Race Briefing

You can download the race briefing here.

The list of athletes taking part in the 2010 race is available here.

Introduction:

Ennis Triathlon Club and Killaloe would like to welcome you to the Brian Boru Tri Challenge 2010. The information contained in this Race Briefing is designed to ensure you have a fair and safe race. Please take some time to read it carefully before the start of the event. This is an event with a very tough Bike and Run section so be warned. Ennis Triathlon Club wishes all the competitors, beginners and experienced alike the very best of luck.

Location: Twomilegate, Killaloe, Co Clare.

From Limerick & Dublin When on the N7 Follow all signage for Killaloe and Ballina, This will bring you into the village, go over the bridge and head towards Scarriff. Two miles out side the village is the Twomilegate leisure area (transition).

From Ennis Leave Ennis on the Tulla road al the way to Tuamgraney and take a lift towards Killaloe at the grotto.

N.B. Maps of all sections of the race can be viewed here.

Parking:

There will be Limited parking on the day and athletes, spectators and volunteers are asked to use one of the three parking areas set aside for the race. We ask as many as possible to fill this car park and cycle the 2k to the race start. There will also be parking 100m and 300m past the race start. This will be in two separate fields. These parking areas are along the bike route. For this reason any one parking in this area will not be allowed to leave until all cyclists have finished. Please follow the instructions of the marshals in regards parking areas.

Race Schedule (provisional):
This is a timing chip event with pre-registration by competitors online
Site set-up 6th of August 7pm to 10pm
Race sign on and registration 6th of August 7pm to 9pm & 7th of August 8am to 10.00am
Marshals/stewards etc sign-on 09.00am
Marshals/stewards etc briefing 09.30am
Marshals/stewards etc in place 10.45am
Race Briefing for competitors 10.40am
Event start 11am
Event Finish 13.40pm
Cut-off time 13.40pm
Race Debrief 14.00pm
Prize-giving 15.00pm

Registration:

All athletes need to register for the race in person. If you do not register in person, you will not be allowed to race. All members of each relay team need to register in person also.

Registration will take place in Brendan Grace's bar in Killaloe. If you are a member of Triathlon Ireland please bring your membership card with you. If you do not appear as a member on the current TI membership list and cannot show your current 2010 TI membership card, then you MUST pay for a one day license fee of €15 in advance, thorough the Triathlon Ireland website, and produce your license at registration.

At registration you will receive your race numbers, timing chip (this enables us to give you a breakdown of your times for each section of the race - to register your times you need to pass over the red mats on the various parts of the course) and goody bag. It will also give you a chance to review the racecourse and ask any questions.

Please arrive at the Race Venue early. Registration closes at 10:00am. Arrive after this and you will not be racing.

Race Numbers:

Please inform the registration officials if you did not receive two numbers.

Two race numbers will be provided: One to be worn on the bike on your back and one to be worn on your front for the run. Race belts are permitted and athletes must ensure their numbers are fully visible at all times on the bike and the run. It is not allowed to alter or fold your race number in any fashion. Please ensure all numbers are secured with four safety pins. If using a race number belt please add extra safety pins to the belt to ensure number stays secure during the race.

Numbers must be clearly visible at all times. Anyone not correcting their number after being advised by marshals to do so will be penalised 2 minutes for number violations.

Timing Chips:

Please inform the registration officials if you did not receive a timing chip.

The timing chip (received at registration) enables us to give you a breakdown of your times for each section of the race. Wear your timing chip on your right ankle. To register your times you need to pass over the red mats on the various parts of the course. You will need to ensure that your timing chip is fixed to you ankle properly at the start of the race.

If you lose your chip please advise the Race Director when and where you lost your chip and your race number. The timing chip must be returned at the end of the race and/or if you retire. A penalty of €10 will be incurred on the competitor if they lose or fail to return their timing chip.

Rules:

The Brian Boru Tri Challenge is a Triathlon Ireland sanctioned event, and thus it abides by the rules in the Triathlon Ireland Manual of Guidance. Section 3 of this manual outlines the competition rules. It is each competitor’s responsibility that they are aware of these rules.

Outside Assistance:

Any competitor receiving any form of outside assistance, i.e. mechanical, puncture repair, giving of drinks or other help by spectators or coaching on the run or bike, or any other form of outside assistance is strictly forbidden and will results in immediate disqualification. The only time where outside assistance can be provided is assistance by Marshals, and this same assistance must be available to all athletes if required.

Appeals: All appeals for penalties must be made with 1 hour of any penalties being posted. All penalties will be posted in Transition on information board and in Crotty's Bar & Restaurant.

Awards Ceremony:

Presentation of prizes and results will take place in Crotty's Bar & Restaurant at 3pm.

Prize Categories:

Overall Male Seniors 1st, 2nd, 3rd

Overall Female Seniors 1st, 2nd, 3rd

Winners of the Relay Event

Transition Area:

Transition area is open at 9am, and bike spots are on a numbered served basis. When you are racking your equipment you must ensure that it does not interfere with another competitor's equipment. A transition marshal may ask you to rearrange items in your transition area if they are interfering.

NO spectators, friends, helpers, family, etc will be allowed in the transition area.

The course through to transition will be marked with barriers and you must follow the course indicated.

The mount/dismount line will be clearly indicated at the end of the slip service road.

Competitors exit the transition area on the left side of the road and return on the right side of the road.

Swim Course

Competitors will enter the water at the Twomilegate recreation area beside transition, The start will be 100 metres off shore at the Start swim buoy. Swimmers will follow the 3-buoy course and exit on the boat slip and proceed to transition

Swim start will be one wave, starting at 11.00am sharp

Location: Twomilegate, Killaloe Water Type: Fresh water Water Temp: 14 - 16 degrees Celsius race day. Water Quality: Clean. Water Depth: 2 – 4m on swim course. Current: N/A Hazards: Stones on entry for first 20m sand after that, rocks on exit and slippy exit but this will be matted for athlete safety.

Rules: See Section 3.13 Swimming Conduct in the TI Manual of Guidance for Swimming Competition Rules.

Safety boats and kayakers will patrol the swim. A lifeguard will be present at the bank with Paramedics. Divers with SCUBA gear will also patrol the swim course. There will be 1 swim referee to ensure the competition rules (see section 3.13 in the Manual of Guidance) are upheld and have the power to hand out penalty's to athletes. These penalties will be added to an athletes' final time.

SAFETY FIRST: If you are an average or weaker swimmer please use common sense on the swim course. Weaker swimmers should start at the back. If a swimmer gets into difficulty they should try and move clear of the course, lie on their back and raise one fist into the air. A rescue boat or kayaker will be near to come to your attention.

Swim Rules:

All swimmers must have signed the Swim Proficiency Declaration form at registration and prior to entering the water.

Race Swim Caps will be provided to all entries. All swimmers must wear the race hat provided, additional hats may be worn underneath the race provided hat.

Wetsuits are Mandatory. An exception may be made for relay teams with experienced open water swimmers but TI water temperature rules will be strictly applied to all individual competitors. They are compulsory for all if the water temperature is below 14 degrees. This will recorded on the morning of the race.

Swimmers cutting corners/buoys will be immediately disqualified and taken out of the water by the rescue boats and not permitted to continue. Kayakers will be monitoring each buoy to ensure this.

There is a 30min time limit on the swim, or if a marshal feels you are endangering yourself or others you can be withdrawn from the swim. You will be allowed to continue the race if you wish to do so but will receive no official time.

If you withdraw from the swim you will be sin-binned for a time period determined by the referee. You will then be permitted to continue if you wish but you will receive no official finish times.

Transition from Swim to Bike:

You will exit the water and run up onto the Pier entering the Transition area at the sanctioned point passing over the timing mats.

Race number must be worn on the back during the cycle. Numbers must be clearly visible at all times. Anyone not correcting their number after being advised by marshals to do so will be penalised 2 minutes for number violations.

Personal Stereos are banned during course of the race. Anyone wearing any such device that acts as an impediment to hearing or concentration during the course will be immediately disqualified from the race for safety reasons.

You must put on your helmet and fasten it before removing your bike from the rack. Anyone, who has an unfastened helmet while in contact with their bike will be asked to stop and refasten their helmet, failing to do so will result in a 2 min time penalty and could result in disqualification for subsequently failing to obey properly the instructions of marshals.

Exit onto the road through/over the timing mat and move clear before mounting your bike.

Bikes must be walked in the transition area, anyone cycling in transition will be penalised by 2 minutes.

Bike Information:

The Bike course will be 22 km of an undulating clockwise course.

The road surface is good all the way up until the turn off at the Pipers cross. This section of road is closed and there is a steep climb for 3.5k. Athletes will need all gears in order to make it up the hill.

There is a steep descent and athletes are advised to use caution on the descent before rejoining the Killaloe –Tuamgraney road.

Once at Tuamgraney turn around at the turn around point and follow the main road back to transition.

All cyclists must keep to the left hand side of the course for safety, dangerous overtaking, crossing the white line, breaking the rules of the road or any other form of inappropriate conduct will be penalised by the bike referees as they see fit.

Bike Course:

Rules of the Road apply.

The roads are closed in one section only so heed the traffic.

The course will be marked and patrolled by marshals and the Gardai. Cyclists must adhere to their instructions.

NO DRAFTING IS ALLOWED.

Drafting is when part of your bike is in the Draft Zone of another competitor. This is ILLEGAL as you gain an unfair advantage over the rider ahead. Triathlon is an individual event so please do not cycle in a group of any form. A more detailed description of drafting can be found in the Triathlon Ireland Manual of Guidance.

There will be DRAFT MARSHALS on the bike course. No warnings of drafting will be given. You will receive a penalty of up to 4 minutes.

One drafting violation noted by a motorcycle referee or three reports from static draft-control marshals.

Note: There is no requirement for the marshal to indicate that a report has been made. Motorcycle referees may not necessarily provide an audible or visible warning for a drafting violation in the interests of safety.

Cyclists are not allowed to draft and all competitors must reject any attempt by others to draft.

Any competitor found drafting will be penalized.

The Draft Zone is a rectangle surrounding every competitor that is 1.5 meters wide either side of the cyclists and extends to 7 meters behind the front wheel of the competitors bicycle. (The front edge of the front bicycle wheel will define the centre of the leading 3-meter edge of the rectangle.) A competitor may enter the draft zone but must be seen to be making forward progress. A maximum of 15 seconds will be allowed for a competitor to pass through the draft zone.

The draft zone of one competitor may not overlap the draft zone of another competitor. A competitor is overtaken when the front wheel of another competitors bicycle is ahead of theirs. It is then his/her responsibility to drop out of the draft zone, either sideways, or by dropping back.

It is not allowed to gain unfair advantage by drafting on officials escort vehicles or vehicles being used by media etc.

Minimum bicycle/vehicle separation will be 35 meters long by 5 meters wide.

A competitor may enter a bicycle draft zone (subject to the officials judgment) in the following circumstances: If the competitor enters the draft zone, and progresses through it within 15 seconds. For safety reasons At an aid station At the exit or entrance of a transition area At an acute turn If race officials exclude a section of the course because of narrow lanes, construction works, detours, or for other safety reasons.

Transition from Bike to Run:

Cyclists must dismount before entering the Transition area and you must rack your bike before unfastening your helmet.

You must place your bike in the same rack position you took it from.

You must replace your bike on the rack before removing helmet.

Race number must be worn on the front during the run. Anyone not correcting their number after being advised by marshals to do so, will be penalised 2 minutes for number violations.

Personal Stereos are banned during the course of the race. Anyone wearing any such device that acts as an impediment to hearing or concentration during the course will be immediately disqualified from the race for safety reasons.

Run Information:

The run section of this event is extremely tough, the run is just over 6k and the first 3k is up a steep hill. Athletes should pace themselves on the steep climb.

Because of the severity of the climb there will be 2 water stations at 1.5k and 4k, there will be first aiders at these stations if needed.

Once athletes reach 3k, the run levels off for 1k and then there will be a sharp descent back to the transition. At the start of this descent there is 100m of loose slate, marshals will be here to warn athletes.

Relay Team Information:

Relay Teams do not rack their bikes in the transition area. There is a separate pen beside the transition area where the cyclists can wait for their swimmer and pass on the chip to their runner.

Relay teams will pass on the timing chip at transitions.

If your swimmer fails to finish the swim he will be sin-binned until the last swimmer exits the water and enters the transition area. Your cyclist will then be permitted to continue the race. You will receive no official times so you should record your own time if you wish to make comparisons later.

Showers & Toilets: There will be toilets in the transition area. These are public toilets and are situated to the at the top right hand corner of the recreation area.

Showers will be available after the race in the Killaloe GAA field in the village.

Showers and toilets will also be available at the adjacent UL Activity Centre before, during and after the race.

Post Race Food:

Crotty's Bar will be providing lunch after the race from 2:30pm. This is also where the prize-giving ceremony will be.

Adverse Weather Conditions:

1. The decision of the committee is final. Any decisions taken are made in the interest of athlete safety.

2. In the advent of inclement weather, the Race Committee, TD & Race Referee will convene at 8.00am (and/or as soon as there is sufficient light) to determine if:

a) the conditions are suitable for the race to take place b) the conditions are suitable for the swim.

3. The decision of the Committee will be conveyed to the competitors via the PA System and all other possible means by 9.00am or as soon as practicable.

4. If the Committee determines there can be no swim, the event will become a Duathlon over the following distances 6k 22kcycle and 6k run on the designated bike and run courses. This will start at 11.00am in groups of approximately 40 competitors in ten-minute intervals. The last group leaving at 12.30pm. You will be marshalled into your group on the main road.

5. In the event that the committee rules the swim and bike cannot safely take place the event will be cancelled.

6. In the case of a Duathlon event, if the Committee deems that conditions are such that it is unsafe to use the planned bike course, then an alternative bike course will be implemented. This will start at 11.00am in groups of approximately 40 competitors in ten-minute intervals. The last group leaving at 12.30pm. You will be marshalled into your group on the main road.

7. The race organisers reserve the right to alter this schedule.

We hope you all have a safe, enjoyable race!

Attachment	Size
Brian Boru Tri Challenge 2010 - Athlete Info.pdf	9.96 MB
BBTC_athlete_list.pdf	56.72 KB