All Schools Triathlon Prep Race

The Hills Tri Club All Schools Triathlon Prep Race will be held on Sunday 6^th February 2022 at Penrith Lakes, NSW.

This race is open to all students from NSW, enrolled in high school in 2022.  Triathlon Club Membership is not required.

RACE DISTANCES

• Student Registration Desk (under the covered Regatta Centre Grandstand) opens at 6.30am and closes at 7.15am.  All Senior, Intermediate and Junior athletes must collect their race pack (timing chip, race numbers) from the registration desk before 7.15 am.
• Transition (where you place your bike and run leg items) closes at 7.15 am.  All Senior, Intermediate and Junior athletes must place their bike and run leg items in transition by 7.15 am.  Transition will close at this time, and no access will be given to students after this time.  NB: only students will be permitted to access the transition area.
• Senior Athlete Race Briefing commences at 7.15 am in front of the Regatta Centre Grandstand.  Intermediate and Junior Race Briefings will also take place in front of the Regatta Centre, please listen for the race MC’s call to assemble in this area.
• Racing commences from 7.30 am. The race wave order will be:
  • Senior (Boys and Girls)
  • Intermediate (Boys and Girls) and then
  • Junior (Boys and Girls)

ENTRY POLICIES

• Entries Close Thursday 3^rd February 9pm, unless sold out earlier, only 300 entries available.
• Late/On the day Entries will not be accepted.
• Withdrawal is permitted up to fourteen (14) days before the race, please contact race@hillstriclub.com to request a refund for the race entry fee, minus any PayPal fees.  From thirteen (13) days to race day, no refunds will be given.
• Students 16 and under must be accompanied by a parent/guardian whom must volunteer (parent/guardians to receive one free race entry per student at the Hills Tri Club March Race to thankyou for your service).  Without race volunteers, these races cannot proceed.  Volunteer positions on offer allow you to watch your son or daughter race.
• COVID-19 VACCINATION IS MANDATORY for those 16 year and over students and spectators aged 16 or over must provide proof of double vaccination for entry to the Penrith Lakes Island.
  • Students will be requested to provide their vaccination document number when completing their entry. Proof of vaccination will be also required when collecting their race packs.
  • Spectators will be requested to provide proof of vaccination upon arrival at the island.  Please go directly to the Covid Marshall, provide proof of vaccination and receive and wear a wristband.  No wristband, sadly no access to the island.
• Please check this webpage https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/stay-safe/rules prior to attending this race and follow all health orders issued.
• If students or spectators are unwell, please do not attend the Penrith Lakes venue. 

LOCATION

The All Schools Triathlon Prep Race will be held at the Sydney International Regatta Centre at Penrith Lakes with entry through gate ‘A’. Registration and transition are located on the grassed area just over the bridge on the island on which the grandstand is located. A map of the event course will be available at the Registration Tent and will be available via the Athlete Briefing emailed the day prior to the event.

ACCESS and PARKING
Upon entering the gates of the Regatta Centre, you must abide by the speed limit imposed by the Regatta Centre management. Pause at the gate and prepare to check-in to the venue using your mobile device if directed by Regatta Centre staff. Due to the volume of athletes attending the race and the planned race course, no vehicle access will be offered on the island.  Instead please park on the Southern side of the competition lake, to the right just after entry.  Park only in marked parking areas and follow the direction of all Regatta Centre Rangers. Walk your bike and items required for racing to the island on the footpath area.

COURSE INFORMATION
The Race Director will be on hand at the registration desk to answer any specific questions you may have concerning the course, the rules and to assist you generally. Do not hesitate to raise any query no matter how trivial it may seem.

MEDICAL FITNESS/SIGNED WAIVER
You are reminded of your acceptance of entry conditions, waiver release and indemnification. Please note this is a legal part of entering the race and affects your rights. You have attested your physical condition to participate in this event. If you have developed a medical condition since you registered to enter, then this should be brought to attention of the Race Director and, where deemed appropriate by the Race Director, a medical certificate produced.

TIMING
The All Schools Triathlon Prep Race will use an electronic timing system, involving an electronic timing chip attached to a velcro ankle band. Your responsibilities as a competitor include:

• When you register, you will be issued with your timing chip.
• You must wear the timing chip at all times while racing. The timing chip must be attached to your left ankle before you check into transition. You must leave it on until you finish the entire race. It is a means of recording your finish times across the special timing points located at the end of each leg of the race
• At the completion of the race you will be required to remove the timing chip and place it in the bucket prior to leaving the finish line area
• As you have acknowledged on your entry contract, the timing chip and band is on loan and you are committed to returning the band intact with the chip to the Hills Triathlon Club, or pay a $50.00 fine.
• It is imperative that you return the timing band into the collection bucket at the finish line. Should you withdraw from the race at any time please personally visit the Race Director and let him know and return your chip to him. It is essential for us to know where you are on the course at all times for the safety of you, other athletes and spectators.
• The Race Director will monitor and collect timing bands from competitors who may be transported from the course direct to the Medical Recovery Area.

MEDICAL
Qualified First Aid Personnel will be on duty at transition. Please ask for medical help if you have the slightest hint you may need it. Any aid given by race medical personnel on the course is permissible and will not lead to disqualification. If, however, you have any other outside assistance you will be disqualified. You will be withdrawn from the race only if you require transportation, IV fluids, or if medical personnel consider your continued participation presents a danger to the health or welfare of you or others.

AID STATION
There will be a drink station on the run leg in front of the grandstand, with access to water in both directions on the run loop.

TOILETS
Toilet blocks are located behind the eastern end of the grandstand as well as in the boat shed behind the grandstand.

BIKE AND HELMET SAFETY
You should ensure that your bike is in race worthy condition and you must wear a Bike Helmet that carries an Australian Standards Approved Sticker. You should ensure that it is adjusted properly and fits securely underneath your chin.

TRANSITION PROCEDURES

Enter the transition zone only after you have registered at the registration area and only enter by the entrance that will be manned by Technical Officials. When entering transition your helmet should be on your head with the chin straps clipped together as if you were ready to race. Aminspection of your helmet and bike will be carried out by the Technical Officials as you enter the transition zone.
The transition area will closed prior to race briefing. Bags must not be left in the transition area. Officials will remove any bags that are left in the transition area and put them a bag area at the corner of transition. Plastic bags are also to be removed as they can be a trip hazard during the race.

RACE RULES
Triathlon Australia rules will be applied to the All Schools Triathlon Prep Race. Please refer to them if in any doubt on any aspect of the race. You will be able to discuss any questions/issues with the Technical Officials at the entry to transition on the day.

A copy of the rules is available at the web address below:

http://www.triathlon.org.au/

Any special rules that may be applied by the Race Director will be notified to you at the Pre-race Briefing. The Race Director and Technical Officials are in charge of race safety and logistics. The Race Director is responsible for providing a safe race course and has taken steps to make the race safe and enjoyable. Competitors are responsible for their own safety, the safety of their own equipment and are to be considerate of the safety of others.

LOST PROPERTY
You should place some form of identification on all your personal gear/property for ease of identification if any is misplaced and handed in to officials. Please note that the race organizers take no responsibility for lost property. Property handed into the officials will be available for collection until the transition area is dismantled and packed away at the registration tent. Unclaimed items will be discarded or delivered to charity.

RUBBISH ON THE COURSE
Please avoid discarding energy bar/gel wrappers and, where available, use garbage bins particularly on the run course. There is provision for disqualification for littering on the course.

PRE-RACE BRIEFING
Briefing will be distributed via email the day prior to the race.  There will be a prerace briefing on site, please listen out for announcements by the race MC.

SWIM CAPS
Must be worn for water safety purposes, please bring your own swim cap. If you do not have one, you can purchase one from the registration desk for $5 (cash only).

MAPS
Maps of the course are available on the Hills Tri Club Facebook page and will be available at the registration desk on race day. They will also be in the emailed briefing pack.

SWIM

The swim will be a mass deep water start (all swimmers from each wave will start in the water at a designated point)

• 750m – Senior
• 600m – Intermediate
• 400m – Junior

A wetsuit ruling will be determined on race day pending the water temperature taken by the Technical Officials. Wetsuits are permitted if the temperature is below 22 degrees. 

TRANSITION 1 
After completing the swim wave, students should proceed from the swim exit (concrete ramp), run along the path to the swim/transition entry point, go through to their bike in the transition area. Students must ensure that their helmet is on and fastened before un-racking their bike. Students must proceed through transition past the mount line on the roadway before mounting their bike.

CYCLE:

• 20km (4 laps) - Senior
• 15km (3 laps) - Intermediate
• 10km (2 laps) - Junior

The cycle course is a loop around the competition lake which is 5km long in an anti-clockwise direction.

This is a NON DRAFTNG EVENT to which all Triathlon Australia rules apply. You must overtake on the right-hand side of another cyclist and must cycle to the left side of the course except when overtaking. Please note that, while the Regatta Centre is closed to all vehicular traffic there may be pedestrians or other cyclists on the course. Competitors must be alert to the possibility of encountering a pedestrian at all times and must be prepared to give way to any pedestrians if a collision is possible.

TRANSITION 2
At the completion of the cycle leg, ensure you dismount your bike before the dismount line and then proceed to the bike entry point at the Transition area. Do not take your helmet off until the bike is fully racked in its original position.

RUN:

• 5km - Senior
• 4km - Intermediate
• 3km - Junior

The course for Run is the sealed path on the Northern edge of the main competition lake and is an out and back course.

All competitors MUST run on the RIGHT hand-side of the run course.

FINISH LINE
Will be under the Hills Tri Club red inflatable arch placed in front of the Regatta Centre Grandstand. After crossing the Finish Line, please remove your timing chip and put it in the bucket at the finish chute.

WEATHER POLICY
If there are extreme temperatures Triathlon NSW Hot weather guidelines will be considered. This includes

• Rescheduling the event
• Decreasing the bike and run distances
• Additional drink stations
• Specific cooling within the recovery area.
• For all Junior races the run leg will be changed to run a short loop from transition run exit along the footpath to the finish chute. 

If there is rain or air quality issues, a decision will not be made until race start time whether the event will continue or if any modifications will be required.  Any updates will be provided by the Race Director at the briefing.  If any pre-information becomes available, it will be posted on the Hills Tri Club Facebook page.

RACE RESULTS
Results will be available via a race results link that will be posted on the Hills Tri Club Facebook page.

ABOUT US

Hills Triathlon Club is one of the largest Triathlon Clubs in NSW, we run a professional and safe Tri Race Series each year and provide beginner to pro athletes the opportunity to race in a safe, controlled environment.  Our Under 23, Junior and Youth athletes are especially catered for and are some of the best in Australia.

We’re excited to give students the opportunity to prepare for their State Triathlon Championships.

Please contact our Juniors Coordinator, Jessica at juniors@hillstriclub.com.au should you, your students or their parents/guardians have any queries in regard to this event.

Mathew Darcy
Race Director
Hills Triathlon Club
race@hillstriclub.com
www.hillstriclub.com
https://www.facebook.com/HillsTriClub