The North West region were the IRC winners in 2013 and runners up in 2014 and 2015.

2016 IRC Race Weekend Report

Sunday 4th September was the date for this years Inter Regional Champs.The NW team had prepared well with lot's of training sessions run by the IRC team coaches across the summer. This year was by far the most well supported we had 63 people including 3 reserves travelling with the team.

We met early on Saturday the 3rd to travel to Strathclyde Country Park for the recce day. The team was in good spirit which was helped by having a quiz on the coach which was set by Elaine Cooke (Fraser Cooke's mum) the subject was Scotland, Elaine's native country.This is where the fun really started as when the answers where read out it came apparent that Daniel Lilley (T2 Boy) was the clear winner that was until i realized  Daniel was sitting next to Fraser who's mum had written the quiz. Daniel quickly received a DQ which meant the Thompson family where the ones to claim victory.They received there prize of shortbread biscuits  after the team meeting in the evening which also saw Daniel doing a forfeit of  hula hooping whilst answering lot's of questions (Hilarious was a understatement but the boy done good).

On arriving at Strathclyde on Saturday the team did a full recce of the swim,bike and run courses  the bike being one of the most technical yet seen at a IRC championships which great to see this left the athletes very excited and focused.

Race day came with the NW getting off to a fantastic start with Rhys Ashton (NW) winning. Rhys was 3rd going out onto the run but quickly ran into 1st place a great performance to take the win. There where strong performances by all the T2 boy's and girls with a special mention to Olivia Logan who came in 5th place out of 36 athletes.

T3 boys where next followed by the T3 Girls of which almost all finished in the top 25.Credit must also go to Harriet King who's wet suit ripped open and filled full of water Harriet decided to carry on swimming even though it was a struggle and finish the race. 3 of our T3 athletes will be in the same age group next year.

When the results where announced the NW Team came in 7th place overall.

I would like to take this opportunity to say a thank you to:  

- Lloyd Signs for the donation of their banners and car magnets. 

- Explosive Events for the donation of the base ball caps for all the team.

- Ian Johnston and Ken King for there help over the weekend.

- All the parents ,support crew ,coaches and last but not least all the athletes for there efforts and impeccable behaviour which was commented on by the hotel/restaurant manager she said the best she had ever witnessed you done your region proud.

Andy Rawley

NW IRC Team Manager

2016 IRC information

British Triathlon has announced that this year's IRC competition will be held on Sunday 4th September 2016 at Strathclyde Country Park with the practice day being on Saturday 3rd September.

Each regional team will be made up of T2 and T3 age groups with 3 boys and 3 girls being selected for each category resulting in team of 12 triathletes travelling to represent the North West Region In early September

The children that will represent the North West Region will be selected by Andy Rawley. In an attempt to make the selection process as transparent as possible the main criteria that will be considered when picking the 12 person team is detailed below. All the criteria below will be reviewed for each prospective NW Regional representative.  Andy will also consider, where possible, the athletes ability to work within a team, their attitude in adverse race situations and their ability to perform when it matters. The triathletes that measure up best to all the criteria will be selected. Andy's team selection decision will be final.

Andy will take into consideration all performances throughout  the season at any national races and in the North West Series but the main 4 races will be: 

1. Northern Triathlon Festival (Blackpool) on 5th June.

2. Salt Ayre Triathlon on 26th June.

3. Trawlerman Tri 10th July. 

4. Crosby open water Aquathlon on 16th July.

The team will be selected on July 17th. 

Before the team is picked there will be a number of training opportunities for prospective team members.

- The North West Region are aiming to organise at least one open water training session at Capernwray and at least one bike session at Salt Ayre. 

- This years IRC race, like last years race, will be on restricted gears, concept of restricted gearing [as used by British Cycling] . In short this will mean that the highest gears on children's bike will be disabled so that they can't be used. There will be a number of opportunities between now and the IRCs where training about how to restrict a bikes gears and why it is being introduced will be given. 

In terms of logistics for the event the model that has been successful for the last three years will be used again. The team will travel by coach on the morning of Saturday 3rd September, probably from Pimbo with two more pick up points probably [but not confirmed] as being Lancaster and Penrith. Details will follow on exactly where. We will stay in a local hotel on Saturday evening and return after the event on Sunday. There will be an opportunity to practice at the venue on the afternoon of Saturday 3rd September.

The following criteria will be considered in the team selection process and prioritised in the order presented for each of the prospective triathletes: 

1.       Must be available on Saturday 3rd to travel to Strathclyde on the team bus, stay overnight in a local hotel and race at Strathclyde on Sunday 4th September before traveling home on the coach on Sunday evening.This is includes all of the parents and family of the athletes chosen. If you cannot travel as a family on the coach we need to be notified as soon as possilble. Travelling all together creates team spirit. Athletes selected must travel on the coach.

2.       Must have a suitable road bike or have access to one.

3.       Must have a suitable wet-suit or have access to one and have participated in an Open Water Triathlon, an Open Water swimming race or Open Water swim training.

4.       Triathletes to have raced in a draft legal triathlon, a draft legal bike race or can demonstrate competence from attendance at bike drafting training sessions.There are plenty of crit races during the summer months at venues around the NW Litherland and Salt Ayre being two. This is a great opportunity to practice drafting and bike skills at race pace. If you are planning on attending at Litherland you will have to join up as a member of British cycling.

5. We also suggest parents to read the Parental Code Of Conduct  as last year it was witnessed at many races that this was broken. This could affect in your son or daughter being selected for the NW IRC team.

6. Run times for 1,000m and / or 1,500m

7. Swim times for 200m and / or 400m. 

8. Must be a Triathlon England North West member.

Three triathletes, and one reserve will be selected in each of the following categories with the reserve being stood down in the week preceding the IRC race once everyone has confirmed they are still available and fit to race:

• T2 Girls
• T2 Boys
• T3 Girls
• T3 Boys

If you would like your son or daughter to be considered for IRC selection could you please let us know as soon as possible. 

Andy Rawley IIRC Head Coach thestick70@googlemail.com

Andrew Richardson Assistant Head Coach

If you have any questions you can contact Andy Rawley using the details above.