The Wheelworxbikes.com Garadice Lake Sprint Triathlon is the clubs 2nd Annual race and is ideally situated in one of the most picturesque parts of the country. The club hope to keep this an annual event with high aspiration for development in the future. We have endeavoured to make the event a enjoyable experience for the hardened athletes to the first time triathlete, so lets all enjoy and make sure it is a safe and successful race.

The Garadice Lake Triathlon 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 the competitor’s responsibility that they are aware of these rules. All athletes need to register for the race in person. If you do not register in person, you will not be allowed to race.

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 result 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.

All appeals for penalties must be made within 1 hour of any penalties being posted. All penalties will be posted in the Ballinamore Sportshall.

Registration will take place at Ballinamore Sportshall between 10 am and 12 noon on Sunday June 1st 2008. 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 2008 TI membership card, then you will need to pay a one day license fee of  €15 at registration. Competitors are expected to provide exact change.

At registration you will receive your race numbers, timing chip, swim hat, body markings and goody bag. It will also give you a chance to review the race course and ask any questions.

Off street Parking is available at Ballinamore Town Square for registration on the Sunday, which is, just 100 metres walk from Sportshall on Enniskillen Road. Do not park on R202. Parking will be available adjacent to race site so please obey the marshals on arrival at Garadice Park which is 5 miles from registration in Ballinamore on R199 going North. There will not be any parking available in Garadice Park for competitors so you may have to walk up to 150 metres from your car to transition. After the race please use the Street and Square parking, which is 100m from sportshall.

Your timing chip (as 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 loose your chip please advise the race organiser when and where you lost your chip and your race number.

Race numbers will be provided to be worn on the bike on your back and to be worn on your front during 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.

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

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

· Wetsuits are Mandatory depending on water temperature but are strongly advised for all entrants.

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

· All swimmers numbers will be recorded as they enter the transition area.

· There will be 1 swim start at 2pm.

· Kayaks will flank the swim in an effort to keep swimmers on course.

· Only elite swimmers should go to the front of the swim start.

· Weaker swimmers are well advised to start at the sides and stay to the rear of the field. You will gain nothing by placing yourself at the front of the swim and will find yourself ploughed over by stronger and elite swimmers. This could potentially finish your race through injury or discomfort

· There will 2 luminous marker buoys 1.5 mtrs high anchored in the lake (Keep all buoys on your right at all times). Swim will start in the waters in line with the Wheelworxbikes.com booms. Swim straight out through the two large boating markers to the first buoy keeping the buoy on your right. Turn right and head for second buoy Swim keeping clockwise. Swim across (parallel to the entry/exit) to the second buoy and keeping the buoy to your right round it clockwise and head back to the exit. Swim straight into the ramp and make your way back up the boat slip and turn right towards the transition area, which is 40 metres from the swim exit.

· There will be rescue boats with lifeguards on board, rescue divers and kayaks in the water monitoring the swimmers.

· Anyone 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.

· If a swimmer wishes to retire from the swim for any reason, raise your clenched fist in the air, stay calm, and a rescue boat will come to your assistance.

· There is a 40min 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 timing referee. You will then be permitted to continue if you wish but you will receive no official finish times.

 

· You will exit the water and run to your right (40m) towards the Transition area and enter only at the sanctioned point, which will be at the rear of transition.

· 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 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 transition area. 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.

· You must exit transition over the timing mat

· You must walk/run your bike 100metres and onto the main road after crossing the cattle grid before mounting your bike. Anyone cycling in transition will be penalised by 2 minutes

· People may leave spare wheels in transition at the allocated spare wheel spot, but must be numbered with your race number and such wheels are not to be used by other competitors. Breach of these rules will result in disqualification of both athletes involved. The race organisers are not responsible for the security of any such equipment.

§ Race number must be worn on the back, if you have a problem with your race number please inform the race organisers prior to the race.

§ Race belts are permitted, but not mandatory

§ Bike racks will be not numbered so each athlete must rack their bicycle at the first available free space.

§ You must put on your helmet before removing your bike from the bike rack.

§ You cannot mount your bike until you have exited the transition area and are on the road and have passed over the timing mat and cattle grid.

· This is an out and back cycle course. Marshals will indicate when you are 100 metres from the turnaround point and this is a neutral area and no overtaking is permitted, any athletes trying to overtake will be stopped and held for 2min

§ The 50m between the cattle grid entrance and the dismount line is a neutral zone. You must dismount your bike before crossing the dismount line then walk/run 50m with your bike to the rear of transition area

Please keep to the right on re-entering Garadice Park with runners exiting on opposite side.

§ You must replace your bike in your own spot before removing helmet.

§ All cyclists must keep to the left hand side of the road 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 marshals as they see fit.

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 8 minutes (First penalty 4 mins, and second penalty additional 4 mins and disqualification).
One drafting violation noted by a motorcycle referee or three reports from static draft-control marshals N.B. 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.

· Competitors are not allowed to Draft and all competitors must reject any attempt by others to draft.

· Any competitor found drafting will be penalised.

· The "Draft Zone" is a rectangle surrounding every competitor that is 1.5 meters wide either side of the cyclists and extends to 7 metres behind the front wheel of the competitor’s bicycle. (The front edge of the front bicycle wheel will define the centre of the leading 3 metre 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 competitor’s 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 metres long by 5 metres wide.

· A competitor may enter a bicycle draft zone (subject to the official’s judgment) in the following circumstances:

o If the competitor enters the draft zone, and progresses through it within 15 seconds (Short and Standard Distance Events)

o For safety reasons

o At an aid station

o At the exit or entrance of a transition area

o At an acute turn

o If race officials exclude a section of the course because of narrow lanes, construction works, detours, or for other safety reasons.

 

 

· You must dismount before crossing the cattle grid at the entrance to Garadice Park then walk/run 100m to the rear of the Transition area and you must replace your bike before unfastening your helmet.

· You must replace your bike on the rack in your own spot before removing helmet.

· Race number must be worn on the front during the run.

· Exit the transition area out the front of transition.

· Out and back course

· Please keep to the right between exiting transition and reaching the main road.

· When you get to the gate at the main road you will take a right.

· It’s a straight out and back run

· Return run on the same side of the road i.e. your left as per instructions from Gardai.

· Water station at 2km & 3km

· Timing mat will be located at turnaround – You must fully go round the turnaround, anyone not fully going round the turning point will be disqualified, unless the mistake is rectified by going back.

· Please keep to the right on re-entering Garadice Park

· Please cross the finish line in a controlled and safe manner, sprinting across the red timing mat, while dramatic can be dangerous and can risk injury to marshals who are there to remove your timing chip.

· Relay teams will pass on the timing chip at transitions.

· A legal relay team must consist of 3 athletes; one swimmer, one cyclist, and one runner.

· Relay teams consisting of two athletes will be permitted to race. You will receive your race splits but you will not be considered in any racing category i.e. you are not eligible to win a prize.

· Relay teams will start with the rest of the swimmers at 2pm. If your swimmer fails to finish the swim he/she 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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

§ Male 1^st, 2^nd, 3rd, in M20-29, M30-34, M35-39, M40+

§ Female 1^st, 2^nd, 3rd in F20-29, F30-34, F35+

§ 1^st Relays TEAM