Please take time to read all of the information on this page, it will make the event far more enjoyable for you and reduce the need to ask many questions on the day. You can view the cycle course, run course and general layout of the event at race registration or by clicking here (please ignore the 21km distance on the bike map and the forward text saying bike course is one lap as it is incorrect and will be changed next Tuesday).

Good luck and have a great race! Vic Bickerton, Event Director.

DIRECTIONS & PARKING (Postcode for satnav is NP26 4BN)

From any direction get onto the A48 and at the roundabout of the B4245 follow the signs for Caldicot and "Triathlon Parking". There is free parking

available at the school and leisure centre. Please do not park on Somerfield's car park or on Mill Lane which is the start and finish of the cycle course or on any residential streets.

VOLUNTEERS WANTED
Do you have family or friends supporting you at the South West Triathlon?
We need extra volunteers from 8:45am till 12pm, 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. If you would like to help out please email Julie at julie@uktriathlon.co.uk or call her direct on 01270 842800, she will be delighted to hear from you.

RACE DAY PHOTOGRAPHY
The official race photographers are The Event Photographer and they will be positioned at the finsh line. Please make sure you have your race number clearly visible so you can check out your photographs on the screens behind the finish line shortly after you have finished

REFRESHMENTS
There is on site catering at the event serving hot & cold food and drink.

FACILITIES
Toilets and showers are available at the leisure centre (Open from 8:00am).

HOTEL, B&B & CAMPING
For hotels, guesthouses, B&Bs and camping visit please click here.

There is free camping and caravanning on the school field for Saturday night only. Just turn up and pitch behind the large white registration marquee!
Please note you cannot drive your vehicle off the field until the last cyclist has completed the course which is estimated at 12:30pm.

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

TRI UK.com Retail Stand
For all the best in triathlon bikes, clothing and equipment look no further.

TRI UK will be located next to the registration marquee from Saturday afternoon through to Sunday for those last minute emergencies or just to treat yourself! For sales, product information, wetsuit hire or a mail order catalogue call 07000 874 854 or visit triuk.com

BTF MEMBERS
We support membership of the BTF and therefore we recognise BTF members. In order to verify your BTF Membership please show your 2010 BTF licence at registration or you will be required to pay the £5.00 difference. The £5.00 extra that non-BTF members have already paid is the cost of a PRO TRI day licence that allows you to compete.

THE RACE IN GENERAL
It is recommended that competitors arrive as early as possible to familiarise themselves with the layout of the event. The race is run from the indoor swimming pool at the leisure centre in intervals throughout the morning, starting at 9:00am. First you must go to registration, located in the marquee on the school field at the rear of the leisure centre, (open on Saturday 2pm-5pm & Sunday from 07:45am) to register and collect your race numbers.

Your race numbers must be worn on your front and back and are not to be mutilated or re-sized in any way, they must be pinned in all four corners.
Number belts are permitted but both numbers must be displayed front and back and pinned in the top left and right hand corners.

It is good practice to write your name, blood group and any allergies you may have on the back of your race number in the unfortunate case of an accident! 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.

Register at least 60 minutes before your start time. You cannot change 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 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).

Make sure you have your race number with you to enter the transition area, as security will require it. When leaving equipment in the transition area, please note that we cannot be responsible for any items lost or stolen, although we are allocating security staff to specifically watch the transition area. Please be on the poolside 10 minutes before your start time (late comers will regretfully be turned away).

SWIM (Sprint & Relay 400M/Fun 200M)

Competitors must complete 20 lengths for the Sprint & Relay, 9 lengths for the Fun. Tumble turns are not allowed. Competitors will be started at intervals.

Sprint & Relay Triathlon: 5 lengths in a clockwise direction in each of the 4 lanes to total 20 lengths

Fun Triathlon: 3 lengths in a clockwise direction in each of the 3 lanes to total 9 lengths

The swim course is very straightforward and there are signs and stewards to help if you get confused, don't worry it's easy! You swim the required number of lengths in each lane and then switch into the next lane and so on.

It is up to you to count your own lengths, there will be spot checks throughout the course of the race. A swim cap will be allocated to you at the poolside which you must wear, please take it off when you exit the pool.

If you have your own swim cap you may use it.

Please take extra care on the poolside floor and steps with wet feet, as it will be slippery!

When you finish your swim, head to the transition area where you change into your cycling gear.

BIKE (Sprint, Relay & Fun 19K)

You must fasten your helmet before taking your cycle off the rack. Walk or run to the cycle mount line where you commence the cycle section of the race.

2 laps of the course for the Fun, Sprint and Relay Triathlons

The beginning of the course slowly climbs away from Caldicot. The middle section is fairly flat and the final part is slightly downhill back to Caldicot. 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

At the main roundabout on the A48 you must complete 2 laps of the triangular circuit to complete the distance.
Please click here and study the map (please ignore the 21K distance on the bike map and the forward text saying bike course is one lap as it is incorrect and will be changed next Tuesday).

Once you have completed the two triangular circuits go right around the roundabout and head back toward Caldicot for the finish of the cycle course.

The final 200 metres of the course has two right turns, one of them back into the leisure centre. Please take extra special care at both of the right turns.

A marshal will tell you when to dismount your cycle at the end of the cycle course. Do not unfasten your helmet until you have racked your cycle and do not ride your cycle in the transition area.

Important! You will not be allowed to take part without a cycle helmet (NO HELMET NO RACE).

You must 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 possible prosecution from the Police!

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 then disqualification on the second offence.

RUN (Sprint & Relay 5K/Fun 2.5K)

When you finish your cycle, change into your running kit in the transition area.

The run is on grass:

4 laps for Sprint & Relay

2 laps for Fun

Follow the posts and tape around the course. It is up to you to count your laps on the run, marshals will be taking numbers as a check in the case of suspected insufficient laps completed. There is a feed station on each lap that will be serving Gatorade isotonic sports drink and water. When you have completed the correct amount of laps, filter into the finish alley and through the finish line.

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 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 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.

RESULTS
Provisional results will be available to view shortly after the event has finished and published on the website at www.uktriathlon.co.uk on Monday 26th July.

PRIZES
There are prizes for top 3 male & female in both races. In addition there will be prizes for all age groups 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.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Many thanks to all that have made this event possible especially all at Caldicot Leisure Centre, Caldicot School, Monmouthshire County Council, TRI UK, 220 Triathlon, Sundog, Gatorade, Asics, Gwent Police and anyone else that has helped in anyway.

The South West Triathlon is registered, sanctioned and governed by PRO TRI, a non bias association dedicated to delivering professional health and safety, risk assessment, rules and refereeing guidance to the UK Triathlon Race Series.