North West race notes

The TRI UK North West Classic Triathlon
Snow Hill Swimming Pool & Barony Park, Nantwich, Cheshire
Sunday 16th September 2007

Congratulations and thank you for entering the TRI UK North West Classic Triathlon, with a full field of 1,000 competitors! Please read all the information on this sheet, it will make the race far more enjoyable for you and reduce the need to ask many questions on the day. You can view the cycle course map on the website at www.uktriathlon.co.uk
Good luck and have a great race! Vic Bickerton, Event Director.

DIRECTIONS
From north or south M6 J16, follow signs for Nantwich, follow Nantwich bypass heading for Chester, at the 6th roundabout from the motorway turn left heading toward Nantwich town centre. The Barony Park is 300 metres on the left. Go past the park to the traffic lights and turn left, triathlon parking is 250 metres on the left (signed).

PARKING
Is available on the Barony Park, follow the signs for "Triathlon Parking". All day parking is £3 and covers possible cost of field damage if the grass is wet. There will also be a donation to charity.

VOLUNTEERS WANTED
Do you have family or friends supporting you at the TRI UK North West Classic 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.

RACE DAY PHOTOGRAPHY
The official race photographers SportCam will be positioned around the course. Please make sure you have your race number clearly visible so you can check out your photographs on the website at www.sportcam.net a couple of days after the race.

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

FACILITIES
Toilets and showers are at both the Barony Park Pavilion and Snow Hill Swimming Pool (Open from 7:00am).

HOTEL, B&B & CAMPING
For hotel, guesthouses, B&B & camping contact Nantwich Tourist Information
on 01270 610983 or www.crewe-nantwich.gov.uk
There is free camping and caravanning on the Barony Park for Saturday night only. Just turn up and pitch!

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

TRI UK Retail Stand
For all the best in triathlon bikes, clothing and equipment, 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 or a mail order catalogue call 07000 874 854

BTA MEMBERS
We support membership of the BTA and therefore we recognize BTA members. In order to verify your BTA Membership please show your 2007 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 licence that allows you to compete.

THE RACE IN GENERAL
It is recommended that fun and first time competitors arrive as early as possible to familiarise themselves with the layout of the event. The race starts from the outdoor pool at Snow Hill Swimming pool in intervals throughout the day, starting at 08:30am. First you must go to registration, located in the marquee on the Barony Park, (Open on Saturday 2pm-5:00pm & Sunday from 07:30am) 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 and 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.

Once registered, lay out anything you require for the final run section of the triathlon in the transition area across from the registration marquee (any position is fine) such as running shoes or maybe a cap. Then take your cycle to the pool and rack it along with items you require for the cycle such as helmet, sunglasses, shoes, vest or T-shirt (with your number pinned on it!).

Please do not rack your cycle in the swim to bike transition area outside of the swimming pool earlier than 15 minutes prior to your start time.

Make sure you have your race number with you to enter either of the transition areas, 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 at least 10 minutes before your start time (late comers will regretfully be turned away).

SWIM (Sprint & Relay 500M/Fun 200M)
The pool is 30.3 metres long, 16 lengths for the Sprint & Relay, 6 lengths for the Fun. Tumble turns are not allowed. Competitors will be started at 20 second intervals for the Sprint and Relay Triathlons and 15 second intervals for the Fun Triathlon.

Sprint & Relay Triathlon	4 lengths in a clockwise direction in each 4 lanes to total 16 lengths

Fun Triathlon	2 lengths in a clockwise direction in each 3 lanes 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! You swim the required amount 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 (please don’t make us chase you for it!). 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, change into your cycling gear in the transition area (make sure your torso is covered for the cycle section). Use the TRI UK carrier bag with your race number on that you received at registration to put any items in from the swim (such as goggles or a towel), leave it next to where your cycle was in the transition area and a marshal will return it to the registration marquee for you to collect after completing the race (you must show your race number to retrieve your bag!).

BIKE (Sprint, Relay & Fun 20K)
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. 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 and roundabouts although there are marshals present, they are not there to stop the traffic. There are three coned lanes that go through traffic lights, the first after the first 700 metres the second at 7.6 kilometres and the third at 9.7 kilometres, please stay inside the cones and take extra care! Failure to do so will constitute an instant disqualification. Beware of speed ramps on the first 500 metres.
Dismount your cycle at the end of the cycle course, a marshal will tell you, 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).

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 (make sure your torso is covered for the run section). The run is on grass (4 laps for Sprint & Relay) (2 laps for Fun). Follow the posts and rope 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 energy drink and water. When you have finished the run filter into the finish area which is signed!

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.

RESULTS
Results will be available to view shortly after the event has finished and published on the website at www.uktriathlon.co.uk on Monday 17th September.

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.

Important note to all competitors as your safety is paramount to us.
The TRI UK North West Classic Triathlon is registered, sanctioned and governed by PRO TRI 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 at Crewe & Nantwich Borough Council, TRI UK, 220 Triathlon, Sundog, Gatorade, Saucony, Crewe & Nantwich Police and anyone else that has helped in anyway.