2017 BUDE …. Fantastic Racing to the Very End!
As ever Bude lived up to its reputation, another brilliant Awesome foursome! The turnout was great with over 100 athletes racing individually, in pairs and teams, though the build up was slightly harrowing for race organizer Simon Hammond, the early part of the week the beach was closed due to the invasion of the Portuguese Man O War Jelly fish, and then there were high winds, huge swell and waves and torrential rain, which would of made the course lethal. The night before we were still being battered by the weather, but miraculously Saturday morning the weather Gods were on our side and we were blessed with sunshine, light winds, it was cool but it was 100% better than the forecast!
It was a 2.30pm start due to the tide and as ever Simon kept us all entertained at the race briefing with his banter, it always helps with the race nerves as everyone goes into the water with a smile! The swim is always starts fast as the Bude surfers speed off not giving a thought to the size of the waves, its always difficult to workout who is in the lead in the individual race as the local boys and girls make up relay teams. Alan Cole was 1st out 17:.46 with a good lead from all the other individuals, he needed to move fast as he needed maximum points to win the overall Trophy Series.
However local athlete Chris Hammond was very familiar with the bike course along with past winner Nigel Unwin, both having very strong bike legs with Nigel’s split being the fastest of the day 51:39. Nigel worked hard in the kayak with Simon Hammond (pair) to move into the lead, meanwhile Ian Smith, (great to see him back in action after injury problems) was flying in his kayak producing the fastest split 47:09. So onto the run, Nigel held onto his lead coming 1st 2:45:45 with Ian chasing him down coming 2nd 2:46:48, Chris Hammond came 3rd 2:50:15 with Alan Cole in 4th 2:51:13, this gave Alan enough points to take the Vet 40 2017 BQA Trophy Prize.
Meanwhile there was a battle going on for Trophy Points between Vet 50’s Julian Brewer, Nicholas Farnell and Cliff Odgers, Julian and Cliff have been consistent all season, and had extra points in the bag. For Nicholas his Bude points had to count, he finished 9th overall which gave him the same points as Cliff, so with the 4th race taken into account Cliff took the Vet 50 2017 BQA Trophy Prize. Julian after some strong races this season had enough points for him to take the Overall BQA Trophy, a well deserved winner as he has been a keen Quadrathlete and BQA member for many years now!
BQA Mens Bude Results
1st Nigel Unwin 2:45:45 (1st Vet 50)
2nd Ian Smith 2:46:48 (2nd Vet 50)
4th Alan Cole 2:51:13 (2nd Vet 40)
9th Nicholas Farnell 3:01:34 (3rd Vet 50)
10th Julian Brewer 3:03:01
17th Russell Breyer 3:13:50
18th Michael Toomey 3:19:00 (1st Vet60)
19th Cliff Odgers 3:21:48
20th Peter Chappill 3:32:30
In the Ladies Race, once again it was a battle to the end between Allison Parritt and Jean Ashley. Jacqueline Davies had a strong swim and was 1st out of the water, with just over a minuet’s lead going onto the bike. Jean caught her up at the bottom of the first big climb and had pulled away by the top of Millook. Allison however was also having a strong bike leg and she then caught Jean up on the way to Wainhouse Corner, they swapped positions a couple of times, but Allison had the edge and arrived back to transition 1st. Jean quickly moved into the lead on the kayak, but Allison paddled strongly and kept Jean in her sights. Jacqueline was also paddling her new kayak well, so it was looking like it was all down to the run! Jean pushed hard and stayed in the lead for the first half of the run, but Alison wasn’t going to give in, she overtook Jean on the well-known ‘ploughed field’ and went on to win in 3:15:19, with Jean in 2nd 3:16:53. Jacqueline stayed comfortably in 3rd 3:35:22. Emma Whitehouse came in with a big smile in 4th 3:45:41.
Bude Results Bude Quadrathlon Results 2017
Every single person that finished the race deserves a mention, it’s always challenging, you never quite know what the Cornish Coast will throw at you, at least the Jelly fish didn’t come back, the weather was kind, but those hills never change and it always lives up to its Name …. AWESOME!
A Huge Big Thank-you To Simon and his Wonderful Team for Hosting the Race. A massive thank-you to all the marshals, the Bude Surf lifeguards for looking after us and showing us the way! It was great to see plenty BQA members racing, plus all the other athletes and first-timers! Plus all the Teams and Pairs Entries … an excellent turnout. I hope you all enjoyed it and will be back to support Shoreline Extreme Sports for more fun next Year … and to top it off Bude will be the BQA National Championships 2018!
See you next year … Jean
Alan Cole’s Bude Race Report https://www.alananna.co.uk/blog/2017/bude-awesome-foursome-quadrathlon-race-report/




John did extremely well in his borrowed kayak and pulled back the lead, despite the footplate breaking, John went onto the run 2 minutes up. On the flat, grassy course Klaus was catching John, but John dug deep and held on and beat Klaus by 36 seconds. His time was 01.46.35.3, giving him the Gold Medal and securing his ‘Vet 60 WQF Championship Title’.

The first ever ‘Ladies Only Quadrathlon’ IN THE WORLD took place on 16 July 2017 on the banks of the River Dee in Chester, running in parallel to the Deva Divas Triathlon which, in 2016, won the coveted British Triathlon ‘Event of the Year’, Triathlon England ‘Club Event of the Year’ and also North West ‘Regional Race of the Year’! It being the 11th year of the Deva Divas which aims to encourage women into the sport of triathlon, organisers Sally Napthen and Jean Ashley wanted to celebrate with something a little bit different – hence the Deva Divas Quadrathlon – if ever there was history in the making, this was it!
The morning of the race dawned and it was a bit drizzly, but that did absolutely nothing to dampen the spirits of the Quadrathlon ladies. All the kayaks were laid out by the wonderful helpers, whilst all the participants racked their bikes, helmets, paddles, buoyancy aids and other race paraphernalia in transition. After a very entertaining race briefing and group warm up for all the quadrathletes and triathletes, we walked together to the swim start upstream. Us quad ladies were the first to go off at 8:20 and after a quick Oggy Oggy Oggy, the race official blew the foghorn and we were off.

On Behalf of the BQA I Just wanted to say a Huge Thank You ‘Chester Tri’ and Chester Canoe Club for an Amazing ‘Deva Divas Quadrathlon today! We certainly shared ‘The Quad Passion’ they all just Loved it, as 30 of them took to the water, 25 of them being first timers! The atmosphere was brilliant the camaraderie and racing superb, these girls just had the Best day Ever!




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
The Race is certainly on in the Men’s National Trophy Series after 3 races its still wide open! At the moment Cliff Odgers is in the lead, closely followed by John Kavanagh and Andrew Lawson. Lance Ball is leading Vet 40, Cliff Vet 50 (roll down Andrew Lawson) and John Kavanagh Vet 60. There are several athletes that could certainly change the standings if they do the last 2 races! Chasing the leaders are Julian Brewer, after a strong win at Box End, Phil Holden, Pete Chappill and Nigel Leeson … so the race is on!
The Ladies Trophy has already been decided as Helen Russell has won 3/3 with only 2 races left no one can match her score. Vet 40 will role down to Sallie Joseph, Vet 50 Jean Ashley and Vet 60 Mary White. But I never like to think its over until the last race, but it in the ladies event it might just be!