Race Information for the Dee Mile Swim
Parking
Car parking and registration is on the Meadows, Chester. You should access the Meadows through Handbridge via Victoria Crescent and Lower Park Road, the post code to use for Sat Nav is CH4 7BB.
We have parking spaces here for approx. 350 cars. You will be directed where to park by a marshal, please do so where you are directed as it is on protected land and we want to be able to come and use this space in the future. If you are unlucky enough not to get a space, please park respectfully of the local residents on the nearby roads. If you can, please think about car sharing or if you live locally enough – walk or cycle!
The Meadows will be open for people to park from 13:30.
On arrival you will see the registration area this will be a one-way system. There will also be on site toilets.
Registration
Registration will be in the Chester Triathlon marquee on the meadows. You will be directed to your race category after confirming your details with a marshal.
If you wish to change category ideally please do this before the day by logging into your entry at Nifty Entries where you can change your details. If you wish to change on the day please notify the registration marshals with the iPad and they will complete this for you before you collect your hat.
If you no longer intend to swim please cancel using Nifty Entries. The event is full and there are people on the waiting list who would very much appreciate the entry.
You will collect from registration the following:
- Chip for chip timing, this must be worn on your wrist outside your wetsuit otherwise you will not get an accurate time.
- Swim Hat with your race number written on your hand (this is the hat you will race in and must be the top hat if you are wearing more than one)
- Memorabilia Towel
Please note in the past we have issued plastic bags for bag drop at the finish line. In a bid to reduce our plastic consumption and limit handling of other peoples equipment you will be required to bring your own bag.
Bag Drop
Once you’ve registered, you will need to put everything you want taking to the finish in one bag you’ve brought with you. We will provide labels for you to mark your bag with your race number. This will need taking to bag drop 1, which will be next to registration. This will be taken to the finish
for you, so will need to include, something to get you dry, warm clothes and footwear. You need to do this before 16:20, so please do this as soon as you’ve registered. These bags will be taken to the finish for you and can be collected as soon as you finish.
Bag drop 2 will be close to the start of your race. This bag drop will take everything you take to the start of your race please keep this to a minimum (flip flops, etc), back to the registration area. These bags therefore, will be back at the marquee ready for when you’ve finished the race and then walked back to the registration area. NB – These bags will not go to the finish.
Please keep items you want transporting to a minimum as possible. If you’ve got friends / relatives with you, you can encourage them to carry your bags for you. Please note that although we will handle all your items with utmost care and respect, we will not be held responsible for any loss or damage to your items.
Safety Briefing
There will then be a safety briefing held at 16:00 by the marquee which you will need to listen to as it will provide you with information about the actual swim. This is for your safety and you must attend.
Start
All non-wetsuit swimmers must be marked off by marshals near to the start of the event. Please try to go past in single file and say your number loudly to the marshal to ensure you are ticked off. All swimmers will then be counted into the river, so please only get in where you’re directed to, as this is the only safe way that we can account for people getting in the river and then out at the finish. We ask you to get in carefully, however please get in quickly and with consideration for others try and maintain social distance as best as possible. There will be swimmers doing the event without wetsuit, or nervous competitors, so please bear this in mind so we haven’t got people waiting about in the river getting cold. We are waiting on a boat sailing up the river and turning round at the start of the Dee Mile Full (2k) before we can get in, but you will be updated at all times. As soon as this boat has turned, we will then start the process of getting people in to start the events. The Dee Mile Full (2k) event will be in 3 waves, wave 1 will be all competitive wetsuit swimmers and will be wearing BLUE hats, wave 2 will be non-wetsuit swimmers and will be wearing PINK hats and wave 3 will be wetsuit non-competitive and will be wearing GREEN hats. Please ensure that you go in the river with your correct wave.
The 1km event is one wave with junior and senior swimmers together. Swimmers will be wearing White swim caps. The 1km is a wetsuit only event and we cannot allow swimmers without a wetsuit to swim this year due to insurance reasons. If you don’t have a wetsuit please look at borrowing or hiring one for the day or you can also change to the 2km event.
Please note that you can change the category you’re entered in yourself up to the closing date. We can accept changes on the day, but please try and do this before the entry system closes to ensure a smooth process on the day.
Swim
The event will finish under the suspension bridge, on the opposite side of the river to where you start. This means that you will swim downstream on the left side of the river keeping the buoys to your right. When the buoys end you can cross over the river to the opposite side and finish at the
Groves underneath the suspension bridge.
Each swimmer will receive a memento at registration. You will also receive a can of coke / bottle of water in the finish area.
I hope that you have an enjoyable race and I have my fingers crossed for good weather!
If there is anything you need to know before the race, please get in touch. Likewise, if you know of anyone who is willing to help on the day please let me know, or sign up to volunteer.
Race Director