Hi Everyone,
Our club has been asked by the organisers of the RIDE Festival to run an Opening Night Criterium on Thursday 13th of February on the runway at Hamilton Airport. This will kick start the Festival and is a unique and exciting opportunity for local riders and spectators alike!
The criterium will take place on a 1.5 km course on the runway and each lap will pass by the cheering spectators who will have prime viewing from inside the Runway Room (the former international terminal). Race entry is only $20 which includes a $10 meal package, prize giving, guest speakers hosted by Greg Henderson and a cash bar.
I'm sure you'll all appreciate that this unique opportunity also comes with a few conditions in order to satisfy CAA (Civil Aviation Authority) regulations. So please read the 'fine print' and understand that we have limited access to the runway (5.30 pm - 6.45 pm) and should it be needed for an emergency flight, this will take precedence over the event. If the outgoing flight is delayed, we'll re-jig start times and riders will just have to 'roll with it'.
We are unable to alter the time frame nor can we fit in any more grades as the available time between scheduled flights is short and we're going to have to really be 'on our game' to ensure riders are ready to race and exit the course quickly so the next grade can start - we appreciate your understanding with this.
So here's the 'nuts and bolts' associated with The Hamilton Airport Criterium:
There will be three grades. They need to be evenly split so we reserve the right to change your grade depending on numbers of entries and abilities in each grade. Please understand that criterium racing requires a level of skill on the bike and is not suitable for beginners to the sport.
Grade Race Time Approx. Start Time
Jet Park Hotels C/D Grade 15 mins 5.35 pm
Titanium Park B Grade 20 mins 5.55 pm
Mighty Waikato A Grade 20 mins 6.20 pm
Prizegiving / Guest Speakers From 7 pm
Riders can be from any club but they need to have a 2020 Cycling New Zealand license and this MUST be shown at sign-on (if you haven't yet received your 2020 license in the mail, you'll need proof in the form of a confirmation email from Cycling New Zealand). All entrants must also bring a form of photo ID to sign on - this is to satisfy the high level of security measures that airports must adhere to under CAA regulations.
There will be an allocated warm-up area but riders will be called to the starting gates for a compulsory race briefing ten minutes prior to the start of their race.
The online entry form will open from Thursday 23rd January until Wednesday 5th of February or until maximum numbers are reached. There will be NO late entries accepted as we are required to send start lists to officials at the airport.
There are strict CAA conditions around who is / isn't on the runway at any one time. Only designated officials and riders in each race (verified by your race number which has to match the start list) will be allowed access.
Payment of your entry fee will confirm your entry.
Dropped riders who are 'in danger' of being caught by the bunch will be signalled to exit the course by the commissaire. Please note that the usual rules regarding 'laps out' for mechanicals or punctures do not apply to this event. If you puncture, we'll offer comforting words and a sympathetic pat on the shoulder after the event but please understand that your race is over.
We are limited in the numbers we can have riding so it is a 'first in, first served' basis. There is already considerable interest in the event, so don't leave it until the last minute to try and enter!
CAA imposed an age limit of 18+ years to comply with their regulations but after negotiation, they will now allow 16 and 17-year-olds who currently race A and B Grade on Tuesday nights to enter. These riders will also need to bring photo identification to 'sign on' to corroborate their age. A NZ passport (current or expired within the last two years) or driver's licence. Please let me know via email if you do not have either of these.
Spectators have the option of watching the race from the main Airport Terminal (the cafe will be open) or paying $10 per person for entry to 'The Runway Room' to watch the racing, receive a meal pack, attend the prizegiving and listen to some entertaining cycling speakers. Tickets must be purchased to gain entry as there is limited capacity. You can purchase spectator tickets for family and friends using this link: https://www.sporty.co.nz/viewform/116008 Please don't purchase a ticket for yourself if you've entered the criterium as your $20 entry fee includes access to The Runway Room after your race.
Riders can sign on and collect their race numbers from 5 pm - we will notify you where this will take place in an email closer to the event. There will be free parking available (not in the official airport carpark) and we'll email you the details of this closer to the date of the event.
Phew..... I know it sounds very official but we need to comply with the regulations set up by the Airport Authorities in order to get this event off the ground (no pun intended!) It promises to be a fun evening and is, of course, a very unique opportunity which we'd LOVE to repeat in the future!
So how do you get amongst the action and be part of this exciting event ???
Click on the link: https://www.sporty.co.nz/viewform/116002
You will receive a confirmation email - if you can't find it, please check your 'Junk Emails.' Additional information related to the event will be communicated via email and through the Te Awamutu Sports Cycling or RIDE Festival Facebook pages.
If you have any questions, let me know and I'll do my best to answer them BUT don't email me asking for changes to the programme, start times, grades etc .... it can't happen x
Regards
Melinda | 
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