Diamond Quest Ireland

COURSE DETAILS

MANDATORY KIT
Participants must be aware that weather conditions in the Mountains can change and deteriorate rapidly and should bring appropriate clothing to keep them warm in any adverse weather. You must bring the mandatory kit to registration which will be checked, this is the minimum we expect you to carry during the event.

NAVIGATION
The route is fully marked therefore navigation skills are not a requirement.

COURSE MARKING
The route is marked with RED ARROWS. These will be placed at all junctions on the bike section and throughout the run section. Tape is used to funnel you on the right route at other locations during the run section, most notably on the last section to and from the summit of Slieve Foy and the section through the forest before reaching the Tain Way.

TIMING SYSTEM & CHECKPOINTS
We will use Sportident dibbers which will be attached to your wrist. (SI-Cards which are small plastic pegs that have a electronic chip in one end) The SI-Card is dipped into the hole in a control station which will be manned by a marshal in order for a competitor to register that they have visited a location. The control station gives an audible bleep and a visual flash to confirm that the process, which takes a fraction of a second, is complete.
Both the time and control station number are stored on the SI-Card. Additionally the time and the SI-Card number are stored in the control station. The dibber will be attached to your wrist  with a tyvek strap.
We will have a number of control stations along the route, these will be used as a checkpoint to record that a competitor has visited (and their time), they will also be used as a way of recording timeouts, such as the one at Omeath when you arrive at the kayaks if you are doing the solo,relay or run/kayak options.

 
TRANSITION AREAS
There will only be two transition areas, the 1st will be at Omeath when you reach the finish of the run section. As soon as you arrive you will dib in at the control station, the race clock will stop for you, this will be your one and only timeout during the race. The timeout gives you time to get kitted up with your buoyancy aid, paddle and kayak. Just before you set off on the paddle across Carlingford Lough you and you're new found teammate will have to dib in at another control station. This will be with a marshal at the waters edge.
The race clock is now ticking again, you'll soon arrive at Warrenpoint were you'll dib again but the clock will keep ticking in order to give you a split time for your kayak, you'll then run a short distance to the 2nd  Transition Area for your final transition to the bike before your lap of the Mournes.