Recently I asked the race organiser of a running event I was timing where the exact finish line was so that we could set up our timing mats. The reply I was given was “roughly around about that tree”! This comment made me wonder how accurately the distances are measured for events that people are participating in. Although the number of events continue to grow throughout Ireland it seems that a smaller percentage of them are measured using the Jones Counter course measuring device.

( Note from the Road Running Technical Council of USATF: The “Jones Counter” is the device which is now used universally for recording wheel revolutions when measuring race courses using the calibrated bicycle method. This article first appeared in Summer 1984 in the RRCA publication Footnotes. Alan posted it more recently in MNForum on 1998 June 10. In addition to inventing the Jones Counter, Alan Jones is the author of widely used software for race scoring.)

The measurement of the course is one area that seems to be somewhat vague in Triathlons, Duathlons, Mutlisport and Adventure races. If the event organiser promotes the event to be a certain distance – multisport events with a 12km run or a Sprint distance triathlon (750m swim, 20km cycle and 5km run); how important is it to you that a course is measured accurately?

When  RFID Timing Australia produced their first ULTRA UHF disposable they realised the need for a UHF multisport tag. In a nutshell a disposable tag that could be used for triathlon or any other sport the chip must be attached to the ankle because a shoe cannot be worn for all disciplines and often a wetsuit is worn right up to the transition between swim and cycle.

The biggest challenge currently when using passive UHF tags is water, this is a major barrier to good read performance.

This can occur either due to the tag’s close proximity to the skin or having a wetsuit dripping in salt water wrapped around the transponder. Most attempts at a solution in the past have seen chunky plastic clips used to hold the tag off the skin but this is cumbersome and not effective for wetsuit swims. Watch this space, sign up for our newsletter – minutes! to be keep up to date.

For now we can use a range of UHF disposable tags for running, cycling , duathlon,  kayaking,  etc. Get in touch so we can help you out with our new system.

SportsTiming have timed a wide range of events in 2011 – These included Duathlons, Triathlons, Road Running, Cycling, Adventure Races, Open Water swimming and more.

We have noticed that some events are growing so fast that the manual system they have used to date is no longer able to cope with the number of participants. Regardless of the entry fee cost, everyone expects fast access to race results.  A challenge for manual timing or at the very least a very late night of data entry!

If manual timing is taking too long and you are considering using a timing company what system would work best for you?

When it comes to multisport events – Triathlons, Duathlons, Adventure Races etc. there are two options.

Active RFID chips

Passive RFID chips

At SportsTiming we use the MyLaps Prochip active system. This system is light weight and portable…..it also allows us for a 12m wide timing point if necessary.

Passive RFID also works well although there is more of a restriction with regard to the number of timing mats available. Both of these systems require you to have chips collected on the finish line.

When it comes to Running or Sportive cycling events it’s a choice of either a Passive RFID chip or the new UHF systems disposable tags.

The system we have gone with at SportsTiming is the RFID Ultra Disposable.  These can be worn attached to the back of the race number on the chest or on your shoe and meet the IAAF rules. This system works well for small, medium to large sized events, and as the chips are disposable, at the finish line participants can just walk off… saving time and hassle for all involved.

Stay up to date with how it works and what SportsTiming are doing on  Google+

The increase in the number of events has been astonishing in Ireland. Mainly in the Triathlon market some of which we have captured on our new event calendar website Racedates.ie We can only hope it’s not the event version of the Celtic Tiger! At the very least everyone will get fit and healthy along the way.

SportsTiming has certainly experinced a growth this year. Some events we have secured by default due to other timing companies being unavailable. Others, because of the timing chip solutions we offer to event directors from clubs and event management companies.

With a limited number of participants to go round it may now be a survival of the most creative – who offers the best value, the best quality, the best service? Let us know what you think on our Racedates Facebook Page.

Too my surprise there are still event orgainisers choosing to time their events manually.

Firstly I have to say great effort if you do, having been in the sports industry for 15 years I know the pressure it puts people under, and with increasing demand from participants to have fast results then I’m sure this pressure will increase as time goes by.

Not only that, if you do time manually you need consider the welfare of your participants. Waiting in cues to have their race numbers manually recorded is not good when it’s cold, wet or even scorching hot! All you want to do is warm down and change clothes.

Regardless of how little participants pay to enter your events they want fast results.

If you are still manually timing you may not know, electronic timing is not a NEW concept. The first manufacture to introduce electronic transponder timing was AMB Identification & Timing, although it was in motorized racing. Since 1983, AMB active transponders are used in several motorized sports ranging from RC model car racing, high speed car racing, motocross, motor cycle racing, kart racing to snow cross. Since 1992 AMB transponders are also used in non motorized sports such as cycling, marathon, horse racing and triathlon. There are now three main types of timing systems. RFID, Active and UHF... check out more information

Triathlon Timing Explained – Timing Chips, Timing Mats, etc

So when your are planning your event, price timing into your budget your day will be less stressful, good luck with your event planning for 2011.

Every event director dreams of ways to save money, or to have services provided at a competitive price. Both are a challenge in a world of never ending increases in costs when planning an event. So why would you worry about adding value?

I believe you need to consider adding value when people have the chance to participate a large variety of events, so how do you do this without adding to the bottom line.

Sponsorship? Yes, this is one way though it is becoming a challenge to find….

Clothing? Another way to added value to participants though does effect the bottom line.

How about small things when it comes to your results like commentator screen (making each competitor feel as special as the last when they cross the line. online certificates (free for competitors to download from our results portal), or results on the finish line. Small receipt printer that competitors can get there placing from until price giving is started.

A hard question to answer. When it comes to sports events what is it that makes the participants think they are getting value for money? now they have so many choices when it comes to the variety of events to choose from.

Over the past few years this has changed significantly, when I started NDuro Events in New Zealand nearly nine years ago it was very simple. Make sure the event was fun, well run, course clearly marked and you have loads of great spot prizes.

Now it is way more than that! Not only are people looking for a well defined (arrows) and marshaled courses, well run event, spot prizes, prize money, fast prize giving, quick results, etc, etc. They are looking for an overall experience!

For the first timer  this could mean guidance and help throughout the day, a certificate, a finishers shirt, and for the experienced it mean a course that allows them to achieve a PB, or access to results and the ability analyze everything. As long as all sports event management professionals understand it’s different for everyone then our numbers should stay consistant or grow.

As more and more eventscontinue to come on stream, participants will vote with their feet! To prevent this from happening to your event, what can add value to your event for very little cost?

Over the past few weeks I have noticed more and more inaugural events finding their way into the Irish events calender.

These events range from Sprint Triathlons to good old MudRuns. Where will it end?

As someone who has worked in the industry for the past 10 years, I have to say it is a very exciting time for the Irish participants. It can only mean good things:

1. Choice of events for participants will be endless
2. Race organisers are going to need to step up there game in order to remain competitive in a busy market place.

Yes, that’s correct! Sports Events are very much an industry, and there are only so many participants.

Having experienced similar growth in the New Zealand market nearly 5 years ago, it’s going to get a little busier yet. Race organisers beware, participants do vote with their feet.

So are events giving you value for money?

I was lucky to have been associated with 88Bikes through my role as the event director for the  Kiwi Bikes SSCWC10nz.com. If you like mountain bike events then take the chance to compete in maybe the only world champs most of us will ever qualify for!

The SSWCNZ event recently donated 8 bikes to them and I would like to see more donated from around the world. A recent 88Bikes twitter posting lead me to a link to TimeforKids, take the time to have a read. Go on back a great cause…..

I have been thinking about our tag line for some time now, currently this sums up Sportstiming.ie
With more and more people realising 20mins of exercise every day does you good, more events keep popping up every week around the world. So how does this effect us, well interest is high in what we have to offer. I would see our first timing job in Ireland is not far away.

If you would like to know more about what we can do for your event don’t hesitate to contact us.