Final Results

The Final Results have been compiled and are now ready for download. Click here to view/save the Adobe PDF document. If you have won a prize, please contact us immediatly and we can arrange for you to collect it at our collection points in Athlone or Dublin.

HAPPY DAYS!

hey ya all i for one would like to take this oppurtunity to thank the committee of TRIATHLONE for taking on and succeding at the momentous task that the days racing presented.
Fair play the hardwork was evident throughout and from the great emails and feedback ive been getting,(except for the mix up with the weather,the salmon run triathlon in Ballina got our weather,im joking Sandsy) the just shy of 700 competitors who particpated were pleased with the course and the challenge it presented.Thanks to the town and people of Athlone for there support,all the competitors who made it such a great race,a massive thanks to the supporters who braved a "Father Ted" style summer to cheer the gang on,a big thank you to the brave and hardy souls who voluntered there services for all the behind the scenes stuff that make a race work, and lets be honest,without whom there would be NO race,so thank ye all for the smiles in the rain,the competitors(of which i was one)for not crashing to much,.. and thanks to that guy who took absolutly EVERYTHING off after the swim to put his cycling gear onin front of a sizeable crowd i might add!!!!,you just dont see enough of that outside the army barracks on a wet and in one case wild saturday afternoon,mind you in Athlone,you never know..
and last but not least,a massive thank you to Hugh Mcatamney and Triathlone CEO Liam Heavin for the there amazing vision and dedication and personal sacrifice to make the race a very worthwhile experience...

i will see ye on a start line

dn

come race

ps i know i have forgetten to thank some people here but if you had posted me the cheques as arranged then you would be gloating now(CM)

(im kidding)

Official Statement on Timing Issues:

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

More Photos Available

More athlete photos have been made available. Click here to check out Griffin Pro Media's Photosite

Issues Concerning Results

We have been made aware of several singificant anomalies with the times posted on the provisional result sheet. It appears that this was mainly caused by people not completing the swim and then completing the rest of the course without handing in their chip! They were therefore crossing the timing mats and given times ,when they should have in fact been disqualified.

Further discrepancies have occured by athletes not completing enough laps in the run section. These include one or two prizewinners. Once can imagine our surprise on deeper examination of the results - with some runners improving their run times by over 5 minutes from other races earlier this year! We are currently trying to sort this out with the timing chip company, and will revert with a finalised results sheet shortly. We apologise for the error.

Lost & Found

A number of items were recovered from transition and are being kindly held by Morgan. These items are as follows:

1. One helmet
2. 3 wetsuits
3. A pair of goggles

No other items were found or have been returned to the organisers. Please email Morgan if you wish to reclaim these items: morgan@triathlone.com

Photos Online - © Gordon Thompson

Many thanks to official triAthlone photographer Gordon Thompson for his wonderful shots of the day. More will be available soon. If you would like to contact Gordon to arrange prints, you can email him on Gordon.Thomson@analog.com

Classic Photo Gallery 3 - © Gordon Thompson

CycleSuperstore Photos

Click here to view the CycleSuperstore Gallary of triAthlone 2006

Classic Photo Gallery 2 - © Gordon Thompson

Classic Photo Gallery 1 - © Gordon Thompson

Elite Photo Gallery 2 - © Gordon Thompson

Elite Photo Gallery 1 - © Gordon Thompson

triAthlone Provisional Time Sheets

Classic/Relay

Elite

triAthlone Provisional Results

The triAthlone Provisional Results are available on Triathlon Ireland's website.

Photos and report to follow. Anybody with photos of the event can send them to info@triathlone.com. We will put them up on the site with the rest of the them.

Pontoon is Craned In....

THIS IS AMAZING!! Check out the crew of 8 men from Inland and Coastal unloading the 36 metre long pontoon being
used on Saturday July 8th for triAthlone. A crane on one of three trucks used on Wednesday morning hoists a section above a traffic light and parked car into the Shannon. Pic: Morgan Fagg

Irish Aer Corps to Start triAthlone 2006!

AMAZING NEWS JUST IN! Subject to weather conditions, a formation fly-past of 3 aircraft of the Irish Aer Corps will mark the start of the triAthlone Classic Race at 5pm on Saturday!

triAthlone - don't just come race - COME RACE!

Elite Women now part of Classic

Due to low numbers, there will be no Elite womens race. All registered athletes will be re-assigned at no extra cost into the Classic Agegroups Race.

DONT PANIC!!!

DONT PANIC!!!

its only 4 days to go and i guess that a lot of people are wondering what to expect from what is shaping up to be the largest triathlon in Ireland so far this year. as a lot of the people who are competing in this race are new to the sport, i have put a few bits together to help you focus and prepare for saturday. and remember...dont panic stay well hydrated (constant sipping is better than downing pints of water over the next few days and dont have anymore hard training sessions at this point as it will not make a blessed bit of difference,relax it is far better to go in 90% trained and 110% motivated than the opposite...

you've done the time in the pool, spent the time on the bike and dragged yourself up the roads with your neighbours lookin at you sideways,but its all going to be worth it when you cross the finish line in Triathlone this weekend,trust me ,whether your a seasoned pro or a complete tri newbie savour and enjoy your race and remember...dont panic

Aim to be at the event with plenty of time this saturay. if your driving down to the event weigh off traffic restrictions in the town.(i would personally aim to park at the Golden Island shopping center opposite the finish line) go to the toilet

ATHLONE CASTLE
Start by registering, 12 to 3:30, confirming your start time (wave).be at the swim start before 4:50. Be clear as to where numbers are required (1 sticker on the helmet,1 sticker on the right hand side of the bike, 1 on the back of your top and 1 on the front for the run).Remember this is a split transition so your going to rack your bike and make your way to the opposite of the river to start the swim. go to the toilet
Next get your bike sorted out.Place it in the transition area. Make sure tyres are properly inflated, wheels spinning smoothly and bits like bottles and pumps attached. Go for a short ride to make sure the gears and brakes are working properly - any problems, ASK as someone will nearly always have the tool or bit you need if you haven't got it yourself. Leave it in a nice low gear so that you can pedal easily at the start of the cycle. (CM1) Your place will be pre allocated, so place your bike beside the corresponding number... Ensure you have your RACE ID card as this will ensure you can get in and rack up.no boxes, bags, suitcases,wardrobes,treasure chest etc are to be left in the transition area and we mean it(you will only need a bike,helmet,sunglasses cycling/running shoes, bottle so as you catch my drift...
Pin your number(s) to your top.TI rules say dont fold them,so dont,use a number belt if you wish. Make sure the front and back are not pinned together (CM2) go to the toilet
Make sure your laces are loose enough to get them on easily (CM3) or use speed laces(elastic)
The clothing you will be racing in should be on you at this stage ie your race kit and over this your warm up gear and you will be given a bag for the stuff you are going to use for the swim(goggles, hat, wet suit/lubricant race belt etc)....so leave your bike behind you with your helmet set up so as you can put it directly on your head and head across the bridge and make your way to the swim start...get over well before 4:50,it should take 5 minute walk and take in the nice view.. deep breath...inhale peace, exhale conflict..relax go to the toilet

dont panic

the gear you have on for your warm up will go in the bag that you carried over and this bag has a number on it and when your warmed up and ready for the GO,this bag is handed over and the Triathlone crew store it securely in one of our tents, to await you when you finish,and you will finish...

If it is raining (no we don't cancel the event!)
Have baby powder in your socks & shoes to ease entry and absorb water.
Vaseline helps prevent chafing when running in swimming kit go to the toilet
Walk through the route from the swim exit to transition noting any obstacles,the route to be taken and the carpeted exit up by the castle etc as you are going to be running over it in bare feet?
In transition visualise the sequence that you will do things in (see below). Remember the location of your bike and kit and decide the route you will take to it from the swim.
Identify the way back into transition after finishing the bike leg, where you have to dismount and the route back to your spot...there will be a lot of bikes there so look for some markers to work off(that pole, that tree etc make sure its not an item that could possibly be moved as when the red fog off competition descends over you you may experience difficulty rationalising during the race,,this is normal deep breathe inhale peace etc..

.Visualise the sequence, T 1 wetsuit hat goggles of,helmet on, bring bike to exit of transition and mount and pedal ...
Visualise the sequence when you get back - rack bike, then helmet off, change shoes (if appropriate), etc.
Walk the route out for the run. Take a note of the drink stations. go to the toilet
Go for a light jog to warm up, do your stretching exercises (what, you don't do them??). do your normal routine ,dont eat any fancy go faster foods as they will more than upset your stomach so play it safe, The Honey Pot in Athlone have sponsored part of the goody bags and can look after you for any last minute special dietary requirements...
.

One of the rules of triathlons is that race briefings never quite start on time.yours will happen prior to race start,This is because the organisers are sorting out about the roadworks that appeared the previous day, the gate/door that now has a new lock on (and no one gave them a key), the entrants who gave wrong info and need to be moved to the correct wave and who will cover for the marshal who is sleeping off the previous night's revelry (he had promised to be there!) you get the picture folks as you will see on the day a lot of people have put a lot of time to bring you the best race experience we possibly can...

have a smile on your face when your crossing the finish line (for the cameras) AND BE NICE TO THE RACE ORGANISERS AND MARSHALLS AS they really only want to you to have a fair safe race,which you will.
Keep well hydrated - take small drinks frequently · Check on queues for the loos and allow for the wait (CM4).

CM means common mistake!

remember,enjoy the swim. we have swam it and its fine,if you do hit any sort of difficulty,raise your hand in the air and one of the 60 water safety personell will be there to help you immediately..dont panic...weaker swimmers should stay to the back and sides during the swim as it can get a bit physical...

helmets must be worn on the bike so put it on first and take it off last please..

take care on the bike portion,rules of the road apply and no drafting in the classic race, ie a box thats 3 metres wide by 7 long which you have 15 seconds to get through,and if you do get passed by one of the many speed merchants you must drop back,so no sucking wheels,play fair as the draft busters will penalise anyone found cheating, also keep an eye out for potholes and other bits of dodgy surfaces,we will have them marked but you will still need to be vigilant...

take it eay for the start of the run untill your body shakes out a bit then get going...

enjoy the spectacle of the elite race,and the let yourselves go at the after party, and i guess that s that...enjoy yourself and the test that the course presents,have a safe and great race from all involved..

see you on the start line

derek nugent...come race!!!

derek@triathlone.com

Elite Briefing and Guidelines (4th july)

Hello Premier Athletes

There are a few guidelines and differences between the draft legal race and a non drfating race in athlone.

Please take note

- registration is open for elites until 4:30pm
- transition is open for elites until 5pm
- transition re-opens at 7pm
- elite briefing is IN the transition area at 7pm

Swim
- It is a pontoon start
- You will be given a position on the pontoon based on order viewable at registration
- your names will be called out on the day onto the pontoon
- If you fail to enter transition before the first cyclist reaches the top of grace road you will be disqualified

Transition
-you will pick your bike up on the church side of the road (at your number)

Bike
- No tri bars on the bike (nothing longer then the handle bars allowed)
- We have road closures in place but you must be wary and give way to cars and traffic
- If you are lapped on the bike you are disqualified
- you will exit transition cycle to the turnaround, come back through transition and around the castle roundabout and then back through transition.
- You will do this 3 times, on your fourth lap you will reenter transition on the river side of the road, drop your bike on the racks on that side of the road at your designated number
- You will do three laps of the town of Athlone starting from the finish area.

Finish

the first 10 athletes will receive prizes prizes to be handed out at the Athlone TOWN Centre (at 10pm sharp) which is located beside the prince of wales hotel (on the main street). You run by it 3 times.

Transition will re-open at 9pm

Hugh@triathlone.com

ENTRY LIST NOW LIVE!

Click here to view the entry list in Microsoft Word Format

Feeling Nervous? Good, coz there's only 4 days to go!

Getting the heebie-jeebies? Well, we have because the clock is ticking - and this time 4 days we will be just hours away from the dawn of triAthlone 2006! For those of you who are have their first initiation into triathlon, it a time to just chill out, read the Athlete Pack, and make sure that you have a clear picture in your head of what gear to bring, your pre-race nutrition and hydration, running order of the race etc. One of Ireland's top 10 triathletes and Midland Triathlon Club member Derek Nugent is preparing a general advice piece which will be posted here later for all of you who feel you need some help in preparing for the big day.

So here is some of the latest news and running order for the happenings on the big day:

-> Registration opens at 12.00 in Athlone Castle. It closes at 3.30 for Classic/Relays and 4.30 for Elites.
-> Setup your transition area (it will be numbered). No bags or boxes are allowed in transition - just your bike/helmet/etc
-> Following Registration/Trans setup, you should walk to the Finish Control Area to the Baggage Drop Tent.
-> Your Goodie Bag will contain your Race Numbers, Swim Cap, ID Card etc.
-> KEEP YOUR ID CARD ON YOU! You won't get in anywhere with it!
-> Put on your wetsuit in Finish Control Area, and walk to the Pontoon for Race start. Classic/Relay, get there before 4.50!
-> Here you will put in your wave according to your Agegroup.
-> Classic and Relay Races start IN the water. Elites start on the Pontoon.
-> The swim safety team numbers 60 in total and is lead by Athlone Sub-Aqua Club.
-> On exiting the water, the run into transition is up the steps by the castle.
-> For Classic/Relay athletes, bike racks will be down the middle of Grace Road - & will be numbered.
-> For Classic/Relay athletes, Rules of the Road apply during the cycle. Roads are NOT closed.
-> A corridor will be barriered across the Town Bridge on exit of transition to begin the run.
-> The Run Route has been modified, and will now not go through the Civic Centre
-> From the left turn at Griffith Street, it will now come STRAIGHT up Church Street.
-> Prize Presentation will now take place at 9.30pm on a Podium in front of the Civic Centre.
-> Post-Race Party kicks off at 10.00pm in the Price of Wales Hotel, adjacent to the Civic Centre.
-> DON'T loose your ID Card - No ID Card, NO FREE ACCESS TO POST RACE PARTY!

We're all really looking forward to seing you Saturday. Let the fun and games begin.....

Aquathon Results!

the Lions Club Aquathon 2006 was a great success this morning. Special thanks to DB Cycles, Athlone Regional Sports Centre, Midland Trophies, the Lions Club, the timekeepers from Midland Tri Club, the triAthlone team, and our budding athletes! It made getting up at 7.30 very worthwhile! Pics to follow next week....

Click here to download the times and results in Microsoft Excel Format