AGE GROUPS AND MIMIMIUM AGE

All competitors entered as individual’s must be 18 years of age or older as of 31st December 2013.  

All competitors entered as team’s must be 14 years of age or older to complete the swim section and 16 years of age or older to complete the bike and run sections on race day. All competitors under the age of 18 are required to complete the waiver.

The Kellogg’s Nurtri-Grain Taupo Half is run under Tri NZ Rules. The event runs 5 year age groups with your age calculated as at 31st December 2013.  

The official age categories for both men and women following the Tri NZ Rules and are as follows: 

Elite
18-19
20-24
25-29
30-34
35-39
40-44
45-49
50-54
55-59
60-64
65-69
70+

There are 3 team categories: Male, Female and Mixed.

AID STATIONS

There is 1 aid station on the bike course which you pass by twice.  It is situated on Broadlands Road approx 2km south of Ohaaki Road.  There will be both Balance Electrolyte and water available.There are 2 aid stations available on the run course.  The first is along the lake front near the bottom of Taharepa Road and the 2nd at the 2 Mile Bay Sailing Centre.  There will be both Balance Electrolyte, Gels and water available.The drink and gel flavour on both the bike and run course will be advised nearer race day.    Each aid station will have drop zones either side.  This is the area to discard bottles, banana skins, gel wrappers etc.  There are to be no discards of any kind on the course except at designated areas.  Discards outside these zones may result in disqualification.  

ATHLETE BRIEFING (compulsory)

Please note that Athlete Briefing will take place 15 minutes prior to the race at the swim start in front of the Taupo Yacht Club.  It is compulsory for all participants – every team member and all individual participants to attend the athlete briefing.  

BIKE CHECK IN

• Will take place at transition at the Tongariro Domain beside the Great Lake Centre on Friday 13th December 2013 between 2pm and 7pm only.
• Once registered, you are required to check your bike into transition for the race. A Bike Number will be supplied in your race pack, this must be attached to your seat post with the numbers visible from both sides. You are not permitted to register on Friday evening and check your bike in on Saturday morning prior to the race.
• Technical Officials will carry out a cursory inspection of your bike and helmet.  Only bikes and helmets that meet Tri NZ competition standards will be accepted into transition and therefore into the race.
• Please note that the bike check-in is a safety precaution to monitor basic soundness of your bike and helmet.  It is your sole responsibility to ensure the mechanical and safe operation of your bike and helmet prior to and during the race.
• All race numbers will be allocated a bike rack. Participants are requested to rack only in the designated rack space for your race number and by handlebars.
• All accessories and/or event requirements should be removed from the bike until Saturday morning.  Your competitor bike number (issued at Registration) must be attached to the seat post with the number visible from both sides. You must ensure it is secure and it must not be defaced or cut in anyway. You will be able to go to your bike on race morning to pump up your tyres, place your drink bottles and any other race gear you require.
• The bike compound will be secure and monitored from the start of registration 2pm on Friday 13th December 2013 until 3pm on Saturday 14th December 2013. 

CONTINGENCY PLAN

All decisions regarding the implementation of the Contingency Plan will be made by the Contingency Committee. The decision of the Committee is final.  Any decisions taken are made in the interest of athletes’ safety.  The race organisers reserve the right to alter this schedule and plan.

1. A final decision if the swim will proceed will take place at 5:45am or as soon as practicable with daylight. This announcement will be made via the event PA system.
2. In the event that weather conditions preclude the swim, the race will become a Duathlon (5km run, 90km bike and 21.1km run).
3. The race will start at 6:30am in waves for all individuals and teams. See start schedule for times below.
4. The initial first run is 5km.  Starting in front of transition, run down Story Place, turn right on Tongariro Street, turn left onto Lake Terrace to the turn around and return along Lake Terrace onto Ferry Road reentering transition at the original swim entrance. 
5. The remainder of the race continues as per the original race with a 90km bike and 21.1km run.
6. In the advent that weather conditions also prevent the bike leg taking place, the event will be cancelled.

Start Schedule

6.30 am Pro Men/Women
6.33 am Men 18-34
6.36 am Men 35-39
6.39 am Men 40-44
6.42 am Men 45-49
6.45 am Women 18-34
6.48 am Women 35-44
6.51 am Men 50+
6.54 am Women 45+
7.00 am Men and Women’s Teams
7.03 am Mixed Teams

COURSE DISTANCES

Swim – 1.9km
1 lap lake swim from the Taupo Yacht Club.

	Printable Map
	Size: 111kb

Bike – 90km
1 lap course heading out of Taupo to Reporoa on Broadlands Road, then returning to the Taupo Yacht Club.  All roads will be open to the traffic, normal road rules must be followed.

	Printable Map
	Size: 239kb

Run – 21.1km
2 lap course following Lake Taupo lake front heading out to Rainbow Drive, then returning to transition along the Lions Walk, then repeat a 2nd time. 

	Printable Map
	Size: 220kb

For a detailed course description click here.

DIDYMO WETSUIT DIPPING

It is compulsory that you bring your wetsuit to registration (Friday 13th December, 2pm to 7pm) as the Department of Conservation have to wash all wetsuits before entering the lake in case of contamination with Didymo.  You will not be able to register for the event until this has been done.  The Conservation Department will have dipping baths set up on the Tongariro Domain next to the Great Lake Centre.  If you would like more information on didymo please visit the Department of Conservation website. We would like to thank the Tuwharetoa Maori Trust Board for allowing access to Lake Taupo.

DRAFTING

The Kellogg’s Nutri-Grain Taupo Half is a non-drafting race run under Tri NZ rules.  These rules are monitored on the day by official Tri NZ technical officials.  In this race the drafting penalty is 3 minutes.  This penalty cannot be appealed.  Please refer to the Tri NZ rules for further details.

DROP BAGS

There will be a drop zone at the swim start for you to drop your pre swim bag.  You will be able to get this back in transition once you have finished the event.  Do not put any items you  need during the race in your bag as it will not be available again until you finish.

ENTRY FEE AND CLOSING DATES

Entries are available online here with a credit card payment.  If you do not have access to a computer or credit card please contact us.

Entries are limited to 900 Individuals and 250 Teams.

Entries will close on 1st December 2013 or earlier if maximum entries are reached.  Late entries will be taken on Friday 13th December at registration.

The Race Director reserves the right to reject any entry or issue special invitations.

EXPO & SPECIAL OFFERS

Event Sponsors, Triathlon retailers and associated products will be on display at the Great Lake Centre on Tongariro Street during registration.  Access is open to all spectators and family members from 2pm to 7pm on Friday 13th December.

EVENT RULES

The Kellogg’s Nutri-Grain Taupo Half is run under Tri NZ rules.  Please see the Tri NZ website for more information.  

GLASSES TABLE

There will be a table available at the swim start for your glasses.  Glasses must be labelled with your race number or placed in a numbered bag.  Please call for them as you exit the water and they will be handed to you.

PHOTO’S

SmileClick is the official photographer for the 2013 Kellogg’s Nutri-Grain Taupo Half.  To view and purchase photo’s, visit www.smileclick.co.nz.

PRIZE GIVING

The Kellogg’s Nutri-Grain Taupo Half prize giving will be held on the Tongariro Domain beside the Great Lake Centre at 4pm on Saturday.   

PRIZE MONEY

The top three men and women will receive prize money as listed:

Figures are NZ dollars and NZ IRD rules apply.

PROTESTS AND APPEALS

Any competitor who wishes to lodge a protest regarding the eligibility of a competitor or equipment specifications must make a protest to the Race Referee in person within 1 hour of completing or withdrawing from the race.

RACE DAY 

Transition will open to all athletes at 5:00am.  This is open to competitors only, and not supporters and family members. You cannot remove your bike from transition on Race day prior to the race for a cycle warm up. Do not forget your timing band and chip on race day. 

RACE PACKS

The race packs will include event giveaways and promotional material along with:

1. Race Number: It is mandatory for all individual participants to wear the race number on the bike and run legs. All team cyclists and runners must display this number throughout their legs of the event. The race number is to be worn on the participants back throughout the bike leg and moved to the front in the run leg as required. Safety Pins will be supplied at Registration for those participants without a race belt.
2. Bike Number must be placed on your seat post prior to the bike check-in with the numbers back to back behind the seat pillar so to be visible to all race officials during the event.
3. Helmet Number/Stickers must be placed on FRONT of your race helmet.
4. Electronic Timing Chip and Band: The event will be timed by an electronic timing system and involves the use of an electronic chip encased in a material ankle band. On race day, entrance to the transition area will be subject to participants having the timing band strapped to their right ankle. Do not lose or forget your timing band on race day – you will not be allowed into transition without these. Limited replacements chips and bands will be available however any lost timing bands will incur a fee of $50. 

REGISTRATION

It is compulsory for all participants to register on Friday 13th December 2013 between 2pm and 7pm only, at the Great Lake Centre, Tongariro Street, Taupo. Please make sure you plan your trip to Taupo to make it to registration on time. No early or late registrations will be permitted.

TEAM COMPETITION

Teams can consist of 2 or 3 athletes. A team can be made up of any combination of male and female athletes. All competitors entered as team’s must be 14 years of age or older to complete the swim section and 16 years of age or older to complete the bike and run sections on race day. 

Categories include:

• All Male Team
• All Female Team
• Mixed Team

The teams’ competitors will have a designated area in transition to allow ease of competitor changeover and flow. This will not occur at your bike but at a designated area within the transition area, this will be sign posted.

Not all team members are required to be at Registration, however, they will need to have dipped their wetsuit prior to registering. They must have racked their bike by Friday 13th December at 7pm. 

All members of the team will receive a registration pack.

WITHDRAWAL POLICY

There is a NO REFUND policy.  The only exception to this is if an athlete has to withdraw due to medical conditions.  We will require a medical certificate and a refund will be processed less a $75.00 administration fee.  All withdrawal requests must have been received by the organisers prior to October 31st 2013.  No refunds will be given after this date.  To request a refund/withdrawal please advise Taupo Half in writing to enter@halfironmantaupo.co.nz. 

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP SELECTION RACE

The Kellogg’s Nutri-Grain Taupo Half qualifies as a selection race for the 2014 World Long Course Distance Championship.  To be considered you must be a Tri NZ member (and you must have joined through a club).  You must contact Tri NZ to apply for selection details on their website www.triathlon.org.nz.

GENERAL RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR RACE

The event will be run under Triathlon NZ rules.  For a full copy of the rules please go to www.triathlon.org.nz

The Race Director and Race Referee shall have the authority to disqualify competitors.

The Race Director and Race Referee shall have Ultimate and Final authority to remove a competitor from the race if the competitor is judged to be physically incapable of continuing the race without risk of serious injury or death.

No competitors may use alcohol or any illegal drugs, stimulants, depressants or other substances with the intent to improve their performance, eliminate the sense of fatigue or for any other purpose. For details on banned substances please see www.triathlon.org.nz

Good sportsman-like conduct will be demanded of all competitors. Fraud, theft and acts of grossly unsportsmanlike conduct are grounds for immediate disqualification and will result in competitors being prevented from competing in any Kellogg’s Nutri-Grain Taupo Half event in the future.

Disqualification is the main penalty for any violation of the rules during any part of the event (this covers from registration until the end of the event). A disqualification may be appealed. Those disqualified during the race may continue in the race but remain disqualified unless the appeal is successful.

If a competitor decides to withdraw from the race at any time, it is their responsibility to notify the Race Director or Timing Official. Failure to give notification after withdrawing from the race may result in the competitor being prevented from competing in any Kellogg’s Nutri-Grain Taupo Half event in the future.

Kellogg’s Nutri-Grain Taupo Half  reserves the right to make rules changes at any time provided all competitors are notified in writing and/or at the pre-race mandatory briefing.

Competitors may not compete with a bare torso.

Competitors may not wear headsets or headphones at any time during the event.

 Under no circumstances can a competitor swap timing devices with any other athlete and no competitor must race under any name other than their own.

The responsibility of keeping on the correct course rests with the competitor.

Any protests regarding decisions made by Race Officials must be made in person and received by the Race Director or Race Referee within one hour of finishing the event.

The Race Director has the right to remove all competitors from the course at his discretion.

This race is run under Tri NZ rules and all rules and regulations apply.For a full version of the rules please see www.triathlon.org.nz.

Special thanks to our sponsors: