Age group categories, distances and entry fees

Note that for the Tristars 2, Tristars 3 and Youth categories, in order to reduce the number of overall laps that the young athlete has to do, we have created an extended course into and back from, an adjacent playing field. Please also note, that as a result of extending the bike course for these categories, the Tristars 2 bike distance (4,500m), slightly exceeds the Triathlon England rulebook limit of 4,000m. We have been given special dispensation from Triathlon England for this.

Age groups are based on the age of your child on 31st December 2024. i.e. if your child is 11yrs old on 31st December 2024, they should race in the 11-12yrs category. If they are 10yrs old on 31st December 2024 and their 11th birthday is on 1st January 2025, they can still race in the 9-10yrs category.

Novice v’s Tristar(T)s/youth categories?

The Novice 1 and Novice 2 categories are generally for beginner and first-time triathletes - all athletes will get their times and a medal. It is more about taking part than competing for positions.

The Tristarts, Tristars 1-3 and Youth categories are aimed at experienced athletes and follow the official British Triathlon age grouping ranges. Any experienced athlete (even those just in 1 or 2 disciplines. They are better suited to giving these competition waves a go, than being in Novice waves.)

Please note that as the Novice categories are considered ‘non competitive’, there are no trophies for these categories. There will be trophies for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place, Open (includes Male) and Female in the Tristarts, Tristars 1-3 and Youth categories.

The Steyning Kids’ Triathlon is intended to be a fun event for ALL the children. All cycleworthy bikes are acceptable, and your children don't need to have special tri-suits or other gear. We want them all to experience the wonderful feeling of satisfaction and accomplishment having just finished a swim, bike and run.

Rules and Regulations

The Steyning Kids’ Triathlon is run under Permit from British Triathlon and will be run in line with British Triathlon race rules and Codes of ethics.

Triathlon England South East Junior Race Series

Kidstri UK Triathlon Junior Race Series

Gender equality

In line with the British Triathlon Transgender Policy effective 1 January 2023, only individuals who are female sex at birth are eligible to compete in the Female category. All individuals, including transgender people, are eligible to compete in the Open category. Whilst it has been recommended that there only need be one gender category (the ‘Open’ gender category) for children aged under 11yrs, we have decided to maintain both the Open and Female gender categories in order to provide the maximum opportunity for the children to win a trophy!

Race instructions & Helpful Instructions for Novices

These buttons are now live - please download the race instructions and, if you have Novice young athletes, the Helpful Instructions for Novices

Additional information

LOCATION

The Steyning Kids Triathlon, is based at Steyning Leisure Centre, Horsham Road, Steyning. The entrance to the carpark is via Shooting Field to the east of the school (use BN44 3RX). We ask that participants, please DO NOT park in the main Leisure Centre carpark to the west of the school. Thank you.

START TIME

Registration for Youth, Tristars 3 & 2 will open at 9.00am to allow time to walk (no cycling allowed pre race) the course. The first race briefing will be at 11.45am and the first race, the Youths, will start at 12.00 noon. Dependent on the number in each category racing, we aim to finish all the races by 2.30pm.

Parking

The entrance to the carpark is via Shooting Field to the east of the school. We ask that participants, please DO NOT park in the main Leisure Centre carpark to the west of the school. Thank you.

Registration

Registration for Youth, Tristar 3 and Tristar 2 competitors, only will be open from 9.00am and Registration for Tristar 1, Novices 1 & 2 and Tristarts will be open from 10.00am. At registration, competitors will collect their race pack, race number and a coloured wrist band.

Top tip: Get to the event early so that you can park, register and have time to walk the course with your child/children. Bring some rugs and some snacks too so you can enjoy the atmosphere. Spectator area – please follow the requirements on signs, ground markings, race instructions, tannoy announcements and our volunteers who are there to help everybody feel safe.

T-SHIRT

RACE BRIEFING

There will be limited race briefings for the various categories throughout the event starting at 11.45am for the Youth competitors. Please listen to the tannoy announcements for further briefings.

RACE REFEREE

There will be a Technical Official from Triathlon England on hand to referee and assist with the race.  Their decision is final.

RACE RULES

The event will run under Permit from Triathlon England and will be in line with Triathlon England race rules and codes of practice.  A copy of the full rules can be found here.  An A4 of the principle rules can be found here.

SPONSERS

As always, we are grateful to the following sponsors;

NOVICES

We have created some helpful notes for triathlon first timers that we hope you will find useful at the event.  These should be read in conjunction with the Final Race Instructions that will be emailed out to all competitors in the week before the event.  Once they have been published, they can be downloaded in advance using the buttons further up the page on this website.

Swim

The swim is in a 25m pool and will be a snake swim for those doing more than one length i.e. start in one lane, swim up, turn and back down the same lane and then duck under the lane rope before repeating to the end.  The Youths will start at 12 noon followed by the TS3's, TS2's, TS1's and Novices's and Tristarts in respective order.

As part of the entry process, we ask for an approximate time that your child can complete a 100m (4 lengths of a 25m pool) swim in. As guidance, a good club swimmer is likely to swim 100m in less than 1min 45s (01:45). A novice or very young swimmer is likely to swim 100m in 3 to 4 mins (03:00 to 04:00). We aim to set faster swimmers in each category off first to limit the need to overtake.

Training shoes, any additional clothing e.g. race belts or t-shirts with numbers on and a small towel should be set out beside the pool and on exiting the water, competitors will move directly to these items.  Once used or put on, any remaining items should be carried to the bike transition area and neatly stowed . Exit pool via doorway as directed by marshals. Please note that training shoes must be worn for the run between the pool and transition.  

Top tip: replace the laces in your child's shoes with elasticated laces to avoid having to tie them or risk them coming undone and a marshal asking them to stop to do them up.

Transition 1

No parental assistance is allowed in transition (with the exception of a parent of young Novices, at the marshals discretion).  Cycle helmets must be on and done up BEFORE touching the bike when coming from the swim.  Penalties can be picked up if bikes are moved before helmets are put on or if helmets are not done up properly.

Bike

The bike course is a lapping course around the adjacent playing fields. The correct number of laps must be completed and it is the competitors and/or parents responsibility to count the laps. We will carry out our own check. 

Top tip: Counting bike laps is one of the biggest issues that competiors face so we strongly advise that a system is thought about BEFORE the race. Some competitors use a number of small pieces of tape on their handle bars, tearing one off on completion of each lap as they pass the finishing shute e.g. for a 6 lap race, use 5 pieces of tape and as you tear the last one off at the end of a lap that means one lap to go so when you finish that last lap, if there is no tape left to tear off, it's time to finish! The key for a parent is to establish where you will be positioned whilst counting - just after the start of a lap or just before the end of a lap.  Our recommendation is that having decided where you will stand, you use simple terminology such as 'you've done 3 laps' or 'you've done 6 laps, finish now'. Counting laps may sound simple but when tired or distracted it can prove problematic, so please do think about it!!

Top tip: the bike course is on grass so it can be tough, particularly for little legs and for ill fitted bikes.  A rule of thumb is that when sitting squarely on their bike (you'll need to hold it upright for them) with the pedal cranks vertical and your child’s heel on the lower pedal (let the other leg just hang loose), their extended leg should be straight.

Transition 2

No parental assistance is allowed in transition (with the exception of a parent of young Novices, at the marshals discretion).  Bikes must be laid down gently (or racked if applicable) BEFORE undoing the helmet when returning from the cycle. Penalties can be picked up if bikes and/or helmets are thrown to the ground.

Run

The run course is also a lapping course around the adjacent playing field. The correct number of laps must be completed and it is the competitors and/or parents responsibility to count the laps. We will carry out our own check.

Each competitor will be given a rubber band at the start of a lap so when they have the number of bands to match the laps that they need to do, they can finish rather than picking up another band.

Top tip: Whilst this is not as problematic as counting the bike laps, it too is worth some thought and discussion with your child/children before the race.

Finish

All children will get a medal on finishing.  A selection of fruit and water will be available to all competitors.

prizes

There will be male and female trophies for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place in all categories.  There will be two prize giving ceremonies, one at approx 1.15pm for the Youth, Tristars 3 and Tristars 2 categories and one at approx 2.30pm for the remaining categories. Each prize giving will provide for some good photo opportunities!

Bike retrieval

Bikes can be retrieved from Transition after each prize giving ceremony.  Only the competitors themselves will be allowed access to the transition area i.e. no parents. 

RESULTS

We will endeavour to do our best to get the results published on this page by 8pm on the evening after the event.

Photography and recorded images

We take child safeguarding very seriously.  If any parent wishes to take photographs or record video of the children, they must wear a 'Photographers sticker' that will be included in the race pack. If you are not clearly wearing a 'Photographers sticker', please be prepared to be challenged by the event team.  If you become aware of anyone taking or using inappropriate pictures or video, please inform the event team immediately.

By entering the event you are consenting to Brighton Tri Club and Steyning Athletic Club using, in an appropriate manner, photographs and/or video of your children during the event. If you do not wish your children to be photographed or videoed, please inform the team at Registration and your child will be given a specific wristband so that they can be identified in any images and the image/video discarded.

First aid

A First Aid team will be on hand for any immediate medical issues.

SAFEGUARDING STATEMENT

Every event that is permitted through British Triathlon is required to carry the Safeguarding and Welfare Commitment Statement. This statement highlights the Event Organisers commitment to the event in line with British Triathlon’s guidelines. This should be publicised in pre-race information as well as on site at the event. The Safeguarding Commitment Statement can be seen below:

“This permitted triathlon event acknowledges the duty of care to safeguard and promote the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. This permitted triathlon event is also committed to ensuring safeguarding practice reflects statutory responsibilities, government guidance and complies with best practice and British Triathlon requirements.”

Parental behaviour

Being parents ourselves we fully understand the urge to find the best place to photograph our loved ones or to urge them on.  We ask that you please respect the marshals and the fencing and barrier tape that we have in place.  We are all volunteers and are giving up our time to enable the event to happen. We are not here to make money, we are here to provide a safe and fun environment for your and our children to race in. Please respect this. Thank you.

Please ‘Encourage’ all competitors, not just your young athlete.

Please ensure you are ‘supporting’ not ‘berating’ your athlete. Good competition should be fun and rewarding.

Please do not use bad language. This is a family environment.

The Events team will apply time penalties if Parents do not act in a manner of good sportsmanship, please ensure the day is enjoyable for all & celebrate sport.

Top tip: Why not help us make sure that the event is a safe and fun environment for the kids. Come and see us at the timing tent and volunteer to help. We will be very grateful and your children will love you as you will become part of the event.

VOLUNTEERS FOR HELPING AND MARSHALLING

We are always on the look out for parents and other volunteers to help us at the event.  Please listen out for any calls for support via the event tannoy system.

Feedback

If you have any feedback please email us at kidstri@brightontri.org

PREVIOUS years results

The small print

Our Terms and Conditions, including our refund and cancellation policies can be found here: Terms and Conditions