Quadrathlon results 07

2008 Race - Saturday 4th October, The Crescent Car Park, Bude Canal

For 2008 Application Form please email hammond.family@virgin.net

The Awesome Foursome Quadrathlon, held in Bude, has become one of the major events in the UK, regularly hosting the British Championships. Competitors from across the UK descend on North Cornwall for an event that would make a simple Marathon look easy!

The event starts and finishes in Bude with the transition between disciplines taking place along side the Bude canal. Athletes complete a course comprised of four separate disciplines. First off is a gruelling 800m sea swim within the partial protection of the Bude Breakwater, next comes a 30 km cycle race taking in some of the toughest coastal hills in Cornwall, including the 1 in 3 climb at Millook. Then as athletes return to Bude they take to the water for a 10 km canoe race on the Bude canal and just to finish there's a 10 km run taking in towpaths, corn fields and the coastal path, finishing back by the canal. All in all an event that can stretch and crack even the fittest of multi-sport athletes.

Race Report 2007

Historic Performances in the UK's largest Quadrathlon

150 elite endurance athletes were treated to great conditions for this years Awesome Foursome Quadrathlon in Bude, North Cornwall. Weather and sea conditions were perfect along the North coast of Cornwall for this years race which combines swimming, cycling, kayaking and running.

Competitors from across Europe arrived at Bude's Crescent Car Park, next to the Bude Canal, for an afternoon start for this ultra-extreme event. The race makes the most the dramatic North Cornish coastline and the historic Bude canal. The course begins with a 1000 metre Sea Swim, within the partial shelter of the Bude Breakwater, then a gruelling 30 km cycle ride including some of the steepest coastal hills in the country, then onto the canal for 10 km of marathon canoeing and a final 10 km cross country run to finish. Incredibly this years winner Steve King, a Fire-fighter from Hereford completed the course in an amazing 2 hours, 37 minutes and 47 seconds!

The unique combination of swim, cycle, canoe and run creates an event that appeals to traditional triathletes, marathon canoeists and surf life savers. With every athlete having their strong and weak disciplines this is a race where the lead is always changing, supporters and spectators alike are left uncertain as to the outcome until the athletes cross the line for the final time.

This years event will be remembered as always for the awesome 1 in 3 hill climb at Millook and also for the subtle change of venue from the canal wharf to the crescent car park - a change which went down well with athletes and spectators a like.

The field was packed with previous champions including local triathlete James Marshall from Kilkampton and Lee Sampson from Bude this year swimming for one of the Bude based relay teams. In the women's race World Quadrathlon Champion Helen Parkinson, from Bideford, was the athlete to beat and in the over 40's women class World Age group champion Jean Ashley from Chester would be hard to beat.

First out of the swim this year was Bude Lifeguard Dan Bentley (who combining with Dave Miller would go on to win the Pairs event). Chris Stuart from the Army Triathlon Association was next with James Marshall and Steve King not far behind.

By the end of the gruelling cycle section Chris Stuart had increased his lead and looked like he was well clear of the chasing group as he started the kayak stage. As in many years gone by the kayak stage proved to be the turning point of the race as top triathletes like Iain Hindes from Barnstaple found the going tough paddling slow general purpose kayaks whilst others including Steve King were in their element paddling fast streamlined and unstable marathon racing kayaks. Steve hauled in Chris Stuart and finished the kayak stage with an impressive 5 minute lead now it was all down to the run with Chris looking the stronger as they started the final 10 km of cross country running to the finish!

Meanwhile Helen Parkinson had extended her lead from Lucy Otto from Birmingham and Jean Ashley had overtaken Ali Martin an RNLI development Officer from Looe. In the relay section Brett Higham representing the Bude Nipper's Coaches had closed to gap on the leading relay team giving their runner Paul Cottle a fighting chance in the final stage.

But it was further back in the field that the big story of the day was developing as local school boys were stamping their own names into the history books. Year 10 students from Budehaven School Ashley Walter and his partner Mike Garrett were combining well in the senior pairs event, Ashley completing the swim and the kayak whilst Mike completed the cycle and the run, these two would beat strong competition to take third place in the pairs race. And if that's not impressive enough then further back in the race was Adam Thompson a 13 year old from Fowey School, completing the entire race himself as the youngest ever individual competitor who would win the Junior title in a time of 3 hours, 58 minutes and 38 seconds!

At the front of the race things were hotting up as messages came back from the course that Chris Stuart was closing down on Steve King. As the two of them came into sight of the finish line there was less than 50 metres separating them but a last burst from Steve ensured that he would take the title this year. Rob Shaw ran the fastest final leg of the day to give Lee Sampson's relay team a close win of the Nipper's Coaches in the relay event, Helen Parkinson and Jean Ashley won their classes, David Hallum, fire fighter from Essex won the over 40's men class, Paul Belcher, teacher from Atlantic College won the over 50's men class and Peter Tambin picked up a special award for the only over 60 man to compete.

A very successful day for all involved. The organisers TNT Explosive Sports would like to thank all the competitors but most of all the volunteer marshalls and safety teams that make this event possible to run each year.

All of this years results can be seen by visiting www.shorelineactivities.co.uk. Next years event is scheduled to take place on Saturday 4th October. Anyone interested in entering as either an individual, pair or as a relay team should contact Simon Hammond by email on hammond.family@virgin.net

first, second and third in each class were:-

Men's; Steve King 2.37.47, Chris Stuart and John Parker
Women's; Helen Parkinson 2.57.28, Lucy Otto and Catherine Powrie
Over 40 men; David Hallum 2.55.18, Andy Parritt and Deane McIntyre
Over 40 women; Jean Ashley 3.08.23, Ally Martin and Sharon Daw
Over 50 men; Paul Belcher 2.59.46, Phillip Nye and David Morgan
Over 60 men; Peter Tamblin 3.59.01
Junior; Adam Thompson 3.58.38

Pair; David Miller / Dan Bentley 2.48.33, Phil De Glanville / Jon Parkinson and Ashley Walter / Mike Garrett

Relay; Lee Sampson's Team 2.40.17, Bude Nipper's Coaches and Team three and a half.

Quadrathlon results 07

2003 Race Report

Last years overall champion Keith Longney returned now competing in the highly competitive over 40 class which included Guy Rolston of Bude, last years over 40 winner. James Marshall of Bradworthy was also back after a years absence hoping to do well in the senior mens class.

When asked why these sort of events have become so popular organiser Simon Hammond replied "Unlike a single discipline event or even a traditional triathlon everyone will have their best and worst parts of the race. The lead is always changing and no one is ever certain of the eventual winner until they cross the line. It's also great to have an event that so many local people enjoy taking part in and spectating, this year we have 14 competitors just from Bude all competing at a National level in an event right on their doorstep".

The weather for this years race was challenging to say the least with a strong North Westerly wind making the sea conditions difficult for the swim and creating a headwind for the return cycle leg to Bude. Over 80 elite competitors took part as spectators crowded the Bude wharf area to follow the changing fortunes of those battling for the lead. First from the water was the Relay swimmer from Penybont Surf Life-saving club, next James Marshall, Guy Rolston and Keith Longney. Helen Parkinson from Bideford lead the women from the sea with Scott Penberthy from Hayle first out for the Juniors.

The cycle stage proved tougher than ever this year but athletes still managed to complete this stage of the race in less than an hour. As cyclists streamed back to Bude Keith Longney had moved into the lead, Damion Littlewood from Birmingham in second with Guy Rolston and James Marshall close behind. The seaward end of the canal was more like he sea as athletes began their 10 km of canoeing. With athletes attempting to paddle the fastest craft they could manage many found the conditions too much capsizing as they rounded the turning bouys. Top paddlers included Jules Taylor from Bristol and Guy Rolston with Tim Taylor from Morwenstowe doing well this year as he prepares for the Devises to Westminster canoe ultra-marathon.

And then the final 10 km of running. With legs as heavy as lead athletes pulled themselves from their kayaks and headed up the canal towpath, across fields and back to Bude via the coastal path to complete the event. First over the line was Keith Longney in a time of 2 hours, 42 minutes and 12 seconds. Damion Littlewood was second. Guy Rolston gave it his all collapsing over the line finishing 3rd in his class with a time of 2 hours, 49 minutes and 39 seconds with James Marshall just behind in a time of 2 hours, 51 minutes and 27 seconds.

Helen Parkinson from Bideford won the women's event, Adrian Parson's Team from Bude won the Relay event with Richard Beard from Surrey winning the over 50 class and Danny Booth from London winning the Junior class.