TETRATHLON & TRIATHLON  

Tetrathlon & triathlon – What’s it all about??? 

Tetrathlon (Tet) has four disciplines, shooting (min.age 8), swimming, running & riding.  Triathlon has three disciplines – shooting (min age 8), swimming & running.

There are three age groups:

Minis, age 8-11, have to shoot with an air pistol with 2 hands from 7m (PC has guns you can borrow), swim for 2 minutes – as far as you can, any stroke, run 1000m at your own pace and if XC is involved, jump from 1’6” to 2’6” depending on the competition.

There are lots of tets with little X.C. courses for the nervous or just Tri’s for all ages throughout the year to practise your shooting, swimming and running, or for non-riding brothers and sisters that would like to join the P.C. to take part.

Juniors - age 12 – 14.  Shoot with 1 hand from 7m, swim for 3 mins., run 1500m.  If X.C. is involved the height is normally 2’9” to 3’ but often the mini X.C course can be jumped incurring a few penalty points.

Novice / Senior – age 15+.  Shoot with 1 hand from 10m, swim 3 mins. (senior boys 4 mins.),run 1500m (senior boys 3000m), and X.C. is 3’3” for Novice or 3’9” for Seniors, or jump lower class with penalty points.  

The age groups are up to 11 for the Minis, 12-14 for the Juniors, and 15 + for the Intermediates and Open classes.

The triathlon season has started in earnest, and we have several Hursley teams competing successfully- ranging from Super-Minis (under 9) up to Juniors (under 14). Tetrathlon, which includes the XC riding phase is a Spring and Summer activity. 

We are always happy to welcome new triathletes – you just need to be able to swim for 2 minutes if you are under 12 (Mini), or 3 minutes if you are under 14 (Junior), and run 1000m (Mini) or 1500m (Junior). We can teach you to shoot, as we have a very experienced, National level pistol coach, and the Pony Club has guns you can borrow.  It’s a great way to meet other members of your own branch, and also make friends with triathletes from other branches at the 6 or 7  inter-branch competitions we attend each season. We run some swim and run training sessions during the holidays, and shoot training every couple of weeks. 

For further information, please contact the tet and tri co-ordinator Deborah Leabeater on 01794 323226 / 07771 594191.