BQA NEWS JANUARY 2010

Mark Pryor takes over as BQA Chairman

BQA NEWS JANUARY 2010
Mark Pryor takes over as BQA Chairman

Message from Mark Pryor the new BQA Chairman.

Welcome all Quadrath-athletes to a brand new year with a lot exciting races on the calendar for this year. The races are quite diverse ranging from short off road sprints to full blown diamond distance road Quadrathlons. Each race has it own unique qualities, run by hard working dedicated enthusiasts in varied surrounding.

Last year, was a lean one for the sport of Quadrathlon with race entries down across the board, I believe mainly due to the credit crunch. Even though on a global scale we had another year with various British World Quadrathlon Champions. I hope this year can start of with a brighter future for all and the sport of Quadrathlon.

A full listing of the events [alone with news, race reports and results] can be found on our wonderful website.

I hope that this year we can move the sport of Quadrathlon forward in a positive fashion, with your help. By spreading word about our sport. You can also support us by joining the BQA and or affiliating your club [forms enclosed]. Members are entitled to discount at a lot of the races and receive news bulletins [by email] keeping you up to date.

It just leaves me to wish everyone a fruitful sporting year I hope to see you all at some of the races during the year. Remember Quadrathlon is a sport for all what ever your ability level.

Mark Pryor

BQA Chairman

BQA NEWS JANUARY 2010

We hope you all had a great Christmas, and your at least thinking about getting some training in to help loose the odd pound or two that may have creeped on over the festive season!
Its time to get motivated and to start thinking about your goals for the new race season .... well at least we can think about them, even if its too cold to get out on the river, or too snowy for a bike or run, you can at least get those diary's out and circle a few weekend races in!

We held the AGM at the first Wadenhoe Race in November, we have a new list of officers,
and hopefully as a Team we can motivate quadrathletes from around GB to take up the challenge of a couple of races this season, and help keep our sport alive and kicking!
CHAIRMAN - Mark Pryor mark.pryor1@ntlworld.com
MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY - Willie Carr willie.carr@effectivesalespartners
TREASURER /PRESS OFFICER - Jean Ashley malpasashleys@btinternet.com

EVENT CO-ORDINATOR - Julie Lewis julie.hunt1@btconnect.com

INTERNATIONAL RACE ADVISOR - Keith Longney keith@acorncoaching.com

MENS CAPTAIN - Andy Grimwood andyg.canoeist@ntlworld.com

LADIES TEAM CAPTAIN - Jean Ashley malpasashleys@btinternet.com

Targets
The main concern for the BQA, is building up our race calendar and to try and encourage more athletes to do more races. We may have another Olympic distance race in the Lakes, and a Sprint in the New Forest, nothing has been confirmed yet, but we hope to add these to our calendar in the near future. We hope for a training weekend to muster up more enthusiasm, this may be at Newport May 1st - 3rd this would be a great start to our season … and is suitable for all levels, family members and children too! More details to follow on these events and I will keep you updated.
The current 2010 BQA Race Callender is attached. Please print it off and put it on your club notice board or web site.

We start the season with the race in Scotland for the seasoned Quadrathletes its along way to go for most of us, but its well worth a trip and the Scots put on a great point to point race.
To get you started the North Lincs Challenge is the end of May Bike/Kayak/Run a great race to start the season. Boxend is early July so you have a chance to try out a sprint Quad, before you give the longer distance a go. The Brigg Bomber 18th July is a real target race for the BQA this year, we want to make sure this race is back it action. Lincsquad run this superb race and we'd like to see it at the fore front of our callender, so well worth a circle in your diary!

Last season we only had a small number go to the Worlds, but hopefully this season we may have a bigger team, its a great trip and a chance to meet up with the International athletes, who just like us are a very friendly bunch! If you stay in Europe the following weekend you can travel to Germany and do the sprint race to get in 2 World Cup races!
The World Quad Site is being revamped at the moment but if you want to know about more World and European Races go to www.quadrathlon-deutschland.de a great quad site the Germans will keep you updated!

Pembroke and Bude both follow in September and are great races to finish of the season. Bude is the GB World Cup Race, so if you get to go to the Worlds in CZ, and Germany, then do Bude you will have enough World Cup points to get a good World Ranking!

We still hope to add one or two more sprint Quads to our GB callender, and we will let you know as soon as we have anything confirmed.
If anyone has any contacts, or knows of a Triathlon which may like to add a kayak leg, or likewise a canoe club who would like to help with a race or training weekend please don't hesitate to let us know, we are always looking for new contacts.

Once again we value your membership and we look forward to your continued support next season. I have attached a membership form for your renewal.
Prices remain the same as last season £15 senior, £12 Junior, £22 Family (1 adult) £25 family (2 adults). Remember if your club is affiliated to the BQA your membership is much cheaper. The list of Affiliated Clubs are on the website with their details, these are - Bad Tri, Chester Tri, Elmbridge C.C. Falcon C.C. Glasgow Tri, Lakesquad, Lincoln C.C. Lincsquad, Quadrac Racing, Shrewsbury C.C. Shropshire Paddlers, and TFN Tri Club.

I will keep you in touch with the latest Quadrathlon News as the season progresses, but for weekly updates check the website www.britishquadrathlon.org.uk

If you have any racing news, training tips, sporting challenges or any info regarding our sport, you wish to tell us about for the website, please don't hesitate to contact me malpasashleys@btinternet.com

Hope you feel motivated and ready for action now, you can at least choose one race now for your diary, and hopefully plan your first training session too, if you've not been out already!
We look forward to seeing you all on the circuit, Happy Training and all the very best for the New Year.
It’s a small sport with a big heart, we need your help to keep our sport alive.

Thanks Jean Ashley on behalf of the BQA.

Written by: Mark Pryor