that the North Lincs Challenge has been suspended for 2013, last year we saw very low entries for the challenge and although not an easy decision we have decided that we must put all our focus & attentions into building the Brigg Bomber Quadrathlon for the future.

The Brigg Bomber will once again be the British Quadrathlon Championships and BQA National Trophy Series race, as well as a WQF World Cup series race.

We are also pleased to also inform you that the Brigg Bomber has also been awarded the status of European Quadrathlon Championships 2013, thanks to our new sponsors Keyo Agricultural Services we are also able to confirm a total prize fund of 500 euro’s for the European Championships.

Although the race has increased its profile & status it is still very welcoming of newcomers to the sport of quadrathlon, either as solo, team or for the first time in 2013 as a corporate team.

The Corporate team can be made up of 2, 3 or 4 members of the same company, the winning corporate team will not only be awarded the corporate trophy but each winning team member will receive free entries to the Brigg Sprint Triathlon in September, now that’s an incentive !

If you have any queries regarding this event please email events@lincsquad.co.uk

So get training, get your entry in and see you in May.

The Other Quadrathlon World Championship…The Sprint 2012

Admin

Report by Tom Stead our Junior World Sprint Quadrathlon Champion.

On the 1st of September I competed in the Sprint Quadrathlon World Champs which were held at Bergsee Raschter, Germany.

Last year the Olympic and Sprint Distance were
held at the same venue on the same day, therefore athletes had to choose one or
the other, which results in just a handful of people doing the Sprint. This year
was different, in the Sprint there were some 80 competitors, from 8 countries –
from as far as New Zealand, Slovakia, Czech Republic, GB and a large contingent
from Germany. This meant that most of the top dogs were there and a larger
number of juniors.

Raschter is a fantastic location. There is a campsite
at the venue, which meant that we took the opportunity of camping there a few
days earlier, giving me the opportunity to check out the lake, the run and cycle
route (which I believe has changed since last year). Compared to most triathlons
in the UK this Quadrathlon started late in the day… this meant  there was
quite a lot waiting around, with 3 hours to go, I just wanted to get
started…!!

The time came and I got myself in the water along with the
other competitors. We were in the water for a while, then off like a shot,
fighting for positions before the first turn buoy. Stefan led the swim. I
finished strongly and was out the water with a PB in 10th place, the leader one
minute ahead. I knew I had a lot to do on the bike. Just moments before the race
I found out that the roads were going to be closed, WOW… this was going to be
great, I could attack the corners as fast as I dared…!!! The bike route is on
new tarmac, very hilly and very fast! I went out hard and managed to catch the
chase groups, and a little later on, I took the lead… I found myself following
a German TV man being driven backwards on a motor bike! That was a first.
A small group of five of us went into transition within a few seconds of each
other. Checking the stats later I was pleased to see I had the fastest bike
split of the race!

Next  my ‘weakest’ event, the kayak, although not as
weak as it was.  I have been training hard, I managed to come back in 5th
place.  As I got out of the kayak my legs seemed to have frozen and were numb,
weirdest feeling ever… This was the main reason for my slow 3rd transition,
the run didn’t go smoothly, I had to stretch out my calves a few times and my
right calf was killing me every time I took a step…!! I made a mental note to
myself to contact Tony at the Sports Injury Clinic on my return!

It was Czech vs. German for 1st place, with Leos Rousavý finally taking the win…I eventually finished 8th overall (and 1st Youth) just behind fellow Englishman Peter Moysey (from New Zealand, yep confused me too).  Really pleased with my performance overall.

This was a fantastic long weekend and my thanks go to the organisers, it was a great event, it was also great to meet so many of the other athletes from across the world wide quad community, I hope to return next year.

While planning your race dairy, do think about this race, it’s
worth the journey.

Tom

A few more images here on my blog
tomstead.blogspot

Race results here
Ratscher World Sprints

2012 Bude Awesome Foursome

Admin

The final race of the season, was blessed with amazing weather, the calmest sea in the race’s history … no sign of any surf at all! Blue skies and warm temperatures brought lots of competitors out 30 individuals and 16 teams, plus lots of spectators who enjoyed the excitment in this quiet little Cornish town!

It was the last British Trophy event and also the last World Cup event of the season, so athletes were looking for points to improve there final British standings and World Cup rankings too.

Winner Stefan

The men’s event was dominated by Stefan Teichert from Germany, he lead from the start puting in the fastest swim time, Mat Stevenson, Nigel Unwin and young Tom Stead (fastest bike split) were hot on his tail on the bike, but Stefan had an excellent kayak, Ian Smith put in the fastest kayak to move into the top three. Mat started to chase Stefan down in the run, but despite his fast run split Stefan held him off.

1st Stefan Teichert 2.42.22 (photo) 2nd Mat Stevenson 2.44.47 – 3rd Ian Smith 2.45.24

In the Ladies event newcomer to the sport Joanna Swallow soon took the lead, she was 3rd overall out of the swim and held the lead on the bike coming back in a brilliant 4th place overall after the bike. Lisa Maria Hirschfelder from Germany chased her down in the kayak and moved into the lead. Kathryn King worked very hard to catch her on the run and moved into 2nd place.

1st Lisa Maria Hirschfelder 3.10.50 (photo below)  -2nd Kathryn King 3.15.50 – 3rd Joanna Swallow 3.15.59.

Winner Lisa

The standard of the race was well worthy of its World Cup status, with some fantastic times in both Male and Female categories, it was good to see plenty of new faces as well as the regulars. Its a tough course and always a great climax to our Quadrathlon Season, this year made special by the blue skies and calm seas, Bude is such a happy chilled seaside town it certainly left us all with a great feel good factor at the end of what has been a brilliant sporting summer … and that’s not to mention the cider, cornish pasties and cream teas … think everyone will be back for more next year (fingers crossed the weather will be just as good!!!)

A big thank to Simon Hammond and his Team for putting on this great event, very well organised and friendly, were a small sport so support this excellent race next year …. and get your entries in early … PLEASE … it really helps the Quad organisers!

Thanks everyone … and see you next season!

Full results Bude Awesome4some

Stefan Teichert and Lisa Maria Hirschfelder secured their Overall World Cup Tropies, along with Tom Stead who took the junior World Cup Trophy, a great result for him in his first full quadrathlon season.

Mat Stevenson and Jean Ashley were presented with the British National Trophy overall winners, along with age groupers Phil Binch (vet 40), Alison Deykin (vet 40) and Tom Stead (under 23)

2012 World Quadrathlon Championships

Admin

Congratulations to the 6 members our GB Quad Team who raced in the World Quadrathlon Championships (middle distance) in the Czech Republich. The invincable Miroslav Podborský is WORLD CHAMPION yet again (2.45.56). There was a very tough race between Leoš Roušavý and Stefan Teichert, with Leos getting Silver (2.51.01) and Stefan Bronze (2.51.32). In 4th place Milan Oslik (2.54.32) giving Mat a good race in 5th (2.54.56). Followed by Ian Smith in 7th (3.02.41). Nick Gatland came 10th (3.04.09) and 3rd GB team member, giving them Silver in the Mens Team Event. Tony Runnegar came 24th (3.33.52).

Katrin Burow Won Gold (3.16.03) with Lisa Marie Hirschfelder in Silver (3.31.04) and Ellen Mielke Bronze (3.35.03). Our only female this year was Alison Deykin who came 4th and 1st Vet 40 (3.54.27). We had a small but very successful Team, whilst alot of us were busy watching and helping at the Olympics they were Flying the GB QUAD FLAG, bringing home even more medals.

Vet 40 Gold Mat Stephenson,

Vet 40 Silver Nick Gatland

Vet 50 Gold Ian Smith

Vet 40W Gold Alison Deykin

Mens Team Silver Mat Stephenson, Ian Smith, Nick Gatland.

Sadly the numbers were down at the race this year, probably due to the timing of the Olympics with only 29 men and 4 women racing …… it would be really good to boost the Quad numbers next year …… Lets get our Team together and make it a big GB Quad Team 2013!!! Lets do our very best to build on Olympic fever and get people into Quadrathlons…… keep our sport alive!

 

 

2012 Oberpfalzer Seenland Quadrathlon, German Championships

Admin

Russell Breyer is a newcomer to quadrathlon, (albeit a third season triathlete and occasional paddler), what better way to try a new sport than to load up the car and hoik the family right across to Eastern Bavaria for a top level race? The risk, of course, was of coming last by miles. But what the heck.

My German is next to non-existant, so signing up and getting help with general orientation placed me in the hands of Stefan Teichert, the race director. Fortunately, nothing was too much trouble for Stefan, and it was lovely, when we arrived beside the lake, to have him come bounding over, to check we were all OK, a service he repeated throughout the weekend.

The setting was stunning – a clear watered lake, ringed with forests, dotted with islands. The organisation of the event (there were sprint, standard and middle distance triathlons running alongside the quad) was, well, German. Everything worked with precise efficiency, with spot-on timing, no fuss or muck-ups. Stefan was the epitomie of relaxed bonhomie, and raced in the quad himself, despite his key role in proceedings.

Race day was fine and mild with mostly clear skies and a light breeze (while you lot were getting rain-lashed at the Adventure Challenge!). The swim took us on a single lap around an island. Being out of sight of the finish point for much of the swim made calculating progress a little hard, but otherwise it was lovely. The cycle leg took us on sweeping roads through brooding Bavarian forest. The distance was a little shorter than a standard 40km, at 35km, but I have no problem with that!

The 8km kayak leg involved five laps around the island. This was my first ever kayak race so I was a little disadvantaged by my poor technique and uncompetitive craft (my trusty Pyranha Fusion. You could drive a truck over it, but it is hardly a lean, mean, racing machine). But I stayed in touch, more or less, and learnt a great deal.

The 10km run was a delight, two laps through the shoreside forest, on level, lightly gravelled track. It could have been designed with all my preferences in  mind, and I had a flier.

Now, experienced quadrathletes will have a far greater sense of the european quadrathlon scene than I do, but it struck me that it consists of the same 30 or 40 folk racing each other half a dozen times a year at various points in central europe. Am I right? Anyway, they were a very friendly bunch, and I had a great time. The presentation ceremony was interminable, as it covered all the races, including relays, and I understood not a word, except the bit where they called me up to collect a gong for 3rd placed Male over 50, a fair return for 3hrs 45 mins of effort.

I’d recommend this event to anyone, if you can manage the 9 hour drive from Calais. Well, I now have the quad bug, so you will see me at Brigg, and various other points on the compass (at least, you will if you cast a backward glance as you are racing!) PS, I am now on the lookout for a second hand racing kayak suitable for a 6ft lump with so-so paddling skills, if anyone has such a thing going unused.

Congratulations Russel, and excellent first Quadrathlon and a great report, Thanks! We look forward to seeing you at the Brigg Bomber, and hope you become a regular on the British Quadraththlon Circuit.

 

New Races for 2012 World Cup Quadrathlon

Admin

With a long-term view to develop Quadrathlon, the World Quadrathlon Federation (WQF), is pleased to add a two brand new race events for the 2012/2013 World Cup season. The Murray Quad in Australia  launches the first event of the 2012/2013 Quadrathlon World Cup, as well as it being the inaugural Quadrathlon event in Australia. Another addition to the World Cup, is a new event in Wolsztyn, West Poland.

The Murray Quad, set for December 15th, 2012, will be a long distance Quadrathlon and is scheduled to run alongside several other multi-discipline events. The long distance event will uniquely run in an odd order which has been sanctioned  by the WQF, as Swim 3.5 km, then Run 20.5 km followed by a cycle of 81 km and finally the kayak section over 25 km, giving a total distance of 130km. The unusual race order is a safety measure for the athletes who will compete in the regions average summer temperatures of 28-32C (82-89F). The event is planned to run along the Murray River starting in the town of Yarrawonga, around 280km north of Melbourne. International Athletes can be catered for as a kayak rental scheme is being set up. Some International interest has been shown as the challenge to compete in the multisport hotspot of Australia is very exciting, and to escape the dreary Northern Hemisphere winter.

The Wolsztyn middle distance race in West Poland, is being planned for August 17th, 2013. The organisers hope that this event will draw many top Quadrathlon athletes from neighbouring Germany and Czech Republic. Additionally, the August 17th date is right in the middle of several prominent World Cup events.

The WQF hopes that these new events will draw many new Quadrathletes to the sport.