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Mum’s the word: Both ADF 10km teams – the Mums Capt Jo-Anne Hem and WO2 Angela Dent (1st place) and M&Ms Pte Shelly Marsh and Pte Jodie Mills (5th place).

Top dogs: ADFA’s Army Alpha team take an early break from Lancaster Shield. Photos by Cpl Damian Shovell.

By Ocdt Brad Freedman
Volume 11, No. 40, April 6, 2006

ADFA’s Army Alpha team has set a commanding lead in the chase for Lancaster Shield honours after a convincing win in the inaugural quadrathon event.

The event included a 1.5km canoe leg, a 7km cycle, 300m swim and a 2km run, which were each conducted three times.

The competition formed the first event in the Inter-Squadron Lancaster Shield competition, which is held annually to decide the premier squadron within ADFA.

The quadrathon was designed for maximum participation, with each squadron entering two teams of 24.

The event was run in a relay fashion with some very accomplished athletes taking part in the competition, including OCdt Kate Baker (competing for Army Alpha, 2nd Year Army Squadron) who is the current under 19-triathlon world champion.

The competition was fierce with squadron spirit and inter-service rivalry providing the basis for some strong performances. Army Alpha squadron’s team started strong taking the lead in the first canoe leg, and some very strong swimming further consolidated this lead.

Army Bravo (3rd Year Army Squadron) and RAAF teams began the daunting task of reeling in the now considerable lead that the Army Alpha team had opened up.

Army Bravo was able to peg back some of the lead with a surge late in the competition with some strong canoeing and running legs but were not able to catch the leading Army team.

Army Alpha fought off the chasing squadrons and led from the beginning to take the finish-line honors.
Army Bravo managed to overcome an average start to take second place with RAAF Squadron rounding out the top three.

The results were, Army Alpha 3:46:19; Army Bravo 3:51:40; RAAF 3:52:16; 1 Bravo 3:55:54; 1 Alpha 3:57:48; and, Navy 3:58:30.

The Academy will have a chance to catch the Army squadrons later in the year in the Cross Country, athletics carnival, swimming carnival and the final Lancaster Challenge (made up of a tug-of-war competition and aquathon).