British Triathlon Big Weekend
The IRC's comprise a weekend of racing by regional teams from throughout the UK at the British Triathlon U20's Festival. This years 2023 U20's Festival is taking place over the weekend of 9th and 10th September at Mallory Park, Leicestershire. The individual T2 and T3 IRC races will take place on Saturday 9th September with the T2/T3 mixed relay taking place on Sunday 10th September.
Each region takes a team of 16 athletes from TriStar 2 and TriStar 3 categories (4 male and 4 female athletes from each age group).
Following the same format from the last couple of years, both age groups - Tristar 2 and Tristar 3 - will race over a Heats and Finals format on the Saturday. With an A and B Final every athlete, irrespective of their heat finishing position, will get an opportunity to race twice. Race distances will remain the same across both heat and final and are reflected below; the interval between heat and final will be a minimum of 3 hours.
Tristar 2 – Aquathlon
(300m swim / 1.25km run) x 2
Tristar 3 – Triathlon
(300m swim / 2.5km bike / 1.25km run) x2
Qualify for the 2023 London IRC Team
T2
1. Merchant Taylors' Open Water Aquathlon - top 3 London qualified boys and top 3 London qualified girls automatically qualify for the team.
2. Remaining 2 places (fourth team member and first reserve) - highest combined points from their best 2 points scoring aquathlons (from all 4 races).
NB. As in all previous years, you will only be considered for selection if you are a member of a BTF recognised London Triathlon Club or live in London and have the person's BTF membership registered with the region as London.
Squad announced - w/c 3rd July 2023 (4 boys + 1 reserve and 4 girls + 1 reserve athletes)
T3
1. Eton Dorney Family Triathlon - top 3 London qualified boys and top 3 London qualified girls automatically qualify for the team.
2. Remaining 2 places (fourth team member and first reserve) - highest combined points from their best 2 points scoring triathlons (from all 3 races).
NB. As in all previous years, you will only be considered for selection if you are a member of a BTF recognised London Triathlon Club or live in London and have the person's BTF membership registered with the region as London.
Squad announced - w/c 18th July (4 boys + 1 reserve and 4 girls + 1 reserve athletes)
IRC Preparation Sessions
For the 20 London athletes (16 qualifiers and 4 reserves) there will be special training sessions organised within London in the weeks prior to the IRC event. These sessions are designed to prepare and equip London’s IRC team with the skills and tactics required for the IRC event and will sit alongside your summer training schedule. The sessions will cover open water starts, sighting, drafting, turning around buoys, wetsuit removal, speedy transitions, mounting and dismounting, drafting & bike handling plus running off your bike. The sessions also help to create a great team atmosphere and vibe, giving athletes and parents a chance to mix together and support each.
It is mandatory that all selected athletes will attend at least one of these sessions to prepare them for the competition and demonstrate their open-water swimming and drafting skills. The IRC is a sizable step-up from the regular London series and should be treated with due respect by parents and athletes. In addition to racing against the best athletes in the country it incorporates an open-water swim and the cycle is both gear-restricted and draft-allowed race (see links at bottom of the page for more information on what these mean), which will be unfamiliar to many athletes. Except in exceptional circumstances, failure to attend will result in the offer of a place being withdrawn and offered to another athlete able to attend the training sessions. Timing of sessions to be confirmed, but normally morning 8-11am.
