Dearne Valley QuadKidz Hermione’s Race Day!
Congratulations to Hermione Ball, she won the (9-12) girls event at the Dearne Valley quadkidz event … here’s her great race report!
I went to Manvers Lake with my dad, both of us taking part in quadrathlons on the Sunday morning.
We arrived late on Saturday night just before it became dark. Thankfully quadrathlete friends Jean and David were there who helped us to put our new tent up and made us drinks so that we didn’t get to sleep too late.
We were up very early on Sunday morning as my race was due to start at 8:30am so that we were all finished in time for the adults to start at 9:30am. There was a lot to do, registering, putting a bike and kayak out, checking equipment and getting ready in a wetsuit to start the swim.
The Race
There were several races all starting together at the same time with a swim. Some were doing a triathlon whilst others like me were doing a quadrathlon. The distances for each part of the race were also different depending on our ages. I was wearing an orange hat showing that I was competing in the 9 to 12 female age group.
The swim was in the lake, colder than in a swimming pool, but wearing a wetsuit made it warm enough. I have taken part in a few short open water swims before and have never been very good, but this time I had my best swim ever. My dad had got me a swimming wetsuit before the race and I made sure that I had my head in the water before the race started. So instead of being at the back, I was up near the front for the whole swim.
After the swim, I ran up the grass bank into transition. I got my wetsuit off quickly and made sure the first thing after this was to put my cycle helmet on. I really struggled to get my trainers on because my feet were wet. I need to remember to put elastic laces in my shoes next time. So this transition could have been faster. I had a great bike leg. It was off road, but on footpaths that were mostly flat. I wasn’t used to the bike and my trainers weren’t very grippy, so my feet continuously slipped off the pedals, but I kept up a good speed. Into transition from the bike I just needed to rack my bike then take my helmet off, so this transition was quick, but whilst exiting the transition area I fell down the grass bank causing me a large bruise, grazes and cuts.
Next leg for me was the kayak, whilst those doing the triathlon would skip this part.
I had a terrible kayak. I’d had some practice in a Lightening kayak and paddled it o.k. earlier in the week. However, previously I had got into the kayak from a bank. This time I was having to get into the kayak out into the water where it was deep enough for the rudder to be off the floor. With no bank to hold on to, as soon as I got into the kayak, it tipped over and I fell in. With a little help, I emptied the water out and on the second attempt I got in and set off on the kayak leg.
Half way around the kayak course and I fell in again. The problem was that I had my seat set up for having bare feet, but had kept my trainers on for the race, so I hadn’t been comfortable, didn’t feel as confident as I had earlier in the week and my balance did not feel right. I was now in the middle of the lake. There were plenty of helpers out on the lake, so it wasn’t long before a couple of paddle boarders came to me and helped me to empty the water out and get back into the kayak in the middle of the lake.
I was glad to get to the end of the kayak and still be leading my category, but the person in second place was now very close behind.
I had a quick transition, only needing to get my buoyancy aid off and set off for the run.
The run went well, following the same route as the bike. By this time my laces had come undone, so I completed the run in trainers that were untied. Another reason to put elastic laces in next time.
I finished in a time of 31 minutes and 59 seconds, coming first female in my age group.
Junior Quad Girls ( 9-12 )
Hermione Ball – 2:31 – 11:05 – 20:50 – 31:59
Hannah Lancaster – 4:02 – 11:30 – 21:53 – 32:57
Even though I fell out of the kayak twice and fell down a hill, I felt happy for finishing and earning a medal.
I’m now really looking forward to the Quadkidz training weekend next week, where I’ll hopefully improve my kayak skills and learn more to help with my other races in the future.
Hermione Ball.
A superb report and great racing from these boys! Well Done Hermione, and Enjoy the next 2 QuadKidz Races, Lincs-QuadKidz and Box End QuadKidz! (BQA)
Congratulations to Max Underwood-Frost, from Lincsquad who won the Boys (13-16) event on Sunday 10th June at Manvers Lake in the Dearne Valley Quadrathlon. Here is his report ……
We then got into the water to let our bodies adjust to the temperature and then did a little warm up. For the swim we did two laps of a 100m circuit in a clockwise direction. I came out the swim in first place and called my number as I ran into first transition. As I entered T1 I had a bit of a struggle getting my wetsuit off but I did it in the end and then got ready for the bike.
Coming into T2 I racked up my bike and got ready for the kayak. As I was running down to my kayak I could see second place in the distance coming up to the dismount line (who I knew was very good in the kayak so I would have my work cut out). I got to my kayak a bit confused on what I had to do and so I just got in. At this point I realised the water was not deep enough for my kayak to float and had to get a little push from Kev and I was off on the 2 lap kayak route.
Coming into T3 I saw the leader there and after having a quick transition we ran out of T3 together. We had a hard run being on each others tail but to my luck I managed to break free and go on to win the race with a time of 37.43 minutes.
The Fantastic Quadkidz Medals have arrived … Are YOU ready?
Organizer Mark Benton has confirmed Details and Entries Open for Dearne Valley Sprint Quad and QuadKidz Races on 10th June. This race takes place around the Manvers Waterpark and its surrounding area, and for the QuadKidz all the racing takes place within this lovely Waterpark. The aim is to deliver, a Quadrathon where people from all walks of life can participate. Mark Benton (organizer) quotes ‘All that we ask is that you enjoy your training towards it and feel a great sense of achievement afterwards’.
We have set up a Points Series, this year we only have 2 races suitable for juniors – under 14. These are the results from the 2 Races this season 
World Cup Action! All of you that raced individually at the Brigg Bomber will have World Cup Race points … its a GREAT feeling! If your Inspired and want more come to Box End Sprint Quad – 2nd July ….. there are more World Cup Points to be gained!
Alanna Barron – 35:00
BQA members took the top 6 places – Helen Russell was first out of the swim and went onto the bike with a good lead. Cliff Odgers started to chase her down, but it wasn’t until the return leg of the bike course he over took her. The bike was off road and using part of the Trans Penne Trail which consisted of unmade tracks, despite it being muddy in parts it was ideal for cross bikes, as they proved to be the fastest over the course. Cliff went into the kayak first, followed by Helen, Jacquline Davies, John Kavanagh and Jean Ashley, there were a 
couple of other bikers in between but once they got in the kayaks the seasoned quadrathletes started to pull away. It had started to get a bit choppy in the wind which favored the stronger paddlers. Cliff held onto his lead in the kayak, and went into the run 1st with Helen not to far adrift. Jean in her strongest discipline the kayak, pulled back 2 and half minutes to catch Jacquline and John by the end of the paddle. Pete Chappill another BQA member had a good solid paddle overtaking a lot of paddlers in sea kayaks and plastic kayaks, they were all doing really well in the conditions, but having to work very hard in these smaller kayaks without rudders. Meanwhile on the run Helen took the lead from Cliff and went on to win in 1.45.42, Cliff ran well and finished 2nd in 1.46.24. 
Jacquline having a swift transition went out in 3rd place, but very close behind was Jean and John. John tried to hang on to Jean, but with the Long Course Quad still in his legs he had to drop back. Jean moved into 3rd finishing in 1.52.05, with John 4th just 15 seconds behind 1:52:20. Jacqueline held onto 5th 1:54:44 with Pete in 6th 1.57.44.
It was also good to see Athletes racing from Lincqsquad, well done to first timers 7th Wayne Smith – 1.59.38, 11th Andrew Lawson – 2.06.05, 12th Sallie Joseph – 2.07.04, and a fantastic first time achievement to 26th Amanda Clements – 2.36.47.
A very special mention must go to John MacLeod our first ever Vet 70 competitor he finished 22nd in 2.24.32. In his younger days John was a GB Slalom Paddler and competed in the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich. He successfully coached junior & senior GB kayak teams from 1979-1981 culminating in 7 medals being won by GB Team at the 1983 World Championships he worked through to the Barcelona Olympic Games and beyond, all voluntary. Within his coaching and management years, 8 World Championship GOLD medals have been awarded to GB team. In 2009 he was appointed as Canoe Manager for the London 2012 Olympic Games, and Rio 2016 responsible for both Canoe Sprint and Canoe Slalom, both events being extremely successful. John has been a key player in design and commissioning of both Nottingham (1987), Lee Valley (2011) canoe slalom courses, and the very lake you have all been competing on Manvers Lake! Well Done John you are now the number 1 GB Vet 70 QUADRATHLETE!!!
Dearne Valley Quadrathon and Triathlon – Sunday 11th June 2017, Manvers Lake