Triathlon info
Registration and bike check-in for all triathlon competitors will open at 0830, beside the
amphitheatre.
You will drop off your bike and helmet at this point and collect your number and some safety pins to
attach it to your t shirt. Marshals will mark also write your number on your arm with a marker pen.
The Tri Start will be at 1.30 pm following completion of the fun run which starts at 1pm. Year 3 need
to be changed and poolside at 1.15pm.
The Tri will run as described below. It may sound complicated but there will be plenty of marshals
(wearing bright fluorescent vests) around to you through each step.
The children taking part individually will go first. The order will be Year 3, then 4, then 5, and then 6.
The team event will follow afterwards, year 3 teams followed by 4,5,6. As soon as year 3 starts,
then the next year group needs to be ready and lined up outside the pool. This is to keep things
moving and to get everyone through the course, ideally before 3pm.
The Swim
Yr 3 will line up beside the pool, already changed into swim costumes (plus swim hat and goggles if
they want to wear them). They will be holding their trainers, shorts and t shirt (and a small towel if
they want to). Their T shirt will have their number attached to it by safety pins. They will be called
individually into their start lane in the pool. They will start at the changing room end. They will be
told to drop off their trainers, t shirt and shorts in their allocated lane tub before they get into the
pool (at the gate end). They will then be set off at 30 second intervals, as directed by the pool team.
The time for each competitor will start when they begin the swim (and will stop when the cross the
finish line after the run). Please keep in your lane. Lane marshals will count the number of lengths to
swim. There will be a maximum of 4 swimmers in the pool at once.
Year 3 and 4 children will swim 5 lengths of the pool. Year 5 and 6 children will swim 7 lengths.
The children will exit pool at the gate end and put their trainers, t-shirt and shorts on (over their
swimmers). They put their goggles and swim hats in the designated year group bucket. They can use
a towel if they want to, to dry off a bit before getting their trainers and clothes on. Trainers with
Velcro straps, or laces done up not too tightly, are an advantage here. Another trick is to put some
talc in the trainers beforehand.
The children then walk to the pool gate and then, once out of the pool area, run down the slope to
the bike transition area at the amphitheatre.
The Bike
The children will be given their bike by the bike marshals (this is why it is important that the bikes
are labelled clearly, as shown below) and their helmet. The marshals will ensure that they put their
helmet on within the transition zone. They then cycle round the course which runs around the field
and will be marked by flags. They pick up a wrist band after each lap so that they know when they
have completed the correct number of laps.
Year 3 and 4 children cycle 2 laps of the course (and therefore need to collect 2 wrist bands on the
cycle). This is a total distance of 400m.
Year 5 and 6 children cycle 4 laps (and therefore need to collect 4 wrist bands on the cycle). This is a
total distance of 800m.
Once they have completed the cycle, they dismount and push their bike into the transition zone
where they will take off their helmet. A marshal will take their bike and helmet from them.
The Run
They leave the transition zone and begin the run. The run is a reverse of the 2016 route, to allow a
more visible finish line. They will head out across the bridge and turn right onto Lady Modyford
Walk. Stay on the pavement and down the lane which takes you a field, turn right in the field and up
to the top of the field. Coming out of the field you turn right and run along the lane, until you get to
the kissing gate. Go through the kissing gate and turn left. This comes out under the arch and into
Chapel Meadow. Cross the road and turn left onto the pavement and come out of Chapel Meadow,
turning right and back into the school via the main entrance. The finish line will be beside FFC. We
will have marshals all along the route. The back lane will be closed to traffic and on Chapel Meadow
we will have marshals stopping the traffic. Please could non residents avoid parking on Chapel
Meadow on Friday afternoon. The running route is the same (a distance of 500 m) for all of the
children. It is a single lap. It is worth remembering that the field can be muddy and uneven. The fun
run will be the same route.
Teams
The team event will follow the individual racing.
The course/laps are identical to those of the individual events.
The team event begins with the swimmer. The cyclist will be instructed to wait at the pool end
nearest the gate and can leave once their swimmer is out of the water and the lane marshal signals
them to go. The runner waits outside the transition area and leaves once the bike has been handed
back to the bike team and the bike team instructs the runner to go.
After finishing
Tesco are kindly sponsoring this event and will be giving out bottled water, fruit and cereal bars to all
of the children taking part at the finish line.
All children participating will be given a medal.
Children can get changed immediately after finishing.
Parents will not be able to collect bikes (from the transition area) until the whole event is completed
as this will disrupt the race for the other year groups.
There will be an Awards Ceremony at the end of the whole event. There will be a BBQ and the
candyfloss machine will be up and running.
Map
On the map, the bike route area is marked by the red oval, the start of run is shown as a blue star
and end of the run is the smiley face. There will be a First Aid point off site ( marked with red cross)
as well as the usual first aid points at school.
Although the children and teams are being timed, the emphasis of the day is for the children to have
fun and enjoy the activities and experience. There will be plenty of marshals around to guide them
through it and this guide is simply to help you prime them. Timing of the tri starts when they enter
the pool and stops when they cross the finish line.
Please do get in touch if you have any questions.
Please remember that this is only the second year we have run this event. We are not professional
event organisers, we are simply a group of parents who are putting on this event for the school.
Please bear with us, especially if it all does not run exactly as planned! We just really hope the
children all enjoy the experience. Thank you to everyone who has kindly helped us out and see you
on Friday, whatever the weather!
We will do a quick briefing at Friday assembly for the kids to make sure they are all happy with the
route etc. If the weather is awful, we might have to shorten the bike ride section, but the event
should still go ahead come rain or shine.
Bike labelling
The more visible you can make your number on your bike, the easier it will be for the transition team
to give you your bike! Ideally have your number attached to the front, like this:
And on the frame, like this;
Also a label with your number on the helmet is a good idea.