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STRATFORD 220 TRIATHLON
Stratford Leisure & Visitor Centre, Stratford-upon-Avon, Sunday 13th May 2008
Competitor Race Day Information

Your individual start time will be either emailed or posted to you by no later than Friday 5th of May

DIRECTIONS
The venue is just 5 miles off the M40 at junction 15. Look for the signs as you approach the town.

PARKING
Is available on the pay and display at the leisure centre. Overspill parking is available across from the leisure centre and at the many car parks around Stratford.
MAKE SURE YOU PAY THE CORRECT AMOUNT & DO NOT PARK ON THE COACH OR LORRY PARK OR ON A KERB, AS YOU WILL RECEIVE A £60.00 FINE!

THE TRIATHLON SHOW
See all the latest in triathlon bikes, clothing, wetsuits, footwear, training aids, go faster accessories, magazines, books etc. in fact everything from triathlons top brand names. The show is free to enter and is open from 8am until 3pm on race day only.

REFRESHMENTS
There is on-site catering, a cafeteria and vending machines at the leisure centre serving a wide selection of hot & cold food & drinks.

FACILITIES
There are toilets, showers, baby changing etc. at the centre.

CAMPING & HOTEL
Riverside Camp & Caravan Park, Tiddington. 01789 292 312.
(1 mile from Stratford on the B4086).
Dodwell Park, Evesham Rd (on the B439). 01789 204 957.
(2 miles S.W. of Stratford-upon-Avon).
For hotel, guesthouse & B&B contact Tourist Information on 01789 293127

VOLUNTEERS WANTED
Do you have family or friends supporting you at the Stratford 220 Triathlon? We are always recruiting volunteers for the race, on all areas from timing through to finish line refreshments. No experience is necessary and every volunteer receives a pair of designer Sundog sports sunglasses worth £45.00, the official race T-shirt, food and drink for the duration and lots of thanks as we rely so much on volunteers to make the event possible. If you would like to help out please email Keith at keith@uktriathlon.co.uk or call him direct on 07887 780553 he will be delighted to hear from you.

BTA MEMBERS
We support membership of the BTA and therefore we recognize BTA members. In order to verify your BTA Membership please show your 2008 BTA licence at registration or you will have to pay the £5.00 difference. The £5.00 extra that none BTA members have already paid is the cost of a PRO TRI day license that allows you to compete.

EVENT REGISTRATION & THE RACE IN GENERAL
Arrive at least 60 minutes before your start time. Please do not attempt to change your start time.
It is recommended that all competitors arrive as early as possible to familiarize themselves with the layout of the event. The race is run from the swimming pool at the leisure centre in 15 second intervals throughout the day, starting at 07:30am. First you must go to registration (Open Saturday 2:00pm-5:30pm & Sunday from 06:30am in the leisure centre sports hall) to register and collect your event T-shirt and race envelope which contains your race numbers, safety pins, bike & helmet sticker.
Your race numbers must be worn, one on your front and one on your back and are not to be mutilated or re-sized in any way. Elastic number belts are permitted but you must still pin both numbers front and back. Please note, for yours and other competitors safety, mobile phones, MP3 or any type of personal music system that restricts your hearing is not permitted whilst competing in the event.
Please do not rack your cycle in the transition area earlier than 30 minutes before your start time.
Once registered rack your cycle in the transition area at the rear of the leisure centre (any position is fine as long as it is on the white marker tape) along with other items you require such as helmet, sunglasses, cycling and or running shoes, vest or T-shirt (with your numbers pinned on it).
You must have your race numbers with you to enter the transition area. When leaving equipment in the transition area, please note that we cannot be responsible for any items lost or stolen, although we allocate security staff to specifically watch the transition area. As a security precaution, you cannot take your cycle out of the transition area without your race number and corresponding cycle sticker.

Please be on the poolside at least 15 minutes before your start time and please read the race safety brief notice (late comers will regretfully be turned away). Changing, showers, toilets, refreshments and food are all easily found within the leisure centre.

SWIM (Sprint & Relay 400M/Fun 200M)
The pool is 33.3 metres long, 12 lengths for the Sprint & Relay, 6 lengths for the Fun. Tumble turns are not allowed.
Swimmers will be started at 15 second intervals

Sprint & Relay Triathlon: 4 lengths in a clockwise direction in each lane to total 12 lengths
Fun Triathlon: 2 lengths in a clockwise direction in each lane to total 6 lengths

The swim course is very straightforward and there are signs and stewards to help if you get confused, don’t worry its easy! It is up to you to count your own lengths. A swim cap will be allocated to you at the poolside which you must wear, please take it off when you exit the pool (please don’t make us chase you for it!). Please take extra care on the poolside floor and steps with wet feet, as it will be slippery!

BIKE (23K Sprint, Relay & Fun Triathlon)
Please do not drive around the cycle course (especially not to follow competitors) whilst the race is underway to avoid unnecessary traffic congestion. Any competitor who is followed by a car will be disqualified!
When you finish your swim, change into your cycling gear in the transition area (You must wear a shirt or vest for the cycle section complete with race numbers clearly displayed front and back).
After collecting your cycle, walk or run to the cycle mount line where you commence the cycle section of the race. Take extra special care when exiting and entering the car park. 1 lap of the course completes the distance. The course is mainly flat with some undulations. Follow the signs around the course and do not turn until you see a marshal and or a sign. Please take extra care at all junctions; although there are marshals present, they are not there to stop the traffic. Important! You will not be allowed to take part without a cycle helmet (NO HELMET NO RACE). Dismount your cycle at the end of the cycle course, a marshal will tell you. (Cycling is not permitted inside the transition area).

Be extra aware of traffic around the leisure centre itself. Ride your bike in a responsible manner and obey the Highway Code, please consider other road users and above all RIDE SAFELY! Irresponsible cycling will constitute an immediate disqualification and prosecution from the Police. There are two pelican crossings at the start of the cycle course, you must stop if the lights change to red (you will be awarded a time allowance). Cycling through a red light will constitute a disqualification and possible Police prosecution.

DRAFTING
Cyclists must maintain a forward distance of 5 metres between each other at all times except when overtaking when it is the responsibility of the overtaken rider to drop back to maintain this gap. Drafting marshals will strictly enforce this rule and offending cyclists will receive a time penalty for the first offence and disqualification on the second.

RUN (Sprint & Relay 5K/Fun 2.5K)
When you finish your cycle, change into your running kit in the transition area (You must wear a shirt or vest for the run section complete with race numbers clearly visible front and back). Follow the taped area onto the run course. The run is out and back (2 times for Sprint & Relay) (1 time for Fun) on a T shaped grass and tarmac footpath at the rear of the leisure centre. The course is post and taped where necessary, please turn around at the turn points where directed (marshaled). There is a feed station on the run course, which will be serving Gatorade isotonic sports drink and water. When you have finished the run, filter into the finish area and run through the inflatable finish gantry at the rear of the leisure centre. All runners please keep to the right at all times except when overtaking and keep other runners in mind. Thank you.

RELAY TEAMS
Each member of the relay team completes one of the disciplines in the triathlon. At registration you will be given a wristband that you have to relay to the finish line. After completing the swim, the swimmer then passes the wristband to the cyclist inside the cycle transition area next to where the cycle is racked, the cyclist must not take their cycle off the rack until receiving the wristband. The cyclist completes the cycle course and passes the band over to the runner in the transition area only when the cycle has been placed back on the rack. The runner completes the run and hands in the band at the finish line. Relay awards are based on all male and all female teams.

MASSAGE
Pre and post race massage will be available on race day!

RESULTS
Will be posted on www.uktriathlon.co.uk website the following day. Results will be posted on the stage in the sports hall shortly after each race.

PRIZES
There are prizes for the top 3 male & female competitors in both races. In addition there will be prizes for all age group winners in the Sprint Triathlon as well as spot prizes from our sponsors, so stay around for the prize giving which will take place shortly after the last competitor has finished.

Important note to all competitors as your safety is paramount to us.
The Stratford 220 Triathlon is registered, sanctioned and governed by PRO TRI UK a none bias association dedicated to delivering professional health and safety, risk assessment, rules and refereeing guidance to the UK Triathlon Race Series.
Whether you are a BTA member or not, you are covered by The UK Triathlon Race Series public liability insurance.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Many thanks to all that have made this event possible, especially all volunteer marshals and helpers, staff and management at Stratford Leisure & Visitor Centre, Stratford District Council, 220 Triathlon, Sundog, Gatorade, Saucony, S.L.M., PRO TRI and anyone else that has helped in anyway.