Race Information for the Dee Mile Swim
Parking - CH4 7BB from 13:30
Car parking and registration is on the Meadows, Chester. Access is through Handbridge via Victoria Crescent or Lower Park Road. The postcode to use for Sat Nav is CH4 7BB. There is parking for 300 cars. You will be directed where to park by a marshal. Please go where you are directed as it is on protected land and we want to be able to use this space in the future. 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.
The gates will be locked shut at 19:30 sharp. Any vehicles that remain will have to contact the local council to assist in getting out.
Registration 13:30 – 16:00
Registration will be in the Chester Triathlon marquee on the meadows.
There will be three desks: one for the 1km race, one for competitive swimmers (both wetsuit and non wetsuit) and the third is for non competitive swimmers.
For the 2km swimmers you will be asked to confirm your category. You must decide at registration whether you are in the competitive wave and whether you are wetsuit or non wetsuit.
If you wish to change wave or category please do this before the day by using the edit link on the event page on niftyEntries event page https://chestertri.niftyentries.com/Dee-Mile-2024
If you wish to change on the day please notify the registration marshals before you collect your hat and they will change it.
If you no longer intend to swim please cancel using niftyEntries. We cannot offer any deferrals or refunds during the last week.
You will collect the following from registration:
- Chip for chip timing. This must be worn on your wrist outside your wetsuit otherwise you will not get an accurate time. The strap must be fastened in an overlapping fashion otherwise you may lose your timing chip and not receive a time. If you fail to attach your timing chip correctly please return and get a replacement strap.
- Swim Hat (this is the hat you will race in and must be the top hat if you are wearing more than one)
- Dee Mile 2024 Mug
You will also have your race number written on your hand
Bag Drop
Bag Drop 1 – Registration to Finish
Please use the supplied bag label to label your finish bag and take it to bag drop 1 located in the van next to registration. This will be taken to the finish so should include warm clothes and footwear. You need to do this before 16:20, so please do this as soon as you’ve registered.
Bag drop 2 – Start to Registration
Only shoes from wetsuit swimmers. Non wetsuit swimmers may take a jumper or T-shirt as well but no Dry Robes as there is limited space. These will be back at the marquee on the meadows when you have finished the race and then walked back to the registration area. NB – These will not go to the finish.
** Please keep items you want transporting to a minimum. If you have friends/relatives with you, have them carry your bags. 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 16:30
The safety briefing will be held at 16:30 by the marquee. This is for your safety and you must attend.
Start
All swimmers must be marked off by marshals near to the start of the event. Please go past in single file and say your number loudly to the marshal.
Please wave your timing chip in front of the antenna on the pontoon to register it on the timing system.
Get your goggles on ready before you step onto the pontoon so you can enter the water immediately. Once in the water please move away quickly so others can get in to prevent people waiting in the river getting cold.
Once the last boat trip has turned around at the Red House we can get swimmers into the water.
The Dee Mile Full (2k) event will be in 2 waves as below
Wave 1 will be all Competitive swimmers and will be wearing Red hats
Wave 2 will be all Non Competitive swimmers and will be wearing Green hats.
Please ensure that you go in the river with your correct wave.
** Please note it is approximately 200m downstream swim from the entry pontoon to the official start line.
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.
Finish
At the finish you must raise the arm with your timing chip on and touch the front of the finish gantry as you pass under. Please do not pull or hang on the gantry or try to climb any part of it. Once you have swum under the gantry do not stop but continue to swim under before turning right and exiting via the swim ramp.
At the swim exit you will have your timing chip removed and you will be checked out of the water, please confirm your swim number to the swim exit marshals.
If you have put belongings in a bag these will be at the finish. Again you will need to give your number to the marshals distributing the bags.
Cans of coke will be available at the finish area if required.
Prize-giving will take place under the suspension bridge at 6:30pm
Prize List :
- Champion of the Dee Male / Female
- All Comers Winner Male / Female
- Wetsuit Winner Male / Female
- 1K Junior Winner Male / Female
You can walk back to the registration area by crossing over the suspension bridge and either using Lower Park Road or the riverside path to return to the registration area on the Meadows