Wikipedia says "A quadrathlon is an endurance sports event composed of four individual disciplines. All 4 disciplines are completed in succession and the lowest overall time decides the winner. The World Quadrathlon Federation defines that a quadrathlon consists of:

I can distinctly remember the email that I received, asking whether I would be keen for a Quadrathlon in Prague. Great, I thought, how hard could this be? I can swim, bike and run, surely the paddling can't be that hard........well, see what follows.

The team to take part in the World Quad Champs was finalised: Kev, Cath, Dave W-J, Tracey, Sean, Jules, Keith & Keeto

Support crew/management team: Kerry, Ally, Shelley, Jan & Frikkie the funnel

With 2 months to go, everyone had already started going down to RCC (Richmond Canoe Club) to start mastering the art of paddling. I wasn't too keen, because I had a few other important races coming up. Again, I said to myself "how hard can this be"

One month to go, and I got an email asking what sort of boat I required for the race. I looked at the names of the boats and they didn't mean jack to me. I just said, give me a barge so I don't fall out. Eventually after Ironman, I cracked under pressure and decided to go down one Sat morning and join the rest of the team for a paddle. In my case, I am not sure whether you could define what I did, as a 'paddle' All the girls were flying in the boats, aswell as Kev, Sean and Dave. Keith, being the natural athlete that he is, took to the sleek racing boats like a duck to water. I managed not to fall in on my first outing....yet as soon as I got into a double with Kevin, I managed to get us both out the boat. Thats when panic set in...I was trying to hold the paddle with one hand and still stay afloat with the current pulling me under the pontoon. HR was 227, close to death. This provided the girls with plenty of laughter for the next couple of days. So the next couple of weeks, I had the p*ss taken out of me, which I thoroughly deserved. My plan of attack now for Prague was,....survive the paddle.

Day of departure turned out to be one of the most bizarre days in all my travelling for sport. Got a txt from Dave stating that their may be some delays due to airport security at Heathrow. This was at 7am after swimming. By 8:30, the true enormity of what was going on, hit us. So for the next 4 hrs, emails, txt messages and calls were made amongst the team. First, flight delayed. Then flight cancelled. Then check back at 3pm. Kev and Cath were blissfully unaware of what was happening, as they were driving across Europe on their way to Prague. We called a lunchtime meeting at Nando's. After some food & beer, it was decided we would check the BA website at 15h00 and if there is no change, then race was over. Tracey, Jules, Dave and management weren't giving up, they were prepared to drive !!! Me,.....I was thinking about 18hrs in a car, then have to paddle (which I love...NOT), then 18hrs back in a car. I just kept my gob shut. Anyway, I was walking in W'don when I got 3 frantic calls. Get your ar*e to Stanstead by 16h30, we have flights to Prague with Czech airlines !!! Oh my god, these guys were really really keen to go. And who would blame them after the hard work they had put in. The next 2hrs is a blur, but I do know that we got to Liverpool Street for the train (apart from Keith, who was a train behind ours) and headed off to Stanstead with a much deserved beer. Ally and Kerry were already there negotiating with Czech airlines to get us on the 18h40 flight. After much sweet talking by the girls, the kind lady at Czech airlines managed to get us all on the flight.

At 22h30 we landed in a very wet Prague. Bags collected and now the hire cars. Our 9seater was like a tank, and yours truly ended up having to drive. Left hand drive on wrong side of road with directions being called by Mr AA Route Finder (Keith Buhr),....led to one thing....getting lost. Dave and Sean then took over in the other car and we followed. After another hour, we admitted defeat and asked a taxi to drive to accom and we would follow. What is it with us men and directions?? We finally managed to get to our accom at 02h30 on Friday.

Friday morning we had a huge breakfast and the price blew us away. Cheap and portions were enough to feed an army. We then spent some time walking the streets of Prague before venturing off to Sedclany. Once at race venue, we booked into our rooms (hostel style 4 people to a room) and started unpacking. With the haste at which we had to pack, alot of us were not even sure we had packed the right stuff. However the only casualty from the mass exodus from London was Tracey's bike. The back derailleur was broken. Bike shop was closed, but Nick from the GBR team came to the rescue with his spare bike. Nothing was going to stop Tracey competing, she was the one contemplating the 18hr drive, so a broken bike was nothing but a minor scrape.

Off to the pub for a few beers, whilst some of the guys went to try their boats out. I thought this would be a k*k idea for me, as it would just confirm my worst fears....I am going to fall out my boat. But my fears were to diminish after hearing our no1 paddler, Keith, fell out when trying to get in his boat. He had borrowed a sleek racing boat, and the owner must have questioned his sanity in lending Keith the boat. Race briefing was held to discuss race day logistics, I tried to find the venue, but got lost, so went back to pub to carry on drinking with the management team. We had dinner with the GBR team and a few beers were consumed amongst plenty of steak and more beers. Everyone then made their way back to the hostel for an early night. The management team (Kerry & Ally) decided to continue to drink, and as I was worried that they would have to walk home in the dark in a foreign country, decided to join them and make sure they got home safe. Bad, bad mistake. I can't tell you exactly what was consumed, but some of the photos attached will prove that many a shot was sunk. I've never carbo-loaded with beer, tequila, peppermint liquer, Jim Beam, some dodgy Czech lighter fluid and much more. Finally we left and stumbled our way home, happily doing my duty as security guard, even managed to bark like a dog to scare off any potential threats.

I was awoken by Keith's alarm in the morning. Oh my god, it felt like I had been hit by the 747 we flew out in. No time to whinge about storming hangover, we were due to start in 3.5hrs. Breakfast was muesli out of cut off coke bottles. I couldn't eat and my head was pounding. I looked around the room and there was just pure excitement for the challenge ahead, everyone was chatting away and laughing. First stop was T3 to put our shoes down and then to then cycle to Lake to drop bikes off and get boats ready. Thats when we first caught sight of some of the German & Czech athletes and their boats. Fearsome would be an understatement to describe them. Some of the female competitors were built like brick sh*t houses. We found our boats and then realised we were a paddle short and Sean's seat wouldn't move. After some body marking it was time for group photos. We posed, pointed, flexed and showed the guns for the next 10mins. People were staring at this mad bunch of people who were having too much fun before the start of the race. Wetsuits on and into the water.

The Swim:
Pretty uneventful for me. Keith however decided to take on someone's foot and had his goggles placed over his forehead as a result. Sean had cramp beset his calf muscle and did well to continue. Cath decided that as much as she liked the Czech muesli, she left it in the lake on Lap 1 ! SAUK exited the water, Keith followed by Keeto, Dave W-J,Tracey, Cath, Kev, Sean & Jules.

The Paddle:
This was the part I was not looking fwd to, as you had to get in your boat in front of everyone else. My HR was +200 and I could hardly swallow...please don't let me fall out, please don't let me fall out. I managed to get my balance and off I was....at a snail's pace. Within 10 secs someone passed me, and I thought I would start counting how many people passed me on the paddle. After 2 laps and already up to 30, I gave up. Dave W-J passed me, then Tracey, followed by Cath. They paddled off into the distance and all I could hear was them chattering away. By now I am sure I wasn't actually moving, and when it came time to turn around the buoys, it made for interesting viewing. I came up to one of the turns and next minute this boat snuck inside me and stole my line that I had been so carefully planning for 80m. I turned to give them a stare and realised it was Kevin !!! By now Keith was burning it up and was way ahead. I was just praying for the end. To finish the paddle you had to slowly arrive at the pontoon, stop, put paddle down and slowly get out of boat. Not me.....I couldn't guarantee that I was even going to get near the pontoon. So with 5m to go to pontoon, I threw the paddle and then grabbed onto pontoon for dear life. And why would I want to try stand up in the boat and get out, when I can leopard crawl out onto pontoon !!! You had to be there to see it ! After the paddle, SAUK headed onto the bike, Keith followed by Dave, Tracey, Cath, Kev, Keeto, Sean & Jules.

The Bike:
The bike course is flat was what we were told by the GBR guys. So now I beg the question, if the bike was flat, then I don't want to ride their hilly routes !! It was 2 x 20km laps, so we all managed to see each other along route. Shouting words of encouragement as we passed each other. My legs were on fire by now. mmmm, wonder why? Was it because I had more alcohol than blood in my system, or the fact that I hadn't eaten anything since dinner on Friday. At the first turnaround I managed to get up to Kev, Cath and Tracey. The roads were bumpy and I found it hard to get a rhythm. Heading back into town we passed our SAUK support crew who were fantastic. One more lap to go. Keith was flying, and Dave was having an awesome bike. The next lap passed pretty quickly and I found myself heading into T3.

The Run:
Coming out the run for the 2 x 5km loops, it dawned upon me that my legs were now well and truly finished. The course veered off road and then up some steep cobble-stoned hill. After about 3km we entered a forest and was actually quite pleasant. By now Keith was up front catching the GBR guys, Dave followed and I was chasing them. Hot on my heels were Kevin, Sean, Cath, Tracey and Jules At the start of lap 2 I passed Dave and signalled him to run with. Up ahead Jules had started her 1st lap and gave her some words of encouragement when I passed her. One point to note: Whenever we passed each other or saw each other on the course, everyone was smiling and really enjoying themselves and that is what it is supposed to be about. With 1km to go I looked for an extra gear to push the pace, then remembered that I had flooded my engine with alcohol and therefore had nothing left. With 10m to go before finish line I did a little Michael Jackson moonwalk. Happy to be finished, I saw Keith who looked fresh as a daisy. A quick drink and then time to support the other guys in. Amidst the sounds of African music organised by supporters, the team all followed shortly, Dave, Kev, Sean, Tracey, Cath and Jules. Everyone getting high fives from our support crew. Smiles all around and job completed. We stood on the podium and posed for photo's.

After fetching bikes and have a quick shower, it was time for some food before the prize-giving. As soon as we walked into the pub, the drinking games started. Steaks were consumed by everyone and we then moved onto the prize-giving. Frikkie the funnel was bursting with excitement to make his debut in Prague. The highlight of the evening was when they announced the South African women's team as bronze medalists. We were also given a special team prize for having the best "spirit". By now, copious amounts of alcohol had been drunk. SAUK had 3 bronze medals and the spirit award. Next the results were published. Keith was 24th and not far off the top 10. Me,.....I was the 4th slowest paddler in the whole event....even some 65yr olds were quicker than me ! The GBR guys did fantastically well and managed to finish 4th, 8th & 16th. They not only won silver in the team category, but also a few SAUK supporters hearts !! I think a few trips to Cornwell have been planned since.

Next up was a fines meeting for the team. The funnel drew attention from many other foreign athletes. After Jules was unable to keep her funnel down, we got some stern looks from an old women in charge of the hall. So we moved outside and thats when a few Czechs and Germans tried the funnel out aswell. Right next stop was karaoke bar !! The girls were up first with "Uptown Girl" and I think some of the Czech guys jaws dropped when these girls got up in their white SA Quadrathlon vests and started singing/dancing. After a few other songs, the guys were up for Ricky Martin's "She Bangs She Bangs". I knew the chorus but nothing else. I thought we were ok,....but the girls said we were dogsh*t. I'm sure there was a standing ovation from the crowd, but that could just be my imagination. The guys removed their shirts on the dance floor, and our "infamous Czech guy with red shirt" kept eyeing Mr Muscles (Keith) out !!! Keith doesn't know it, but I did leave his mobile number on the table. All in all a great night. ps. we have since heard, the guys song is flying high on the Czech Top 40 charts

We woke up on Sunday am and packed our bags and headed back to Prague. Spent the day on a boat cruise with lunch provided and relaxed in the sun whilst sipping on some beers. A few of us were heading back to London on Sunday, so made our way to airport. Surprise surprise, flight delayed ! At 19h55 we finally departed Prague after a very enjoyable weekend.

The great thing about such a tour is that you get to learn things about friends you didn't previously know. There was plenty of laughter and banter (the jury is still out on a few things Dave said), yet when it came down to the job, it was mission accomplished. After all the travel chaos, things could've turned out differently and only Kev & Cath could've ended up competing. But I believe that everything happens for a reason, and I was sent to Sedclany to show Eastern Europe how NOT to paddle. We didn't think in our wildest dreams we would have an athlete in the top 25, and the girls bring home bronze. (If there was a drinking prize, I think I may have medaled.)

To the rest of the Quad team - thank you for making it a memorable 4 days.

Special thanks to Peter Barnes & those at RCC for all their help, support and encouragement. None of this would've been possible with out their assistance. Also to Paddy (GBR manager), who helped in transporting the boats and also with his constant help whenever we needed questions answered.

Enjoy the photos.

Next SAUK road trip - World Half-Ironman Champs, Florida..... 10 weeks and counting.