Our Lovely Competitors
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2011
TEAM NAME |
COMPETITORS |
DESCRIPTION |
THE LORD NELSON TROPHY |
||
Bubble and Squeak |
Charlie Ward |
“The only way of finding the limits of the possible is by going beyond them into the impossible.” AC Clarke. “I love him and he loves me more.” C Ward |
The Two Timers |
Phil Ellis |
Both left their original dairy herd partners for pastures new. |
Lost & Found |
James Arnold |
Two guys in the midst of a midlife crises looking for something they might just or just not find. |
Midlife Crisis |
Rob Devey |
Trying to keep fit and stop the wobbly bits wobbling as much. |
Norfolk Ex-Pecs |
Marcus Hoare |
We’re not complete idiots. Some parts are missing. We only really turn up for the massage. Well, that and the weather. |
Dazed and Confused |
Jimmy Curtis |
New teammates ready to rip up the marshlands of Norfolk. Coxby, like a |
Rutland Tourists |
Peter Moore |
McEuen had a forged off games chit last year! Moore valiantly completed in fine time in 2010. Now it’s McEuen’s time to step up …. as long as he has not got a cold! |
The Marshians |
Simon Amies |
Aubone has been requested to consider a change of race clothing after upsetting a number of spectators during last year’s race with the graphic effects of his light blue “we-can-see-it-all” lycra suit. |
Catch the Piggy |
Mark Lapping |
Little and large team on the trail of a piggy - oink when we go past! |
Bickering Fishwives |
Jamie McCallum |
After extensive plastic surgery on all his limbs, MDS returns to the fray in a bid to muscle JM over the line in under 5hrs. A team formed from the desire to prove that natural born losers with failure tattooed on their souls can make a difference in the world of Norfolk Quadrathlons. |
National Express |
Will Garnett |
Soldiering on and keen to win the big trophy again before migrating onto the Zimmer event! |
Flotsam & Jetsum |
Nic Armitage |
Flotsam and Jetsum are washing up on the shores of West Norfolk for a second dose of pain. Still in shock from completing the course last year, we’re plotting a radical improvement in performance year-on-year. The plan includes significant weight loss and the acquisition of Kevlar tyres. Rest assured that the stylish woolen bonnets, sported on the kayak last year, we will be retained for 2011! |
The Scruffs |
Craig Tindall |
This team is forged from the broken teams of others and their bikes are on loan from a museum. They hope to finish providing no swimming, kayaking, cycling or running is involved. Craig has promised Dave they will do well in the powerlifting event..? |
The Centurions |
Paul Fletcher |
......the definition of stupidity is doing the same thing again and expecting a different result! |
Beeston Bumpers |
Hugh Crossley |
Having had excellent excuses for missing the last 3 Superheros, Tom eventually succumbed to it, so tricked racing snake Hugh, for whom the Marathon des Sables was mere training, into joining the fray. (Ed. that should worry the rest). |
Wigans Chosen Few |
Alan Ormrod |
We are going to try a new tactic for the kayak this year – we’re going to sit on it!! |
Eco Warriers |
Graham Bray |
A South African and a Scot doing battle together – pure “green” power will guarantee a mid-field finish, with energy to spare for a jovial after-party with a gum-boot dance and a wee dram. |
BROZ |
Rob Stendrup |
And once again two great continents collide. Can the British, Aussie team of BrOz really break the 4hour mark? They are glass half full kind of men...... |
Not Waving But Drowning |
Richard Hammond |
Waving Not Drowning have suffered the last year with incredulous ‘hypothermia…in June’ comments with bravery and stoicism. Hoping for warmer weather this year. |
The Mudskippers |
Tony Fitch |
Mudskippers live by the motto: Friendship is like peeing yourself. Everyone can see it, but only you get the warm feeling that it brings. |
Nappy Heads |
Chris Everard |
Both looking forward to inflicting even more pain on the worn out limbs. Hoping the weather is even worse this year to make it even more difficult!! |
Couch Potatoes |
Richard Anderson |
A couple of middle-aged men in lycra wishing they were 21 again! |
Pruritus Culus |
Thomas Courtauld |
Every great team needs a common purpose to create the bond. In our case it is telly, which quite frankly we would rather be watching…… |
Fen Tigers |
Mark Harrod |
Having dropped Mr Kipling as product support because of weight - gain issues, Team Fen Tiger is happy to announce that Anusol have stepped in to fill the hole, and that with there help, are looking forward to a more comfortable race in 2011. |
Dawdling Ducks |
Matthew Bickerton |
Nice guys don’t finish first! |
Old Moulsham Meanderers |
Bruce Philp |
We are Chelmsford neighbours and look forward to competing for the 3rd consecutive year. Antony is getting fitter and faster and, |
A and E |
Ed Wharton |
It has been a late and intense training regime for this duo who have come together with less than 4 weeks to the starting pistol due to Ed's original teammate having to withdraw through injury. Anton, a pub landlord by trade and who is making his Superhero debut today, has a reputation as a supreme athlete who has stepped up his pint pulling in a frantic quest to achieve optimum fitness. Ed will be aiming for an improved performance in the kayak which has traditionally been his weak link and hoping for more luck with punctures than last year. |
Half Nelsons |
Simon Packard |
No arm-twisting needed this year: the lure of lycra was too powerful to resist for wanna-be-sons of Norfolk James and Simon. They hope a sub 5-hour showing will make them half the Superhero that Nelson is. |
Extra Weight Suits Us |
Darren Thomas |
Here he goes again with a new recruit to the Superhero clan. Darren a former winner of the event hopes for a good competition with his latest rookie apprentice. Who knows what might happen!!!! |
No Expectations |
James Bracey |
Expect nothing and you’ll never be disappointed! |
The Brothers Grimm |
Warwick Pugh |
They’re brothers. They’re Grimm. And they still can’t swim. |
Wallace and Grommitt |
Rob Rand |
Returning heroes, hungry for victory. |
The Fenland Blowers |
Nick Allpress |
The little and large Duo from the Cambridgeshire Fens. |
Load of 'ol' Cobblers |
Simon Buswell |
Like a scene from the 80's film Twins, one looks like Arnie, the other like Danny Devito! |
Marlboro Lites |
Simon Guest |
After just getting over missing the podium by '5 seconds' to the Welsh Guards, Mickey returns this year with a new partner and 5 Guiness's lighter!! |
Farnham Fatchance |
Martin Beer |
The Beer Brothers decided to double their chances of winning this year by entering as two teams and upgrading their partners. Adding a Stone from his hometown of Farnham means that this Brother has Fatchance of winning. |
Laurel & Hardy |
Michael Lamyman |
The late start and promise of a party this year will particularly appeal to Mike and Mark and on the fourth time of asking, may just be enough to see them finishing before it gets dark. The “big unknown” still surrounds Mike getting into and out of his wetsuit without upsetting all the young children. |
Ale and Pace |
Matt Greenhill |
No text sent so can only assume they are out to surprise or have nothing to say…. |
Generation Gap |
Tim Jennings |
Father and Son (who will carry who?) |
The Wye Boys |
Stafford Proctor |
Never before has a single annual event required so much effort, caused so much pain and led to so much satisfaction and joy. |
The Fantastics |
Rob Court |
Not so fantastic at corresponding their two-liners! |
Ardleigh Athletic |
Will Sambrook |
Two unwise men. |
Uppingham Upstarts |
Justin Wateridge |
A team that has been together for almost thirty years but as yet to no avail. |
Gloucestershire Old Spots |
Andrew Ford |
NSHC first-times. Looking forward to a relaxing weekend in Norfolk. Do they sell oxygen here? |
Snail and Pace |
Aidan Bailey |
Their two-liner is going at a snail’s pace, arriving the day after the Event. Have no fear! |
Fatman and Bobbin (up and down in the North Sea) |
Bernard Brett |
Bern & Jerry’s fish food adventure began in a moment of sun-soaked madness on Scolt Head beach in August …. how it ends, only time will tell…… |
Norfolk ‘n Chance |
Simon Sale |
Separated at birth, these victims of the mid-life crisis offer the Super-Hero new, willing but barely competent participants. High flying corporate lawyer Simon will be proudly displaying his button-mushroom on the swim whilst virginal Marc will be just glad to find an excuse to use baby oil and neoprene in a legal environment. |
Crash Test Dummies |
Alex Scoles |
One team member has already had an accident with a car bonnet whilst training, fingers crossed we make the finishing line! |
| Accident and Emergency | Jonny Cave |
This team have employed the minimalist training technique favoured by the 'lets just get round' competitors. Their aim is to finish before the band does.... |
Team Banana |
Will Chamberlain |
Team Banana fully appreciates that Silverware will be beyond our reach; accessible only to true athletes. Our goal is to finish, wearing ‘job done’ smiles of satisfaction. |
DAME EDNA TROPHY |
||
Deja Vu |
Rachel Symington |
Blink and you will miss them… just like their two-liner! |
Hot on the Heels |
Renata Garfoot |
In an age meets beauty combination, these two Norfolk property professionals and super hero virgins are surveying the field to see who the real contenders are. Have ten years of soldiering and too many pilates classes given a misplaced sense of confidence? It must be warmer in the water than watching in the horizontal hail like last year. |
Sauvignon Speedsters |
Olivia Edwards |
Livvy and James are paired up again and looking for a fast time. Its not long before they can enter the Zimmer so this could be a mid life crisis. |
Pops Nuts |
Debbie Briggs |
This ones for you pops! We must be nuts! Brother and sister unite to raise money for Papworth hospital charity. But will these siblings crack and get toasted or unite to cross the line? |
Late Arrivals |
Chris Hotson |
If manage to clear water, may last the distance. |
Wedded Bliss! |
Philip Beer |
Pushing the limits of the marital vow, this pairing might well need more than a massage at the finish! |
Lean and Mean |
Sophie Reeves |
A total stranger to events such as these, Alex didn't really MEAN to sign up... but, now that he has, he has chosen the perfect partner to LEAN on... previous tri-umphant contestant Sophie. A classic mix of blind optimism and fanatical lunacy - what could possibly go wrong...? |
Local Knowledge |
Jo Dean |
Husband and wife team Local Knowledge finally managed to complete the course last year on third time of asking. Form is improving. Can they navigate the new run course? Frankly, its unlikely. |
Solicitors on the Run |
Christopher Groves |
“Who said solicitors are slow?” This globe trotting duo of legal eagles have conquered marathons around the world and are now hoping to win the prize for the fastest superheroic solicitors in Norwich. |
| Why and How | Jodie Mccallum |
WHY did we get talked into this crazy challenge and HOW the hell are we going to get round! |
The Sedgeford Snails |
Harry Buscall |
True representatives of the amateur spirit Clare and Harry are hoping to finish in time for Superhero 2012. |
| Young and Proud | Tilly Stafford Allen James Stafford Allen |
First timers, with a combined age of 45, this alcohol fuelled student and Army Officer are here to represent the youth of today! |
ISLAGI (It Seemed Like A Good Idea) |
Damaris Hitchcook Andrew Powell |
Over ambitious and under prepared - a couple of mad physios who were bored one winter day and decided to do something different |
Mixed Up Last Minute |
Jonny Bland |
First timers in the Dame Edna and indeed first timer for Saya at a triathlon. If we can both finish the swim before sunset or sinking, it will be a moral victory, after that it is all downhill. Hope there is a late licence at post event bash, we may just make last orders. |
THE LADY HAMILTON CUP |
||
Sailing Sirens |
Sophia Warner |
Last year the Sailing Sirens acquired a taste for champagne. Now the hangovers have cleared, they are back and thirstier than ever! And that's all you need to know. "GRrrrrrr!" |
Desperate Housewives |
Kate Wharton |
Kate is a newcomer to this event. Having been bored by endless Superhero chat for the last two years from her husband and friends decided "if you can't beat 'em...join 'em." This year will be Milla's second Superhero Challenge and with her sheer grit and determination the Desperate Housewives will be hoping not to finish all washed up and hung out to dry! |
The English Patients |
Susannah English |
Thanks to HRT (Hard Race Training) these two mothers will put in a performance at which men'll pause and wonder |
Event Report
CLICK HERE to see the full 2011 results table
It was our best year of the Norfolk Superhero Challenge - ever! Of course the weather was pretty awful but never in it’s 5 years has the day been fine, for what is, Norfolk’s premier quadrathlon!
It was a very early start but nearly everyone was in the HQ field for the 7am boarding of the boats. They were difficult conditions out on the water, with a building westerly wind and a fast moving tide as well as not much sunshine to lift the spirits on top of the early hour. For all those reasons it was a really challenging swim leg, with times down on last year for the 1 mile swim. Even the safety canoeists were having trouble, I am not sure if it was the smell of sizzling bacon sandwiches and freshly brewed coffee emanating from onboard one of the marshall’s boat which caused a little capsize. The fastest swim was completed by Charlie Wilson with a time of 17 minutes and 32 seconds. We had some real strugglers at the back of the group who made little headway against the swirling tide and worked incredibly hard, some suffering from terrible cramp.
The kayak was strongly contested with good bunching in mid field leading to a competitively fought race. The winners of the short course were, Matt Payne and Rachel Symington with a time of 34 minutes and 10 seconds. Rob Stendrup and Duncan Backus took the long course with 49 minutes and 48 seconds. Again the slow swim caused some big problems for some as the tide had turned for their kayak home and it was good to see the Omrod brothers made up with a handshake once back on dry land.
The bike route had to be changed to take in to consideration Norfolk County Council’s resurfacing works a day prior to the event, which knocked a couple of miles of the length of the course. Our brilliant roving bike repair boys from ‘Fat Birds’ were excellent and kept the puncture rate at a maintainable level. Luckily the weather had definitely brightened up again for this and the spectators were out in force at The Obelisk in Holkham Park. They therefore had a good viewpoint of some pretty impressive somersaulting over handlebars and gravel happy falls for them to see, especially Johnny Reader of whom we have some excellent footage of his wife cleaning up a very bloody face. Last year’s winners of the Lord Nelson Trophy (and possibly last years bloodiest), Charlie Ward and Matt Gingell were our fastest pair, with an incredible time of 1 hour 47 minutes.
Finally the run, that time when the sight of a marshall's pink t-shirt is a sight of such loveliness that several marriage proposals have been made, and not just to the winner of the Lady Hamilton Cup. It turned out to quite amusing that the pairs of runners passed each other on the beach, due to English Nature asking us not to run through the dunes this year. The incredibly quick times of the front runners meant that the channel was still pretty full and fast when they came to cross for the marsh romp home. Luckily we had last years competitors disguised as marshals in kayaks, Fergus Williams and Beany Partington and brilliant locals in boats, Peter Bickell our ferryman, making sure that everyone was safely gathered in. The incredible run time of 1 hour and 9 minutes was recorded by our overall champions Simon Aimes and Aubone Tennant, which meant that they came over the finish line more than 10 minutes before any other competitor!
Incredible results by incredible people. Special mention to Mark Harrod and Rowan Clifford, whose run and bike were unbelievably fast, and who came in third place in the men’s race despite having a combined age of over 100 years.
Winners
Trophy |
Team |
Lord Nelson Trophy |
The Marshians |
Lady Hamilton Cup |
Sailing Sirens |
Dame Edna Trophy |
Deja Vu |
Zimmer Winners |
Fen Tigers |
Local Heroes |
Bubble and Squeak |
Wooden Spoon |
Dawdling Ducks |
It was a real privilege to be working alongside Chris Geering and his family to raise as much money and awareness as possible for the Mermaid Trust and Wells Community Hospital. We don't know what the final total is yet, but alongside the tens of thousands of pounds raised by other competitors for other brilliant charities we can say that is was a massively worthwhile effort by everyone.
The party was a massive pool of adrenaline and love topped off by a stomach churning aerobatic display by a seriously talented friend of the committee, Kester Scrope, and at least 15 minutes of blue sky to watch it against. The band were the inimitable Branflakes. Year after year the atmosphere is there, we are so proud of you all - thank you again everyone. We drunk the tent dry, enjoyed delicious food and danced the grass flat, it was the best year ever!
2010 Entrants
Download the 2010 Results sheet here
(Adobe PDF reader required)