Dear Athletes,
Following an analysis of the results from the triAthlone Classic event, we have determined that the errors in results were due to the following:
1) Incorrectly chosen age groups, date of births and wave starts
2) Disqualified athletes not handing back chips and continuing to race
3) Athletes not completing the full three laps of the run course
4) Athletes setting off the finish mat, by running close to it on one of their run laps.
Without any back up data, it is impossible to correct all of these errors.
We cannot arbitrarily conclude that "Athletes X's" run time was incorrect based on previous results even though it may appear unlikely that that person may have achieved a significant improvement in time for our race.
Should we make such changes, or seek to disqualify/penalise without any hard data to prove it, those athletes effected could justifiably object and we wouldn't really have a leg to stand on.
So, this is a catch 22 situation. The Age-group and Wave Positioning errors are a result of postal entry form errors which would not happen with a full on-line entry system. We are planning to have this in place from the beginning of next year.
Furthermore, due to the fact that there were two massive races on the same day, the timing company were a little stretched for equipment. Ideally, we would have a mat running accross the whole run finish area, to capture each time the athlete has completed a lap. This was not possible on Saturday.
Ultimately we have to rely on the honesty of any athletes who realize that there has been a mistake. This has happened, as both Paul Byrne, Jag Gunawardana have both acknowledged that they didn't deserve a prize. There are a few other obvious errors up at the top. We would hope that in the interest of our sport, these people would come forward and make themselves known to us. I think anyone that looks at the finish times can pick out the anomalies themselves.
We apologize for these errors and promise that we will do everything we can to ensure they don't happen next year.
Hugh McAtamney
Race Director - Triathlone
hugh@triathlone.com
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