Victoria Park Road Relays 2023

COMPETITION RULES

1. Only teams pre-registered online can participate.
2. Each relay team must consist of FOUR DISTINCT running athletes. Runners may only run in one leg per race. If a team includes a runner who has already run a leg of the race, that team will be disqualified.
3. All runners on a team must be registered with the same club.
4. Runners 16 and over can participate in senior races.
5. Runners aged 35 and over can participate in Masters races.
6. Runners aged 35 and over may run in the senior and masters' races on the same day.
7. All competing athletes must follow instructions from all race officials and marshals.
8. Club officials are required to ensure that information provided by the organisers, including Race Rules and Declaration Forms, are circulated to their runners in advance of the race day.
9. Club officials, supporters and non-competing athletes must not obstruct the course during competition.
10. Club vests must be worn.
11. Headphones are not permitted. Deviations shall result in straight disqualification.
12. Race numbers must be worn on the front of running vests.
13. Each team registered online will receive four numbers, i.e., 157A, 157B, 157C and 157D. Letter A is for the athlete running the leg 1; letter B is for leg 2 and so on…Runners are responsible for ensuring that the correct race number / letter is worn for each leg of the race.
14. Start and finish pens will be in operation and runners will be called to the start pen in advance of each changeover and be called onto the course beside the starting judge. It is the responsibility of each runner to ensure they are in place, in good time, to be released by the starting judge.
15. Athletes must not warm up on the racing course. The park’s outer and inner trails will be available for warming up.
16. Team Declaration Forms are required to validate entry into each race. Team captains or their nominees are responsible for ensuring that their team Declaration Form is completed and returned to the on-site registration officials within the deadline of one hour prior to each race.
17. Team order permutations and substitutions are only permitted from within the list of runners and reserves for that team as registered online on deadline day.
18. Final athlete running orders can be decided on race day and confirmed on the Declaration From. Once submitted, the team make up including its running order shall not be changed. Failure to comply will result in the team being disqualified.
19. All athletes will be issued with a timing chip. It is the responsibility of each runner to ensure timing mats are crossed during race laps.
20. Times for each team and leg will be published after the race.
21. First aid cover will be provided by Ambutran. Anyone witnessing an incident potentially requiring medical attention or any individual requiring assistance should alert the nearest marshal or official who will in turn contact Ambutran.
22. The event is being held in a public park which will remain open to the public throughout the event. Club officials, supporters and runners must respect all other users of the park. Athletes’ inappropriate behaviour towards members of the public may result in disqualification.
23. The park is well stocked with public bins and additional large bins will be provided for the event at the start/finish area as well as at the race packs collection area. Any athlete or club member/official caught littering may result in disqualification.

AVAILABLE COMPETITIONS

NI & Ulster Senior Road Relays Championships

These are closed championships for both male and female Senior races.

Only Senior teams from clubs registered with either Athletics Northern Ireland or Athletics Ulster are eligible for podium and medals.

Clubs must ensure that their participating athletes in these championships are registered with at least one of the above-referenced bodies. Failure to ensure full registration (including the anti-doping disclaimer as applicable) shall lead to disqualification.

Male and Female Championship Senior medals will be awarded to first 3 teams in NI & Ulster Senior Road Relay Championships.

NI and Ulster Masters Road Relay Championships

These are open championships for both male and female Master races.

Master teams from clubs from outside Northern Ireland & Ulster are eligible in these championships. Participating clubs must be registered with either Athletics Northern Ireland, Athletics Ireland, Scottish Athletics or England Athletics.

Clubs must ensure that their participating athletes in these championships are registered with one of the above-referenced bodies. Failure to ensure full registration (including the anti-doping disclaimer as applicable) shall lead to disqualification.

Male and Female Championship Master medals will be awarded to first 3 teams in NI & Ulster Masters Road Relay Championships.

Trophy will be awarded to the first finishing team in each race. Cash prize policy will be announced closer to race day.

A cash prize for the fastest leg runner in each race will be posted out after the event.

Victoria Park Senior Open Road Relays

Male and Female Victoria Park Senior Road Relay races are open to all clubs located anywhere in Ireland and the United Kingdom.

Senior teams from clubs affiliated with either Athletics Northern Ireland, Athletics Ireland, Scottish Athletics or England Athletics are eligible.

Clubs must ensure that their participating athletes in these championships are registered with one of the above-referenced bodies.

Failure to ensure full registration (including the anti-doping disclaimer as applicable) shall lead to disqualification.

Male and Female Senior medals will be awarded to first 3 teams over the line in the Seniors Victoria Park Relays Open.

Trophy will be awarded to the first finishing team in each race. Cash prize policy will be announced closer to race day.

A cash prize for the fastest leg runner in each race will be posted out after the event.

APPEALS

A jury of Appeal consisting of 3 independent members will consider any appeal relating to the result of any race. Rules of appeal are as follows:

1. Appeals must be made within 30 minutes of the official result being announced for the event. Note: on the day results are preliminary and will be ratified before being made official
2. Appeals can be made verbally to the race referee by an authorised person representing the club concerned.
3. The race referee may decide on the appeal or may refer the matter to the jury of appeal. Clubs will have the right to appeal to the jury of appeal if they do not agree with the referee decision.
4. An appeal to the jury of appeal must be made in writing within 30 minutes of the race referee’s decision, signed by an official on behalf of the club and shall be complied with a deposit of £50 that will be forfeited if the appeal is not upheld.
5. The jury of appeal will meet within one week of the event to review the appeal and will inform the club in writing of the outcome.

RACE TIMES

• 11:00am - Masters Women
• 12:15pm - Masters Men
• 1:45pm - Senior Women
• 3:00pm - Senior Men

GENERAL EVENT INFORMATION

Toilet facilities will be provided at the start area. There is also one public toilet at the entrance car park.

There are no changing facilities available; clubs are encouraged to bring their own gazebo.

Clubs may bring gazebos; a designated area will be provided near the start and finish area.

Car parking at the park entrance is limited. Overflow car parking is available at these alternative locations:

• Connsbank Road (Off the Airport Road)
• Inverary Drive (a pedestrian bridge over the dual carriageway and railway line provides connectivity to the park)
• Tommy Patton Car Park on Inverary Avenue (short walk to the pedestrian bridge and park)

Race packs collection (race numbers, timing chips, etc…) and handover of completed Declaration Forms will take place under the marquee located just past the bowling pavilion.

Number collection and processing of the Declaration Forms will open at 9.30 am.

All FOUR numbers of any team are to be collected at the same time by the team captain its nominee. If possible, we would request that each club nominates one single person to collect all their race packs together for all their teams.

FAQs

Where does the event take place?

Victoria Park, East Belfast

How do I enter?

Pre-registrations is online only - Enter online

What is closing date?

19th September 2023 at midnight.

How much does it cost?

£40 per team

How do I pay?

Online payment when you pre-register

What are the distances?

4 x 3380m

What are the age cut offs?

Athletes aged 16 and over can participate in Senior race but only if registered as Seniors with their athletics body organisation and have paid the appropriate higher Senior Registration fee.

What are the age cut offs for the Masters Relay?

Athletes wishing to compete in the Masters Relay must be at least 35 on the day of the event.

Can teams be pre-registered before the runners and the reserves are known?

Yes. We advise you pre-register your team(s) at the earliest opportunity as the number of teams per race is limited. When you know the make up of your team(s), you go back to the online entry system and populate the blank fields with the names of your runners and reserves. You have until 19th September to modify and/or complete these fields.

The form asks me to enter 4 runners and 4 reserves, but I have less than 8 athletes available?

All you need on pre-registration closing date is a minimum 4 runners. If you do not have any athlete on the reserve list, that is fine. However, without reserves you will not be able to substitute a runner who may become injured or sick or simply unavailable between the pre-registration closing date and race day.
Note that a person can be named as a reserve for more than one team. However, that reserve can only race for one of those teams in one specific category (e.g. the reserve is not allowed to participate in leg 1 for Master team A and in leg 3 for Master team C).

What is the refund policy?

Once you pre-register a team, even without populating the fields for runners and reserves, your money is committed and cannot be refunded. Refunds cannot be given for failure to field a full team on the day. A team can participate as long there are a minimum of 4 athletes confirmed on the Declaration Form on race day and it can be made up of e.g. 1 runner and 3 reserves provided they are all pre-registered online in that team.

One or more athletes in my team is not registered with an Athletics official body. Can I still enter the team?

No. All your athletes including the reserves must be registered with either Athletics Northern Ireland, Athletics Ireland, Scottish Athletics or England Athletics.