Despite the economic and social difficulties this year, 2011 has been a reasonable year for Quadrathlon. With: 6 Quad events in the National Trophy series [running the length of the country]; a large charity Quad; various World Cup Race around Europe and a winter Quad series the sport of Quadrathlon is a live and kicking.. We even had two World cup races in the UK, hosted at the Brigg Bomber and The Awsome Foursome in Bude.
One of the highlights of the year was the British Team travelling out to the World Championships in the Czech Republic. The team was lead by our new GB Team Manager [Steve Hook] who has recently been selected as Vice president of The World Quadrathlon Federation. The team came back from the World Champs with a handful of trophies and some World Champion age group winners [full results on the BQA website]. Well done to all.
In the National Trophy Series, Steve Clark narrowly beat Mat Stephenson to take the men’s trophy with Alison Dykin taking the title in the Ladies event. Along
with, Phil Binch, who won the Eric Hatliff Trophy [for Endeavour] they each will received £300 of vouchers from our sponsors:Thule
Looking forward to 2012, it promises to be an exciting year. Linsquad have introduced two sprint races to run along side their middle distance events: The North Lincs Adventure Challenge and the Brigg Bomber. There is also a strong possibility of 2 more sprint races on next year’s calendar. One new event is proposed to run on the Isle of Wight, including a paddle around the Needles [sounds great]. Also in the pipe line is a sprint Quad to be tagged on to the newly formed Shrewsbury Triathlon.
We hope that a Kayak Triathlon will be running up in North Wales in September, featuring: an ascent of the River Conway, a fell run and finishing of with a mountain bike ride all in the beautiful surroundings of the Snowdonia National Park.
Along with the National Trophy Series and the European World Cup Races, the future of Quadrathlon has never looked so good in the UK.
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 facebook page [link from BQA website]. In this modern, busy, high tech world, Facebook and the internet are readily available and is an ideal way to keep intouch 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.
It just leaves me to say a big thanks to all the event organisers, BQA committee and competitors who have made our interesting and diverse multisport event such a success this year. Make sure you keep up your winter training [why not try out the Wadenhoe Winter Series] ready for a good racing season next year.
I wish you all a Merry Christmas a happy and successful sporting New Year in 2012.
Mark Pryor