BUDE hosted the final event of the National Quadrathlon Trophy season, the ‘Awesome Foursome’ on Saturday, September 16, with plenty of local success.

The quadrathlon, which has been going since 2002, is widely regarded as one of the toughest on the calendar with its hilly landscape forcing each competitor to dig deep in the cycle and running stages.

The route takes in the beauty of the North Cornwall countryside and also some of the steepest hills in the country, with the worst being the 30% climb at Millook, which is halfway around the testing cycle route.

The race starts with a 1,000-metre open sea swim in Summerleaze Bay, followed by an extreme 30km coastal road cycle route, a 10km kayak race along the Bude Canal and finally a 10km cross-country run.

The start, transitions and finish are all based at the Lower Wharf, Bude Canal, and this year it was the Banter Boys (a relay team of four) who crossed the line first in a time of two hours, 44 minutes and 31 seconds, one minute and 14 seconds ahead of Nigel Unwin from Peterborough. Unwin’s team-mate, Ian Smith, was third in a time of two hours, 46 minutes and 48 seconds.

There was also plenty of success for the local quadrathletes.

Bude’s Christopher Hammond (2:50:15) was fifth overall and first in the 40’s men category while another home favourite, Larry Newton (2:57:15), was eighth overall and first in the senior men section. Budehaven maths teacher, Rob Byrom, was second to Newton in the senior men competition but did the event in three hours, seven minutes and 14 seconds.

In the ladies competition, Marhamchurch’s Emma Whitehouse was the fastest of the seniors in a time of three hours, 45 minutes and 41 seconds.

Event organiser, Simon Hammond, who co-owns Shoreline Extreme Sports with his wife Nicola, was delighted with how the event unfolded.

Hammond said: “We had a lovely day and thankfully the weather held off. The weather in the lead up to the race was awful and we were a bit anxious that the roads would be greasy, especially up around Millook. But, it stayed dry and we got away with it. Also the poor weather meant that the sea was full of sediment and was a chocolate brown colour which meant it wasn’t the most pleasant of experiences for the competitors.

“But the race itself went off without any problems. As usual we had people come down from the likes of Scotland, Peterborough, Wales and London and it was great that some of the local competitors did well too.

“There were over 100 people that took part and the town was the busiest it had been for the race in five or six years although the Bude at War weekend helped that.

“I’d like to thank the 25 marshals who volunteered for us around the route, Bude Surf Life Saving Club for providing the safety cover in the sea, the lifeguards who watched over the competitors in the swim and our sponsors, The Beach and Sampsons Solicitors for their continued support.”

To view the full list of results from the day, visit www.shorelineactivities.co.uk/foursome.quadrathlon.event