Cotswold WOMEN ONLY Triathlon

SUNDAY 8 JUNE 2008 FROM 7.55AM

200m swim - 20km bike - 2.5km run or 400m - 20km - 2.5km or 750m - 20km - 5km

Saturday 7 - Registration, Late Entries, Women Only Training Day

Sunday 8 - Registration, Races, Trade Expo, Prize Giving

WELCOME

To the second South West open water triathlon dedicated to Women Only. The event takes place at Keynes Country Park which is part of Britain's largest water park; Cotswold Water Park. The Park's lake is usually used for swimming, canoeing, wind surfing and fishing and is set in a beautifully landscaped area which has a children's beach and play areas, a beachfront cafe, volley ball courts and BBQ/Picnic areas; a brilliant venue to bring all the family. We hope you enjoy the weekend!

LOCATION

Keynes Country Park, Spratsgate Lane, Shorncote, Nr Cirencester, Glos. We are very grateful to Keynes Country Park for the use of their facilities and with this in mind, please treat all the facilities and the surrounding countryside with respect and leave them as you find them.

HOW TO GET THERE

From London, the South East and The South West - M4 Junction 15. Take dual carriageway A419 towards Swindon, then follow A417/419 towards Cirencester. After approx 10 miles take B4696 Spine Road, sign-posted Cotswold Water Park. Carry on along Spine Road for over a mile, straight over at the cross-roads and then take the first turning on your right into Spratsgate Lane. Keynes Park entrance is 800m on the right.

From Gloucester area take A417/A419 passing Cirencester and head towards Swindon. Approx four miles from Cirencester turn off at Junction for B4696 Spine Road, sign-posted Cotswold Water Park. Carry on along Spine Road for over a mile, straight over at the cross-roads and then take the first turning on your right into Spratsgate Lane. Keynes Park entrance is 400m on the right.

PARKING

There will be free parking on site for athletes and volunteers. All spectators will have to pay the usual fees. On Saturday for registration please use the main entrance, then turn right to registration car park. On Sunday again use main entrance and park as instructed. Upon leaving, on Saturday, show your race info at the shop to get a barrier token, on Sunday show info at barrier

Sorry no RACE INFO - No free parking!

To download a printable site map (Adobe Acobat format) please click this link.

ACCOMMODATION

Try Travel Lodge near Cirencester, approx 5 miles from venue. Tel: 08700 850950 or Cold Harbour Lodge Inn, approx 7 miles from venue, on A419, near Swindon, Tel: 01793 724840. For B&B call Cotswold Tourism on 01285 654180.

CAMPING

There is on-site camping available for a small fee per tent/caravan, book online at:www.ukwatersports.co.uk/triathlon.html or call on 01285 861202 to book a pitch. Running water, toilets and showers are available at Waterland building. For those who haven't already paid please check in at the Waterland building, situated by the second gate on the right 300m after leaving the Spine Road. Please use the outside edge of the field first and leave the gateway area clear. If you have already paid you still need to check in at the Waterland building upon arrival.

REGISTRATION

Registration will be held in the marquee adjacent to transition. All competitors should register between 3.30pm and 5.30pm on Saturday or 6.15am and 7.20am on Sunday morning. If you can't get there perhaps a friend could register for you, that person must bring your BTF license and a letter of authorisation.No registration after 7.20am!!!!

At registration you will be required to show your BTF Race License (excluding those non BTF members, who must show some form of photographic identification). You will be issued with a T-shirt, two race numbers, a timing band, a swim hat and a bike sticker which must be attached to your cycle before entering transition. The sticker does not have to be visible throughout the race. For Relay event only one person from the team need register.

NON-BTF MEMBERS

All non-BTF members must collect a day license at Registration to compete in a BTF Registered event (day licence fee already included in entry fee).

SHOPPING

There will be some chance to shop throughout the morning on Sunday at Total Fitness Bath, Runners Retreat and Kinetic-One, so you can treat yourself after the race.

LATE ENTRIES

Postal entries taken until Thursday 5/6/08, On-line until 6/6/08. We will take late entries at registration on Saturday between 3.30pm and 5.30pm. No late entries at Sunday registration.

LEG MARKING

Upon entering the transition area to rack cycles, your right leg will be marked with the appropriate letter. The categories are as follows:

Please note: Age Category is age At 31/12/08.

BIKE RACKING

All bikes must be racked between 6.30am and 7.55.am on Sunday. Entrance can only be gained to the transition area with a velcro timing wrist band. Your bike must have a sticker with your number on and you must show your cycle helmet upon entry. Only competitors with a wrist band and race number will be allowed back into transition to collect cycles after the event, and the wrist bands must be handed in when leaving the transition area. Please rack according to your race number. Please do not leave your kit bags in transition, lock them away in your vehicle, as they can prove to be obstructive to other athletes. When collecting your bike after the event, you can do so from a special entrance near to the car park from 9.40am.

TIMING

Your timing wrist band, which must be worn at all times, will bear three tabs.

• Tear off one tab at the end of the swim and place it on the timing table.
• On leaving the transition area for the run, give in the second tab.
• Give in the last tab just over the finish line. No Tab, No Time!

RELAY

The swimmer must wear the timing wrist band. The swimmer will then tear off one tab and place it on the timing table before handing the band to the cyclist. The cyclist will then collect their bike from transition and run with their bike to the mount line. When the cyclist returns they should rack their bike then pass the band to the runner. The runner crosses the finish line and hands in the final tab. The cyclist will need the wrist band after the race to retrieve their bike from transition.

DROP OUTS

If you drop out of the race for any reason after you have registered could you please inform a member of the registration team and hand in your timing band. For those who drop out during the race please inform the Transition Director who will be situated at the transition bike exit and hand in your wrist band after collecting your bike.

MEDICAL ADVICE

If you feel unwell on race day please don't race. If you have any medical condition including asthma or any allergies please write the details on the back of your race number and put a small X on front in waterproof pen.

START TIMES - remember age at 31/12/08

Be at the start line 5 minutes before your start time for a final briefing.

THE COURSE

To download a printable course map (Adobe Acobat format) please click this link.

The Start

This is located at Waterland Watersports Beach - go right from transition as you look towards the lake.

Swim

A one lap course in a clear lake - wetsuits must be worn for the 750m swim, they are not required for the 400m or 200m swim, but advised as they aid swimming and buoyancy. Specialist triathlon wetsuits are not available on site, so it is best to contact your nearest triathlon shop. If you get into trouble in the water roll onto your back, put you hand in the air and a canoeist will help you. Don't panic or try to climb onto the canoe, hold onto the tail of the canoe and listen for instructions. Take care on short run to transition, if wet the grass can be slippery.

Bike 20km

Fast and flat, cyclist will go left from the lake, then second left (watch out for sharp left hand bend just before junction) onto Spine Road towards Ashton Keynes cross roads, then straight over onto the Spine Road (Please take care at this junction and follow marshals instructions). Also note great new road surface, but with sharp camber/drainage near kerb. Then take the old A419 road to Cirencester (hardly used since the opening of the A417), and at the Tesco roundabout take the second left before turning left into the Cirencester Business Park. Cyclists will then negotiate a couple of mini roundabouts before taking the road towards Somerford Keynes - this road has a couple of lumpy sections. You will pass the Keynes Park main entrance on the left and the dismount will be 200 meters up the road on the left. Remember you must follow the rules of the road. Please note the run from transition to bike mount is on grass and gravel.

Run 5km or 2.5km

Again flat and fairly fast as it is on grass and hard packed paths around the lake. 5km = two laps, 2.5km =1 lap. A traffic free course - apart from near entrance. Care should be taken when running near childrens' play area and information centre as other park users may be crossing to use the facilities.

Finish

The finish is located next to transition. You will turn left at the end of the second lap for 5km and end of first lap for 2.5km, into the finish shoot, which will be next to the high rope centre.

A FEW RULES

Race Numbers - One number must be worn on the front and one on the lower back. Numbers must not be folded, cut down or mutilated in any way. Even if you wear a belt please pin both numbers to belt!

Cycle Helmets - BSI, ANSI or SNELL approved helmets are compulsory and must be worn throughout the cycle section. They must be fastened prior to removing your bike from the rack and neither undone or removed until after re-racking your bike.

Transition - No riding is allowed in the transition area at any time. You must run with your bikes to the mount zone and on your return to transition dismount in the zone before entering transition. Check out where mount and dismount lines are before the race.

Cycle Conduct - Competitors must make sure that their cycle is in a safe and roadworthy condition. All competitors must keep to the left and overtake on the right. Please take note of signs and obey marshal instructions.

Drafting - This is a non-drafting race for all categories. During the cycle section competitors must not take pace behind or beside another competitor or vehicle. You must be 7 metres behind the front wheel of the competitor in front, apart from when overtaking - there is no side-by-side riding. When overtaking you must pass the competitor in front within 15 seconds. It is the responsibility of the cyclist being overtaken to drop back once the overtaking cyclist's front wheel is ahead of his/hers. Competitors are not allowed to draft from any vehicle including the lead vehicle.

Disqualification - The following infringements will result in disqualification: Abusive language, breaking road traffic regulations, dangerous conduct/riding, failing to obey marshals or the police, nudity, outside assistance, unsporting impedance, 2 x drafting violations, course irregularities (short cut), tampering with other competitors equipment.

For further details of race rules see BTF Handbook or website: www.britishtriathlon.org.

PRIZES And RESULTS

The prize giving will take place at around 10.50am, near the finish. For the Sprint Event there will be prizes for the top finisher in each five year age group and first Relay. Also prizes to first three overall and first 40+ in the Super Sprint and Novice events. You must be at prize giving to receive your prize, one prize per person. A set of results will be on display at prize giving, and will be displayed on www.triferris.com. If you require a printed set of results please leave an SAE at registration.

SPECTATING

The main activities are centred around the Keynes Country Park with the Swim Start/Finish, Bike Start/Finish, Transition, lapped Run and Race HQ all located on site. Spectators are asked not to take their cars out onto the bike course. It is important that spectator traffic is not generated both for the safety of the competitors and also to minimise any inconvenience to other road users. Vehicles attending or following any rider will result in that rider being disqualified.

REFRESHMENTS

Food and drink will be on sale on Saturday from the Beach Front Cafe, Sunday at Race HQ and there are vending machines in the Park Shop.

MASSAGE/PHOTOS

Post race massage will be available. The cost will be £8 for a massage of approximately 15-20 minutes. Photographs will be available to purchase from Seemeinaction.

LOST PROPERTY

Please report any lost property to the Transition Manager who will be at the bike exit to transition throughout the event. The organisers are not responsible for the loss of personal property.

TO CONTACT US

Write to: Tri Ferris Promotions, 4 Lindisfarne, Woodshaw, Wootton Bassett, Wiltshire SN4 8LQ. Email:triferris@btinternet.com Tel: 01793 853933.

THANK YOU

We would like to thank the people who have generously helped and supported this event such as Specialized, Science In Sport, Total Fitness Bath, Runners Retreat, printers Cats Solutions, the Wiltshire and Gloucester Police, Keynes Country Park, Cotswold Water Park Society, Waterland Outdoor Pursuits, St John Ambulance and of course the many volunteers, without whom we could not hold such an event.

VOLUNTEERS WANTED

We still need a few more people to help including: leg markers (6.30am to 7.55am) bike marshals (7.55am to 10.00am) and drink station helpers (8.30am - 10.30am). All volunteers receive a Crew T-Shirt, food, and refreshments - you can still feel part of the event without racing. You will be individually briefed upon check in. Volunteers registration 7.20am. If you can help in any way please Call: Lorraine Ferris on 01793 853933, email: triferris@btinternet.com

TRAINING DAY

Saturday 9th June 11am to 4pm. The training day is being delivered by a team of Tri England South West coaches. The day will be organised with novice triathletes in mind, and will be ideal for new-comers to the sport. For more information about the training day and a booking form, please contact Debra Pressley at:d.pressley@btopenworld.com

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