Club news - 29/3/8
EDPC biathlon competition at Monlough

NEW - pictures and report

The following comes from Andy Klimacki, running and shooting coach of the East Down Pony Club and former army biathlete. Tetrathlon training with a difference.

‘Biathlon’ training session (Senior and Junior classes)
Sunday 6th April 9am - 12.00 at Monlough (Co. Down, Northern Ireland)
Race - 1k running, 2 shooting stops, 25m penalty loop

Let’s start with a definition:-
Biathlon is a Winter Olympic Sport which combines cross-country skiing with precision target shooting. In a typical race a Biathlete is required to ski with his or her rifle over a set distance to a shooting range, where five shots at five knockdown targets at 50 m range are fired from the prone (lying down) position.

Depending on the format, either a time penalty or penalty laps are assessed for missed shots. The racer then skis another loop, and comes back to the shooting range for another set of shots - this time from a standing position. Again penalties are assessed for missed shots. The biathlete then skis a final loop to complete the race.

It is this seemingly unlikely combination of events - one an aerobic activity which requires strength, speed, and endurance, the other a passive activity which requires concentration, a steady hand and a slow pulse rate - which makes Biathlon such a challenging sport for the athletes taking part and a brilliant spectator sport for those on the sideline as range performance and scores are scrutinised by all.

Biathlon has now evolved into a sport supporting a whole range of combinations and permutations based on the two disciplines of cross-country skiing and shooting.

A warm weather variant called Summer Biathlon replaces skiing with running. This is where we come in. It is proposed, on the 6th April, to run a fun but serious biathlon training session at Monlough for the Senior and Junior tetrathlon classes. We will combine running and shooting over a number of races which may include individual, branch, mixed or relay teams depending on numbers and who turns up on the day.

We have 6 sets of 5 knock down targets. From past experience the individual and relay races are the most exciting. There will be a thorough briefing and practice session at the start and for those beginning to wonder, we do not run with the pistols, they stay at the firing point and all shooting is done in the standing position at 10-7ms. The total distance run is on average 1000m. In a typical race competitors start by running a 300m circuit before coming into the range for their first shoot at their own set of 5 knock down targets, 8 pellets are available for each set of five targets, once the first shoot is over a penalty loop of about 25m is run for each target missed. Competitors then run their second 300m, come into the range, shoot, take penalties if they have misses and then run for the 3rd time.

Much more will be explained on the day but I will say this, give it a go. This will be a fun, exciting,
training session ideally suited to Tetrathlon. It is hard work demanding a high level of concentration, focus and intelligent running, in addition you will have to cope with the pressure of shooting with accuracy side by side as part of a race. For spectators the range is also a great place to watch.

So please do come, come with your pistols and pellets, come with your running gear, come with a change of clothing and come with your parents. We have parking space, we have a loo (but only one!) and we will have refreshments for you. Entry fee £4 per racer.

Location map for BT23 6ND and contact me evenings, 028 90 814723, with any questions. Prior e-mail entries with name, age, sex and branch will be of great help in our preparation.

We are doing this to help improve our shooting, to help improve our running, to work hard, to have some fun and to try something different. We look forward to seeing you on Sunday 6th April at 9am.

Andrew Klimacki.........e-mail...andrew.klimacki@btconnect.com

British Biathlon Union

Ski marathon calendar

Pictures and report

6 April 2008 and the East Down Biathlon training day at Monlough.

A small, BUT it has to be said dedicated, band of tetrathletes came to Andy Klimacki’s house to experience some Biathlon, East Down style.

Andy is a dedicated ski biathlete and has developed an interesting tetrathlon training variant using the biathlon rules to give a little spice to those training sessions. I think everyone really enjoyed the day, cold it was, snow was always close (it is based on Skiing maybe this was a prophetic gesture) but full marks to Andrew for a really neat and useful training session for the attendees.

Thanks Andy from everyone AND for that lovely (hot) soup Lindsay. / EDPC