The 2012 Quad season is about to start, and I’ve had a couple of reminders from Race Organisers to get your entries in for the up and coming races. This years North Lincs Adventure Challenge 3rd June & Brigg Bomber Quadrathlon 15th July are getting close. Phil Binch (Treasurer Lincsquad) has asked ’If you are going to enter either event, could you please do so within the next week so that we can get a feel for the numbers competing. All details & online entry can be found at www.point7.co.uk

Also the latest News from West Wight Quadrathlon  10th June 2012.
Our event is coming together nicely.We have our first 10 entries! Organising our marshalls and getting our timings right should be complete within the week.

We will then be publishing the timetable for the event and the routes. This will be sent individually to entrants but will also be on the BQA and West Wight Sports Centre web sites. Competitors can then use the O.S. Explorer map  OL 29 to familiarise themselves with the routes.Although the bike ride and run will be signed and marshalled it is the competitors responsiblity to know and follow the route.We have the Freshwater lifeboats(2) and a private 30 `catamaran signed up for the sea kayak safety team; along with some expert sea kayakers.If the sea is too rough on the day a slightly longer cycle takes us to the Solent (sheletered)side of the Island and we can paddle to the Needles and back . The run stays the same.
We have an upper limit of 40 entries so get your entry in soon to avoid disappointment. Mike Rayden  Organiser,  01983 76137.

To booking your place go to http://www.westwight.co.uk/default.asp?iId=EGFKIJ (Please tick YES for insurance as you will be covered by the sports centre insurance at no extra cost).

On a sad note Ive had news from Simon Grint, organiser of the eXtreme 5.  They have had to cancel the eXtreme 5 Challenge this year, he sent me this note -  Regrettably I need to inform you that we have taken a tough decision to cancel the eXtreme 5 Challenge this year. As organisers we pride ourselves on putting on a professional event for both the enjoyment and safety of the participants. Inevitably this means that we incur a fairly significant level of cost and this year have been unable to attract enough participants to cover the costs. We could attribute this to a number of things that range from weather to the Olympics and the economic situation – it doesn’t change the outcome.
We remain committed to eXtreme 5 and HIZ and hope to be able to put on the event again in 2013.

If you want to ‘Fly the Flag’ and promote British Quadrathlon, you can now order BQA Kit! Its available to order from our Membership & Kit page.
We have Navy Hoodies with embroidery BQA logo on front, and embroidery GB Team/flag on sleeve, screen print British Quadrathlon Team GB on back £24 + £2.50 p&p.

Technical T-shirts with embroidery BQA logo on front, and British Quadrathlon GB Team/flag on back £20 + £2.50 p&p. If you wish to order, please go to webpage for further details order from Steve Dolby.

Pro-vision GB Team Tri suits are also available to order, they will now come with a rear zip, in order to align with new National/International Triathlon Rules. However the BQA currently has no rules conerning zips on tri suits. They will cost about £65 if your interested please contact Jean Ashley.

Booking is now open for this exciting New West Wight Quadrathlon. This is an ideal opportunity to paddle around the Needles, its a great sea challenge and we recomend sea kayaks, (their will be full rescue and support boats whilst athletes are paddling). You can bring your own or hire from IWAA. The event is only open to Individuals and its on 10th June 2012 it will start with a pool swim 600m, followed by a mountain bike ride of 12miles (90% tracks with a small technical section), then a sea kayak 6nm around the Needles and finally a 6k run.

Latest News – Our event is coming together nicely.We have our first 10 entries! Organising our marshalls and getting our timings right should be complete within the week.
We will then be publishing the timetable for the event and the routes. This will be sent individually to entrants but will also be on the BQA and West Wight Sports Centre web sites. Competitors can then use the O.S. Explorer map  OL 29 to familiarise themselves with the routes.Although the bike ride and run will be signed and marshalled it is the competitors responsiblity to know and follow the route.We have the Freshwater lifeboats(2) and a private 30 `catamaran signed up for the sea kayak safety team; along with some expert sea kayakers.If the sea is too rough on the day a slightly longer cycle takes us to the Solent (sheletered)side of the Island and we can paddle to the Needles and back . The run stays the same.
We have an upper limit of 40 entries so get your entry in soon to avoid disappointment. To booking your place go to http://www.westwight.co.uk/default.asp?iId=EGFKIJ (Please tick YES for insurance as you will be covered by the sports centre insurance at no extra cost).

2)booking for Kayaks; http://isleofwightadventureactivities.co.uk/west-wight-quadrathon/

We have the Isle of Wight Adventure Activities as one of our sponsors who specialise in sea kayaking. So what more logical than to offer you the possibility of hiring a sea kayak instead of lugging yours to the island.

Sea kayak hire and Transport option 1   (16 available) - You will need sea kayak experience but after that all you need to do is turn up(with your mountain bike of course) and a sea kayak will be waiting for you on Freshwater beach and will be collected at the end of the paddle. Included in the hire is the secure return of your MT bike to the sports centre compound.

Transport Option 2 – If you bring your bike and sea kayak but do not have anybody to help with the transits then IOWAA can offer you a transport service. When you deliver your kayak to Freshwater bay before the event starts;it will be held in the secure bike/ sea kayak transition on the beach until you finish the bike. You will then be assisted on your way on the paddle and your bike will be returned to the sports centre with your kayak( at the end of the paddle) leaving you free for the final run leg.

These options will be outlined again on the IOWAA site with details of cost and must be booked with them. Of course feel free to be completely independant and bring all your kit including bike helmet and buoyancy aid and a willing slave for the transits.

Getting to our Island – We suggest you use Lymington to Yarmouth Wightlink ferries and we believe that if you have Tesco vouchers they can be used when booking.
Accomadation is covered by IOW web sites and nearest to the west wight sports centre would be to stay in Yarmouth or Freshwater.

We will keep you posted of further updates – Race Organiser Mike Rayden

Futher details  http://www.westwight.co.uk/default.asp?iId=HILHG

Quadrathlete Jean Ashley, along with K2 partner Tamsin Phipps has just completed the Devizes to Westminster Canoe Marathon, the longest non-stop canoe marathon in the world - 125 miles with 76 portages! Her story ……

Ive just about got all the kit clean, sleep deprivation back, and finally feel like eating food again … after a bit of an epic DW ….a journey I had planned and visualised for ages, but didn’t quite go as expected!

Our trip was certainly an adventure, all started very well good weather conditions no wind and drizzle, and going to schedule until…….. a hold up at the long tunnel a slow moving barge took 21mins to clear the 1 mile tunnel …… we got a bit cold but carried on no problems at all. Everyone has dark times and I had mine at about 50 miles, I went through a sick stage…… but just drank and drank and soon pulled out of it. We pulled back all our lost tunnel time by Marlow (70 miles), and moved back into the lead in Vet female catagory (3rd in ladies overall and 3rd in century caagory … ages adding up to a 100, not really sure if I should own up to that one!) … so feeling great and both moving into the night strong and positive! The night was warm and dry but the lack of flow made the Thames feel like paddling through mud, especially building the momentum back up after each portage, the portages were very high so getting in and out was rather tough too, but we were still going to hit the tide 2hrs in so all was fine we were ‘on schedule’. I was getting very excited about the tideway and had already started visualising famous bridges and the Westminster steps …… How wrong was I?

We gave her some food and liquid and a good talking too and she decided she was fine to carry on …….. I don’t know how I kept her going for 10 miles but by the time we got to Hammersmith Bridge she was just leaning on the back of the boat not able to sit up and paddle ….. I was struggling to keep the boat going but with only 7 miles to go ….. and being two very ‘stubborn old birds’ ….neither wanted to give up. We pulled over to the side and we lifted her out of the boat thinking she would be ok after a breather …… our support crew said it was too dangerous for us to get back in ….. not finishing the race was never an option so I had to get to the finish somehow ….. so we walked to the finish carrying the K2!

It took us 3hrs to walk 8 miles in, we made a sling to carry the boat out of roof rack straps, Tamsin had to be supported both sides by our support crew, she showed true grit to keep going ….. we even stoped at Costa next to Harrods for a latte … anything to keep her walking!

It was very emotional and I felt so disappointed seeing our vet ladies lead slip away ……… but when you start on the DW journey you never know what’s going to happen, I didn’t expect 119 mile paddle, 8 mile hike and a bit of swimming!!! But we did it ……. and had a wonderfull reception at Westminster their were plenty of tears when we got our medals!

It wasTamsins 25th Anniversay since she did her first DW, so I had NO OPTION to get her to the finish line …… she’s just got one more DW to do and she’ll become a member of the 1000 mile club (thats 8DW’s or more)……… so looks like she’ll be out their again …….. and Ive only got another 6 to do!!!!

Our time was 27h 25m 49s we came 5th/12 ladies teams 2nd/6 vet ladies …. and 5th/12 century catagory.

The DW always brings up memorable stories of achievement and sometimes of epic failure, but that is the challenge of the DW Marathon. It made me realise to get to the finish no mater what absolutely epitomises the spirit of the event, that’s everyones dream ‘to be added to that finishers list and to be part of the DW Folklore!’

Shrewsbury Triathlon 2nd September 2012

The majestic town of Shrewsbury welcomes you to the staging of its Triathlon and Quadrathlon. The Triathlon now in its second year, has adapted to your needs and will include family events as well. In collaboration with SYTri and  Shrewsbury Masters , the event provides a unique river swim, then Kayak, followed by fast stretches of cycling on country lanes and a lovely run taking in the River Severn.

The event is held at the Shropshire and West Midlands Showground and offers plenty of parking, toilets and other facilities. Full information on the course can be found  on our website http://severntriathlon.moonfruit.com/
Event Information – Shrewsbury Sprint Triathlon and Quadrathlon
Sunday 2nd September 2012
Venue: West Mids Show Ground, Berwick Rd, Shrewsbury, Shropshire.

The event is an Open Water Sprint Triathlon and a Quadrathon event both being held on the same day.

The distances are; Triathlon: 500m Swim/23km Cycle (undulating)/5km Run.
Cost: £30 BTF Members £33 Non BTF Members
(300 entries, closing date 8th August)

Quadrathlon: 500m Swim/5km Kayak/23km Cycle (undulating) / 5km Run
Cost: £35 all participants
(50 entries, closing date 26th August)

For further information regarding the Triathlon or Quadrathlon please contact; sytriathlon@yahoo.com

You can ENTER VIA – http://www.entrycentral.com/index.php?festivalID=269

Revision of the Sports Rules and Order of Competition
has been Posted by WQF on March 13, 2012.

Over the last couple of months, the WQF has revised and dated the rules and order of competition for Quadrathlon. The executive board has formulated clear rules using as a basis, triathlon rules. This is help those organizers and athletes who compete in events where triathlon and quadrathlon run side by side.

Important changes to take note of are 
The age groups are adjusted to the following, for all WQF Events:

I)   Youths:        16 – 17 years
II)  Juniors:       18 – 19 years
III) U23:            20 – 22 years
IV) Elite:           23 – 39 years
V) Masters:       40 years and older.

Masters are separated in the following age groups:
Masters 40:      40 – 49 years
Masters 50:      50 – 59 years
Masters 60:      60 – 69 years
Seniors:           70 years and older

The age group eligibility per distance categories are:
Youth:                               Sprint
Junior:                              Sprint, Middle
U23, Elite and Masters:    Sprint, Middle, Long

PLEASE NOTE however the BQA are allowing the following addendum to WQF rule 9.2

All athletes, supporters and organisers, are requested to read the current rules. The WQF expects honesty, fair play and sportsmanlike conduct at all times. The Rules can be read here in detail. WQF-RULES

They are also posted on our Home page under Rules and Regulations.

I hope Quadrathletes, and like minded athletes are out there, are getting back into training, and thinking about the 2012 Season. We’ve never had so many races on offer, which is great news for our sport lets hope there’s plenty of entries for our race organisers this year, who do a Stirling job in promoting Quadrathlons!

However the British Quadrathlon Association [BQA], who works hard on your behalf, needs your help. You can support us by signing up to the BQA for a mere £15.00. We need the funds to keep the BQA well oiled machine [some may say] working. The funds raised from the BQA Membership ensure that we can continue to run and organise the National Trophy Series and represent the interest of the sport in the UK and on the World stage. Membership forms for 2012 available on our website now.

It would also be very helpful if as many people as possible could sign up to our newsletter and Facebook page [both links from BQA website]. In this modern, busy, high tech world, Facebook and the internet are readily available and is an ideal way to keep in touch with fellow athletes and find out all the up to date information about Quadrathlon. Along side our website you should find all the up to date information.

Hear’s just a quick reminder of BQA sanctioned Races for 2012.

2012 National Trophy Series

27th May 2012  The Deeside Triathlon – N.T. Round 1
Starts at Highland Games Arena, Braemar, Scotland. Point to Point race.
35 mile bike, 10 mile run, 14 mile river kayak.

3rd June 2012  North Lincs Adventure Challenge – N.T.Round 2
Ancholme Leisure Centre, Brigg, North Lincolnshire
STANDARD 36km road bike, 10km flat river kayak, 10km trail run.

SPRINT 20km road bike, 5km flat river kayak, 5km trail run.

7th July  2012 Extreme 5 Challenge – N.T. Round 3
Thames Young Mariners, Waterside Drive, Ham, Richmond, Surrey                  STANDARD 1.5 km swim, 10km kayak, 40km bike, 10km run.

SPRINT 750km swim, 5km kayak, 20km bike, 5km run.

15th July 2012  Brigg Bomber Quadrathlon – N.T. Round 4 British Championships
Ancholme Leisure Centre, Brigg, North Lincolnshire
STANDARD 1.5 km river swim, 8km river kayak, 40km road bike, 10km road run.

SPRINT 750km river swim, 3.5km river kayak, 20km road bike, 5km road run.

5th August  2012 The Boxend Sprint Quadrathlon – N.T. Round 5
Box End Park, near Bedford, Bedfordshire
750m lake swim, 4.4km lake kayak, 13.2km mountain bike, 5 km x-c run.

8th September 2012 The Awesome Foursome – N.T.Round 6
Bude, Cornwall
800m sea swim, 30km road bike, 10km canal kayak,10k run.

Quad Races Affiliated to BQA but not Trophy Races for 2012

10 June 2012 West Wight Sprint Quadrathlon
Isle of Wight – 600m pool swim, 12m MT Bike, 6nm Sea Kayak, 6km Run

23 June 2012 Norfolk Superhero Challenge
Burnham Overy, Staith – 1 mile swim, 4 mile kayak, 38mile bike, 7 mile run.

2nd September 2012 Shrewsbury Sprint Quadrathlon Distances to be confirmed.

30 September 2012 The Fabian 4 Dyffryn Conwy Mountain Triathlon
Conwy N. Wales -13 km esturay kayak, 10km fell run, 15km MTBike.

For more information on race details visit our events page.
Along with the National Trophy Series and the European World Cup Races, the future of Quadrathlon has never looked so good in the UK. News of GB Team Selection, and World Championship details will follow soon, also BQA clothing, embroidered Hoodys and Technical T shirts will be available to purchase soon, so keep posted lots going on this season!

World Cup Races and News can be found on the WQF website http://www.quadrathlon.com/index.htm

Hear’s wishing everyone involved in our diverse multi-sport a successful year, Year of the Olympics so plenty of motivation for training, great racing and lots of fun along the way …… The Journey is as important as the result … Never Stop the Adventure!

BQA

If your going up to Braemar for the first BQA Race of the season - The Deeside Triathlon – N.T. Round 1, please note the change of date. It has moved to later in the month its now 27th May 2012. It sarts at Highland Games Arena, Braemar, Scotland. and finishes at Aberdeen Boat Club .

Its a Point to Point race and you will need a support Vehicle it consists of a 35 mile bike, 10 mile run, 14 mile river kayak, not a conventional quadrathlon (no swim!). It starts in Braemar with 36 miles of time trial road riding over rolling roads, with two right turns, and finishes with a 2 mile climb to T1 in a forest car park just outside the village of Potarch.

A little unconventional transition in that you pass your bicycle to your well prepared helper before donning running shoes and accessories for the 10.1 miles run through the forest path to Banchory then onto the cycle path that takes you alongside the A93 to Crathes and T2 under Durris Bridge.

At this point the race separates to duathlon and triathlon; the duathletes get back on their bikes and pedal the final 13miles to Aberdeen whilst the tougher triathletes faced 15.5 miles of winding shallow waters of the River Dee to finish adjacent to Aberdeen Boat Club. Its a great race and start to the season and with it now being the end of May … hopefully Scotland should be warm and sunny!
more details  william.tulloch@googlemail.com

www.fleet-feet.com

Newport has in the past been a great little multi- sports weekend, comprising of Kayaking MT Biking, Cycle sportif and 10 km Run race. Plus fantastic training runs along the coastal paths and an excellent venue for Sea Kayaking. This year the Olympic Torch will run through Newport so they have changed the format for the weekend its now called ‘The Olympic Torch Festival’ lots of fun events going on all weekend, the format is as follows.

Saturday 26th May will be the sporty day its a Quadrathlon, albeit a very short one comprising- 5Km MTBike Race, 1000 meter Kayak Race, 8Km Road Cycling Time Trial, 4Km Run. These will be spread thoughout the day and be individual or combined/team events.
The evening will include a 4Km Torch Walk around Newport and then
evening activities including fireworks.

Sunday 27th May we will have our Mini Olympics with all sorts of fun mass participation races -  Egg-N-Spoon, Wheelbarrow, sack races  etc etc.  The offical Olympic torch will pass through mid afternoon. We will also have a combined 10Km Run and a 4Km & 10Km walking Race on a multilap course in the town either before or after the torch passes through (advertised as fancy dress!). There will be other activities i.e. tennis, badminton, table tennis, golf and an Olympic Quiz etc.  It is not as out-and-out sporty as previously as the aim is for a diverse event for wide participation.

So its a real Fun and Family weekend if anyone is interested hears the website

http://www.newport.gov.uk/newportFestival/index.cfm/events