Age Group Selection

Each year, Triathlon Ireland offers all Irish athletes a chance to compete at international level in triathlon, duathlon and aquathlon. If you make the team, you can be proud to represent Ireland and enjoy the experience of racing at an International Triathlon Union (ITU) World Championship or European Triathlon Union (ETU) European Championship.

For details of races and qualification routes, please go to the 2011 area for further details.

You will find below further information which will help you in your preparations for Age Group racing.  We would ask that you read through this prior to submitting an online application.

For any further age group queries please contact Amanda Mannix at selection@triathlonireland.com.

Due to the increase in age group athletes racing in the recent years, and to ensure the selection process is fair to all athletes, we have had to enforce strict deadlines on cut off dates.  All close off dates for applications and fees will be adhered to and no extension of dates or times will be given.

How to Apply for a Place

Fees

Travel/Accommodation

Bike Transport

Trisuits

Age Group Recognition

ITU Age Group Uniform Rules

FAQ

 

How to Apply for a Place

There are a maximum of 20 places available in each Age Group for all male and female Age Group categories.  For allocation of places and terms and conditions, please see the relevant year section.

All applications will be taken via an online entry system.  To submit an application:-

1.  Go to the 'members area login' and log into your membership using your own username/password

2.  Once you have logged into your membership, go to 'Age Group Selection' and apply for the race(s) you wish to apply for

3.  Once you have submitted your online application, you must then email your supporting documentation to amanda@triathlonireland.com.  See point 9 under Eligibility (under the specific Age Group year menu option) for supporting documentation required.

Fees

Racing for Ireland is a privilege and every Irish athlete who represents Ireland should do so with pride.  Racing in ITU and ETU events can become expensive. 

The race entry fees are higher than local races within Ireland.  As a guide, in 2011, the race entry fees ranged from €85 to €235.  The race entry fees are set by the individual race organiser and are not dictated by Triathlon Ireland.  These fees are not known until approx 6-8 weeks before the race.

Application Fee:  An application fee of €20 per race must be paid upon submitting your application.  This application fee is non-refundable.

Team Management Fee:  Triathlon Ireland is not in a position to be able to cover the costs of sending teams to World and European Championships. There will be an additional team fee on top of the €20 application fee. This fee will be announced after the selection period.  We estimate this fee to be €30 - €50.

We understand that costs to athletes is always a concern.  However, for teams of 12 or more athletes, there will be a minimal fee to all athletes, to go towards the Team Manager and the associated expenses with the management of the team.  This is to ensure that there is a port of call and support available to all athletes, whilst away, and the uphold the professionalism for team Ireland.

Refund of Fees: There are no refunds on the €20 application fee. Refunds will be given on the Race Entry Fee only if Triathlon Ireland has not processed the payment with the Race Organiser.

 

Travel/Accommodation

It is the responsibility of each athlete to arrange, book and pay for their own accommodation/flights/transport etc for all ITU and ETU events. 

Travel experts, Nirvana Europe, are the Triathlon Ireland travel partners for age group athletes travelling to domestic and international events.

Nirvana Europe are also the:

• Official Travel Partner for the British Triathlon Federation;
• Travel, Logistics and Accommodation Partner to  the European Triathlon Union;
• Official Travel Agent to Ironman Europe.

 

You do not have to book your travel/accommodation through Nirvana Europe.  However, we would recommend you do to ensure smooth and hassle free travel to your race.

Why Use Nirvana Europe?

• Nirvana Europe are specialists in travel to ETU & ITU Age Group Championships and to Ironman & Ironman 70.3 events, taking hundreds of athletes every year to these events
• Ever had difficulty booking your bike on a flight?  Look no further, Nirvana Europe can arrange to get your bike to any of your races
• Transfer to/from airport/hotel
• Nirvana can provide smooth and hassle free travel to your race
• Stay at the Team Ireland Headquarters Hotel at events, and be a part of the team unity
• Nirvana travel to all race venues before the event, so they are equipped with knowledge of the local transport/accommodation/airports etc

 

A typical Nirvana Europe package can include:

• Flights;
• Confirmed bike carriage;
• Airport meet & greet and return airport transfers;
• Accommodation in athlete friendly hotels, with early breakfasts on race days;
• Bike storage in hotel;
• Transfers from hotel to event site as necessary;
• Presence of Nirvana Europe Event Crew;

To view travel packages for each ETU/ITU race, please go to the dedication year off the Age Group Selection menu.

Click here to contact Nirvana Europe.

Bike Transport

It is the responsibility of each athlete to arrange, book and pay for their own bike transport to/from all ITU and ETU events. 

If you book your travel through Nirvana Europe (see above Accommodation section), you won't have to worry about getting your bike onto a flight, Nirvana Europe will do it for you!

If you do not book your travel through Nirvana Europe, you will need to book your bike onto the same flight you are catching.  You will need to book your bike and flight as early as possible as most airlines have a limited number of bikes they can carry.  There is normally an additional charge for your bike.

Alternatively, we have included below contact details of a company who may be able to help you with transporting your bike.  While Triathlon Ireland have not used this company before, other clubs/athletes have used them in the past.  We are by no means saying you must use this company and as we have not used them before, we cannot give a recommendation.  Their contact details are as follows:-

Eoin Gavin Transport

Woodpark, Bunratty, Co Clare

Ph: 086 816 1420

Trisuits

We have an online shop where you can view trisuits and polo shirts available for purchase and order quickly and easily online.  Your order will then be sent directly to the address you give on the order.

All athletes racing at an ITU or ETU race, must wear a trisuit supplied by Triathlon Ireland. 

All trisuits purchased through our online shop meet the ITU Age Group Uniform Regulations.  If you have a trisuit purchased through Triathlon Ireland including and prior to 2009, please ensure it meets the ITU Uniform rules. 

If you purchased a trisuit or any kit in 2010 or 2011 from RZ3, there have been no changes, so you don’t need to purchase a new trisuit in 2012.

Ordering Your Trisuit

To view and purchase trisuits and clothing, go to RZ3.    Please note that any clothing on this website cannot be purchased through Triathlon Ireland – it must be done online.

When you purchase a trisuit online, the country code and your surname will be printed on the trisuit for you.  Your trisuit will arrive on your doorstep ready for racing.

To ensure you receive your trisuit in time for your race, you must place your online order at least 5 weeks before the race.

All queries regarding an order, delivery etc, must be done directly through RZ3, not Triathlon Ireland.

Age Group Recognition

Triathlon Ireland announces a new recognition scheme to reward and acknowledge the achievements of our age group representatives.

In 2010, we saw in excess of 800 individual applications from members to race for Ireland internationally at the ITU/ETU European and World Championships in their respective age groups. In addition to the increase in the number of athletes racing, there has also been a marked increase in the number of podium finishes by Irish athletes in these events. We are pleased to provide recognition for these achievements and acknowledge the important part the age groupers play in the Triathlon Ireland team.

In order to recognise exceptional performances, Triathlon Ireland will fund the entry fee of a corresponding event in the following year for athletes who achieve a podium finish (1st, 2nd, 3rd in age group) at any of the below ITU/ETU listed events:

• European Triathlon Championships
• World Triathlon Championships
• European Long Distance Triathlon Championships
• World Long Distance Triathlon Championships
• European Duathlon Championships
• World Duathlon Championships

 

The funding will cover the cost of the race entry fee only.  All other fees are excluded from this funding.

The funding will take effect from 2011 based on results in 2010.

How do you apply for this funding?

To apply for funding, you must:-

• submit your online application & pay the race application fee for race you wish to apply for; and
• qualify for a place in that race.
  
  

Once you have qualified for a place, please advise Triathlon Ireland of your previous result and the entry for your chosen race will be covered by TI.

Other information:

• Athletes who wish to apply for funding, must still apply and qualify for event as per the standard application procedure (see relevant year Selection section of our website)
• Funding can only go towards any one race in the year following their podium finish.
• This funding only covers the cost of the race entry fee.  All other fees are excluded from this funding.

 

If you have any queries please contact us at selection@triathlonireland.com

ITU Age Group Uniform Rules

Please click here for the ITU Uniform Rules.  Please ensure you read through these and that your trisuit meets the regulations.  The main points to note for trisuits is that they have a rear zip, your surname and country code (IRL) is printed on both front and back of trisuit.  This is displayed in the rules.

FAQ

Q. Do I need to be a member to qualify for an age group team?

A. Yes, you need to be a current member of Triathlon Ireland.

 

Q.  If there is a Sprint and Standard distance race being run at the same Championships, can I race in both?

A.  Current ITU rules do not allow an athlete to take part in both the Standard Distance event and the Sprint Distance event at the same Championships. You can apply and qualify for both events but will only be able to register and race at one distance.

Applications:

Q. How do I register for an event?

A. Simply go to the Age Group Selection Area for the year you wish to race in, where you will find an online application form.

 

Q. Can I submit my application by post?

A.  No, from 2011 onwards, all applications must be submitted online and no application will be accepted by post.

 

Q.  Can I pay my 20 euro application fee by cash or cheque?

A.  No, from 2011 onwards, all application fees must be paid online, via our online secure server.

 

Q.  Should I submit my supporting documentation by post or email?

A.  We would recommend you scan and email your supporting documentation – this will be quicker and more efficient.  However, regardless of whether your documentation is emailed or posted, ensure it is received by 5pm on the closing date for applications, otherwise your application will not be accepted. Triathlon Ireland are not responsible for delays of post being delivered.

 

Q. I submitted my application after the closing date deadline, will it still be accepted?

A. No applications will be accepted after 5pm on the closing date.

If your application is received after the close off date, it will automatically be processed through the next available route in which you are eligible to qualify for.

Fees

Q. Can I be exempt from paying any additional fees over and above the race entry fee?

 A.  No.  No team member is exempt from any other additional fees. 

Race Kit

Q.  Do I have to wear an Irish trisuit?

A.  Yes, all Irish athletes racing in an ITU or ETU race, must wear an Irish trisuit.