Race Briefing

The full Race Briefing can be downloaded or read below. Please note that this version may be updated, with a final edition being published on this page a week prior to the event. The briefing details: Triathlon Ireland membership or One Day Licence required, compulsory wetsuits and official swim caps for the open water swim, compulsory helmets for the non-drafting bike leg, no unauthorised outside assistance and numbers to be shown at all times. The mantra applied is - safe, fair and fun.

Registration

Registration and will take place on Saturday 18^th August from 2:00pm to 8:00pm. Registration will be held in the boathouse within the harbour car park in Groomsport. All competitors must produce their Triathlon Ireland (or equivalent) membership card with photograph attached, or a valid One Day Licence (pre-purchased through the Triathlon Ireland website). Failure to do so will result in the athlete not being allowed to race.

At registration, each competitor will be body marked and receive a swim hat, two race numbers, and a ChampionChip. The race specific swim hat must be worn outermost during the swim leg. The ChampionChip should be attached to your ankle on race morning, according to the instructions provided. No chip – no time!

Bikes will be racked on race morning. Relay teams should check for specific instructions when registering. A Bikeworks bike mechanic will be available during the last two of hours of registration and again on race morning.

Pre Race

On race day, both athletes and spectators are advised to park at Groomsport Football Club. Upon entering Groomsport from the Bangor direction, turn right into The Brae and follow the signs. Please note that this is a residential area and care should be taken. The football club are kindly providing their facilities, including all day supervised parking and post race showers and changing. Parking off road will greatly reduce congestion in the village and provide a safer race for us all. For your safety, police will not allow parking in the centre of the village. Vehicles may be clamped or towed and any competitor found parked illegally will be disqualified from the race. Transition and race start is only about 400m from the football club.

Transition will be open from 5:30am for the full Ireman and from 10:00am
for the Half Ireman. Only competitors and officials will be allowed access. The
harbour car park will be open to boat owners and authorised race cars so care
must be taken. A toilet block and additional portaloos will be available.

Verbal briefings from race organisers and a Triathlon Ireland Technical Official will take place 20 minutes prior to each race. All competitors must be within the transition area at this time, as they will be registered with ChampionChip and counted onto the beach as they exit transition after these briefings.

Swim

Wetsuits must be worn. Once counted onto the beach adjacent to transition, competitors will have no more than ten minutes to warm up. Swimmers will be recalled onto the beach by crew blowing whistles. Once on the beach, athletes will be asked to stay behind a clearly marked start line. All competitors must wear the race specific swim cap. Slower swimmers should position themselves towards the back of the pack. The race will be started by the sounding of a klaxon. The swim course will go anti-clockwise around an almost triangular course. The first two marker buoys should be kept to your left, the third will be on your right. Any swimmer who gets into difficulty should follow standard protocol. Roll onto your back, try to stay calm and raise your hand in the air. A canoeist will come to your aid. Please take hold of the canoe at the front or back – not alongside the paddler. At the end of each lap, swimmers must exit the water and proceed up the beach to go around the static marker before entering the water for their next lap. At the
end of the swim, competitors should go directly to transition. As you enter
transition your chip will register your swim time. For safety reasons, please
also shout out your race number when asked. The Half Ireman will consist of two
laps, while the Ireman 226 Challenge will entail four.

Transition 1

Transition rules will be as laid down by Triathlon Ireland. Helmets must be fastened before bikes are touched. Do not interfere with anyone else’s equipment. If anything is knocked over by accident, please replace it. Bikes must not be mounted until you have passed the timing mat and mount line at the exit of transition.

Bike

A race number must be visible on the back at all times during the cycle. Triathlon Ireland trained motorcycle draft busters will be active on the course. Cyclists will be
funnelled to the exit from the harbour car park. Once onto the main street, you
turn right to begin the bike lap. Rules of the road apply at all times on the bike route. Whilst police and marshals will assist with traffic control, it is ultimately the athlete’s responsibility to protect themselves and other racers. Drafting is prohibited
in accordance with the rules of Triathlon Ireland. Details of the bike route can be found at www.ireman.org. All junctions will be signposted and road
markings will be in place. The route involves mainly left hand turns. Most
major junctions will also have a marshal in attendance. This route is mainly
through agricultural land so gel/bar wrappers should not be discarded. Penalties
will be applied for littering.

The bike loop returns to the outskirts of Groomsport village where an aid station is situated. Bottles of Powerbar and water will be provided. Fruit cake and sweets will also be available. A special needs bag containing your own food/drinks etc may be
left at this aid station. The athlete will be responsible for lifting their special needs bag and should not rely on a marshal. A Bikeworks bike mechanic will be mobile on the course.

At the end of the required number of laps (three for the Half, six for 226 Challenge), turn right into Groomsport village and then sharp right back into the harbour car park. Please take care going down the hill towards transition! Bikes must be
dismounted before crossing the timing mat.

Transition 2

Bikes must be racked before helmets are unfastened. Again, please show respect for other competitors’ equipment.

Run

A race number must be visible on the front at all times during the run. Once out of the transition area, go parallel to the beach and then take a sharp right turn and go up a nasty little hill to the Main Street. Then turn left. Details of the run route
can be found at www.ireman.org. The route includes tarmac, grass and sand.
Some parts may be slippery and will require extra attention. You will be running through both private property and land owned by The National Trust, please treat both with respect, and especially don’t litter. Aid stations are provided approximately every 2 miles. These will provide water, PowerBar, coke, sweets and fruit cake. Litter bins will be provided. At the end of the second lap, competitors will be guided down a lane towards the beach/swim start. Turn left at the beach to approach the finish line which is adjacent to transition. Smile as you cross the line. There’ll be plenty of time for feeling sore later.

The run course is two laps of a figure of eight. Those doing the longer distance will do a larger loop at each end. Road markings will clearly provide directions at all
junctions.

Post Race

At the finish line, we’ll provide fluids and food while your timing chip is removed. Ensure that you re-hydrate and fuel properly.

Post race showers will be available at Groomsport Football Club. A free massage will be provided in the boathouse adjacent to transition. Priority treatment will be given to those athletes who have raced in the 226 Challenge. Hot food will be available in the Groomsport Inn from 6:00pm onwards. All bikes must be removed from transition by 10:00pm when security will cease.

Thank you for choosing to race the Ireman Triathlons. Our Race Crew have given their time to allow you to race. Please be courteous and follow instructions as given. Enjoy your race.