Buxton Aquathlon: Saturday April 30th 2016
Race Information Pack
Introduction
The Buxton Aquathlon will take place on April 30th 2016 at Buxton Swimming and Fitness
Centre and within the historic and beautiful Pavilion Gardens.
It is a race for children aged 8 to 14 with the emphasis on participation and fun. It involves
swimming in the Buxton Swimming & Fitness Centre followed by running in the Pavilion
Gardens. Medals and goody bags are provided to all participants. The male and female winner
of each age-group will receive a trophy.
How To Get Here....
The race will take place at:
Pavilion Gardens
St. John's Road
Buxton
Derbyshire
SK17 6BE
Please note that the car park is not off St John’s Road: You will need to turn into Burlington
Road from St John’s Road and the car park will be on your left. Car park fees are:
1 hour
£1.00
2 hours
£1.60
4 hours
£3.00
Max
£5.00
Facilities
The swim can be viewed from the pool viewing area. There are vending machines in the foyer
selling hot and cold drinks and snacks. Changing facilities, lockers and hot showers are
available for participants. The transition area is under cover so towels and trainers will stay dry
if it should happen to rain.
The run takes place in The Pavilion Gardens, a wonderful 23 acre park with many historic and
cultural highlights. There is a large selection of cafes, restaurants, gift shops and the Pavilion
Arts Centre right next to the race route. The park also has adventure play areas, so why not
make a day of it and stay around after the race?
The race coincides with a Beer Festival in Pavilion Gardens so you can sample some fabulous
beers while cheering on the athletes.
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http://www.paviliongardens.co.uk/
Registration
All competitors will need to register at least 35 minutes before their start time to collect their
number and goody bag.
Race Briefing.
Race Briefings will take place shortly before each ‘wave’ (see below)
Age Groups & Distances
The race will be split into separate ‘waves’ according to ages.
Please note that age groups are determined by the child’s age at the END of the year.
So a child who turns 8 between May 1st & December 31st may still race although they
will be 7 on race-day. A child who turns 9 between May & December will be in the
9/10 age group even though they will be 8 on race day etc. (This is so children race
in the same age group all season and don’t suddenly move up an age category half
way through a season after a birthday.)
Lap counters (ie people who count your laps!) will be used in all waves and they will tell you
when you have 2 lengths to go.
Each age group covers a different distance as follows:
Tristar Start:
Aged 8: Swim 50m (2 lengths) and run 500m (1 lap)
Tristar 1:
Aged 9 & 10: Swim 150m (6 lengths) and run 1500m (3 laps)
Tristar 2:
Aged 11 & 12: Swim 250m (10 lengths) and run 2000m (4 laps)
Tristar 3:
Aged 13 & 14: Swim 400m (16 lengths) & run 3000m (6 laps)
Wave times (Approximate).
Waves will start with the Tristar Start competitors at approximately 3:45 pm, with the final
wave setting off at around 5.00 pm. Full details on wave and race briefing locations and times
will be sent out nearer race day. Please note you will need to register at least 35 minutes
before your wave.
Transition:
The transition area is covered and is for competitors only, with the exception of Tristar Start
competitors who may be helped by ONE adult. All competitors must wear a trisuit, rash vest or
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t-shirt and trainers (no barefoot or topless running). Numbers can be pinned to t-shirts, or can
be worn on a number belt.
Run
The run will take place fully within Pavilion Gardens.
Maps of the race route will be clearly displayed at the Race Registration and each wave will
have a race briefing so everyone will know where they are going. Children need to count their
own laps. Rubber bands will be handed out on each lap to help children keep count. Marshalls
on the run route will NOT know how many laps you have to run as they won’t know what
category you are in. Make sure you know how many laps you need to do, rather than calling
‘how many more’ while running. We won’t know!!
At the finish
Smile for the camera! You did it!
All children will be awarded a medal after they have finished. The winner of each age group will
receive a trophy.
Spectators
This is a very spectator friendly venue. There is a pool viewing area and the run can be easily
seen from within the park. Please stay off the race course which will be clearly marked with
tape. There are many non-tri related activities in the Park and Pavilion Gardens so bring the
whole family for a fun day out.... Please note that this race is meant to encourage children to
enjoy competitive sport. Parents are expected to cheer and clap, not bellow angrily or argue
with marshals! Outside assistance is not allowed, and may result in your child being DQed.
Who Can Take Part?
This race is aimed at encouraging children to give something new a try as well as offering
more experienced racers another event to hone their skills before the tri season starts. If you
can cover the swim distance without sinking (!) you can do this race. No special equipment is
needed: you just need a swimsuit, t-shirt, a pair of trainers and a smile. Some participants will
come from the local swim club and will be lightening quick in the pool.... so you can catch
them on the run! Many others will be pleased to just finish. Whatever time you do, you can be
sure of a huge cheer when you cross the line.
Photography
The race is run under BTF rules which do allow photographs to be taken during the race.
Buxton Swimming & Fitness Centre does not permit photography within the building so
children cannot be photographed while swimming.
How To Enter
Race entry is £10.00 per child for all age groups via Entry Central.
Online Entry (on entrycentral.com) - http://www.entrycentral.com/Buxton-Aquathlon
Any questions please contact us via e-mail on [email protected]
 Have Fun 
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