Quadrathlon 2008 Summary
Quadrathlon 2008 Summary
Our Best Year Ever!
The Quadrathlon Season kicked of with the warmest weekend of the whole year 10th/11th May, our first ever Training weekend. At Holmepierrepont, Nottingham the weather was almost tropical, the pond like glass, none of us had ever seen it so calm, ideal for training and getting lots of kayak practice in unstable K1's! There was a good turnout and plenty of information to be had, with plenty of chatt and banter amongst the coaches and athletes. We talked about bike set up, running techniques, transitions and core stability. Whilst Paul Newman BCU coach cocentrated on helping athletes with their kayak skills and technique Saturday was devoted to technical improvements, and Sunday we were to put them into practice in the kayaks on the bike and run.
We had a chilled BBQ in the evening, lots of chatt, with the odd bottle of beer and wine going down well!
Sunday was just as warm with a slight breeze. We did a technique sesion on wash hanging, analysed the video kayak footage again, then put kayaking biking and running together in a brick session, to finish off what had been a great weekend.
The BQA National Trophy Series was supported very well this season, with more athletes taking up the challenge of Quadrathlon. We had just over 85 male and 30 females racing over 7 events this season, with the majority doing 3 or more races, plus 8 juniors taking up the challenge.
Our key races this season were, The Adventure Challenge, Brigg Bomber, Box End Quad, Pembrokeshire Challenge and The Awesome Foursome. Plus the Worlds in C.Z and the Europeans in Germany. Well done to all Quadrathletes that raced in the National Trophy Series, and especially those that travelled to multiple races in callender at home and in Europe, the BQA hope you've enjoyed competing. Congratulations to our 2008 National Trophy Champions!
2008 MENS OVERALL CHAMPION Joe Andrews
SENIOR 1st Joe Andrews, 2nd Andrew Grimwood, 3rd Steve Clarke.
VET 40 Keith Longney
VET 50 Paul Belcher
2008 LADIES OVERALL CHAMPION Jean Ashley
SENIOR 1st Anita Buxton, 2nd Alison Deykin
VET 50 Jean Ashley
JUNIORS who have competed in 2 events (World Sprint Championships included)
BOYS 1st Tristian Grigalis, 2nd Ryan Hunt
GIRLS 1st Kate Ashley.
The Brigg Bomber was our National Championship Race with Dan Corner taking 1st male, Andy Byatt 2nd, and Joe Andrews 3rd. Newcomer to the sport Gail Merrian was 1st Lady, with Helen Parkinson 2nd, and Jean Ashley 3rd. Our National Sprint Race (the sun shone and it was the warmest race of the season) it was won once again by Dan Corner, Chris Stuart 2nd and Joe Andrews 3rd. With another newcomer Naomi Hoogesteger winning the ladies, with Jean Ashley in 2nd place. These 2 races set up the GB Team -26 strong, just before they went out to the World Championships!
The Worlds showed how strong British Quadrathlon is becoming, it was an outstanding performance from the GB Team generally. Consistent high places and strength in depth on the finish list ment also that TEAM GB took team Gold in both Mens and Ladies events, putting us on Top of the World!
MENS Positions and Medals
1st Dan Corner 2.34.07 - WORLD CHAMPION GOLD/Team Gold
4th Andy Byatt 2.43.08 - Senior Bronze/Team Gold
6th Joe Andrews 2.49.49 - Team Gold
7th Steve Clarke 2:51:22
11th Keith Longney 2.57.58 - Vet 45 Gold
14th Paul Jones 3.05.25
15th Andy Grimwood 3:05:39 - Vet 40 Silver
23rd Phillip Wilkinson 3.11.14
30th Paul Carvill 3.17.48
39th Peter Hart - Vet 55 Gold
43rd Phillip Nye - Vet 55 Silver
53rd Tim Deykin 3.43.42
LADIES Positions and Medals
1st Helen Parkinson 3.08.45 - World CHAMPION GOLD/Team Gold
4th Naomi Hoogesteger 3.18.03 - Senior Bronze/Team Gold
6th Lucy Otto - 3.19.32 - Team Gold
8th Holly Hawkey 3.33.48 - Under 23 Gold
9th Jean Ashley 3:26:00 - Vet 50 Gold
13th Alison Deykin 4.00.13
14th Ruth Fletcher 4.17.22 - Vet 55 Gold
This Year was the fist time we had taken a junior team, they raced in the Sprint 750km swim 5km Kayak 20km Bike 5km Run.
Our up and coming stars all had excellent performances, its good to see that British Quadrathlon has a promising future in the hands of these young athletes.
JUNIORS
Tristan Grigalis 1.44.12 - U16 Silver
Quentin Otto 2.02.06
Ryan Hunt 2.12.49 - U14 Gold
Kate Ashley 2.23.10 - U16 Girls Gold
GB also had representatives in the Open Sprint Event, with more medals from Gill Otto taking Vet 50 Gold, and Julie Hunt Vet 40 Gold in 2.25.23. Also in the sprint, we pulled together a scratch mixed team at the last minute, Lucy Ashley swim, Claire Longney kayak, Pippa Longney bike and David Ashley run, they came home in a creditable 2.05.34.
EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS
After a weekend of top class racing at the Worlds 13 athletes traveled accross to Bergsee Ratscher in Germany for the European Championships. Again we had some superb results.
2nd Andy Byatt 1.23.55 - Overall Silver/Team Bronze
7th Keith Longney 1.31.06 - Vet 45 Gold/Team Bronze
20th Helen Parkinson 1.40.55 - Team Silver
25th Phillip Nye 1.44.08 - Vet 50 Silver/Team Bronze
28th Jean Ashley 1.46.324 - Vet 50 Gold/Team Silver
31st Holly Hawkey 1.46.53 - U23 Gold/Team Silver
38th Tim Deykin 1.50.38 - Vet 50 Bronze
46th Alison Deykin 1.57.58
53rd Claire Longney 2.08.01 - Vet 40 Silver
55th Pippa Longney 2.35
Junior U16 Gold Team Event - 2nd Lucy Ashley, Molly Deykin, Kate Ashley 2.11.34 - Silver
THE WORLD CUP SERIES Andrew Byatt took Mens overall title, this was really well deserved, his commitment to World Quadrathlon racing this year was 100%, he had done all 5 races. A 1st at Ibiza in May, then in July 1st at the Brigg Bomber, 2nd at Tyn (CZ), 3rd at Karlstejn (CZ), followed by a 4th at the World Championships in Sedlcany (CZ ) and finally 2nd at the Europeans in Germany. A great result for Andy he was so pleased to have clinched the trophy after a tough seasons racing.
We also had 2 well deserved winners in the vets catagory, Keith Longney took Veteran 40 - 50, by winning 1st vet at his 3 races, The Bomber, Worlds (CZ) and Europeans (Germany), and Jean Ashley had given herself a target at the beginning of her 50th year, to race 4 World Cup races. Jean came 1st Vet 50 in all her races, Ibiza, The Bomber, Worlds (CZ) and Europeans (Germany).
Three GB team members with World Cup Trophies, this is a first for British Quadrathlon along with all the World and European Medals, plus the committment of all the other athletes, and helpers this has really put GB on top of the World!
September arrived with just two events left on the Callender, Pembroke Quad, unfortunatly this was a very poor turnout,never the less Andy Grimwood raced hard and took 1st place. It was a super race, such an excellent venue, with free food too (this year it had an easyer kayak course), this is one we should all support next season as it would be a great shame to loose the race.
Bude ended the season with a great race despite it being cold the rain held off, James Marshall taking 1st, Gus Gusterson 2nd (Vet 40) and GB K1 paddler Ben Brown in 3rd place. Helen Parkinson again taking 1st with Jean Ashley 2nd.The BQA would also like to say A Big Thank-you to everyone in who has played a part in British Quadrathlon this year, all the race organizers, managers, marshals, helpers, husbands wives and wags plus the athletes who have all taken part ...... See you next season, lets hope we continue to encourage more athletes to take up the challenge, if you want to know more, get intouch with any of the BQA contacts on the web page, and keep your eye on our website for updates and events!
Make 2009 at Great Quadrathlon Season wether you be a seasoned Quadrathlete or it be your first of many! Enjoy 2009 and KEEP OUR SPORT ALIVE!
