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After you receive your gift card, you can redeem it by purchasing products and entering the gift card code at checkout in the Gift or Promo Code field. At checkout, a gift card’s value is subtracted from the order total.

You can split an order between a gift card and a credit card. If the order total exceeds the value remaining on your gift card, you can pay the balance using standard payment methods.

Gift cards never expire.

Please don't jinx it! Let's all keep our fingers crossed that the Weather Gods are on our side. They have been for the past few years, so we hope that the sun will be shining, the sea will be calm and the winds low. However, we have bigged up this beautiful town of Harwich because of its coastline and countryside, being on the peninsula... But with this, does bring ever-changing, slightly unpredictable and, at times, pretty wild weather! We will ALWAYS put the safety of all of our athletes first, and provide updates on any changes to the race as a result of the weather, as and when this is necessary. The biggest impact will more than likely be to the sea swim. We will have safety boats out in the water, along with buoys, and have a team of people to make an informed and safety-led decision on the day if weather means the sea conditions become unsafe for swimming. If this happens, the swim will be cancelled and swapped with a 5km run instead, forming a duathlon. However, this would be the very last resort and we would love the sea swim to happen as much as you would! Please note, in the case of this happening, no refunds would be issued.

If a sea swim is too risky on the day due to bad weather, we will revert to a duathlon. No refunds will be possible.

All aspects of Harwich Triathlon are super spectator-friendly! 

For the Junior and Sprint Triathlons, there is a viewing gallery inside the swimming pool, so you can watch your loved ones, family members and friends endure the swim all from the comfort of the gallery! You can then head outside to transition, located right next to the pool so you don't have to walk far! You can view transition both after the swim and after the bike, and cheer everyone on! For the Sprint race, the run is along the promenade and provides great opportunity to spectate with sea views. For the Junior races, both the bike and run are on the field adjacent to Race HQ, and you can see your child throughout the remainder of the race from the field. The finish line is also on the grass next to Race HQ, so everything is super close together. The only place spectators are not allowed to go is inside transition. This is for athletes and marshals only. 

For the Olympic race, the sea swim takes place just out from the shore but you can walk alongside the route along the promenade. The bike route goes out into the countryside but the run is two laps along the promenade, so spectators will be able to cheer their loved ones on at least twice throughout the run!

For all races, prizes are awarded to the overall male and female winners of each event, as well as the male and female winners of each age group.

No - is the simple answer. This is a non-draft legal event for all of the races. Please see the BTF race rules and guidelines (BTF Drafting Rules) for more specifics on the rules of drafting. As this is a draft illegal race, athletes should keep a minimum of 10 metres between them and the cyclist in front of them. 

The swim in the pool is a snake-style swim. 

For the Sprint Triathlon: Athletes will enter the pool at the far-side shallow end. Each athlete is set off 30 seconds apart and will swim up the lane to the deep end, turn around at the wall and then swim back down again. When you get back to the shallow end, you duck under the lane rope and then swim up and down again. This happens for all six lanes of the pool before you get out of the water and head towards the doors and out to transition.

For the Junior Triathlon: It is still a snake-style swim, but for the 8s & Under, only two lengths are swam. So athletes will swim up one lane, duck under the rope and swim back down the other, before getting out. For Over 8s, they will swim six lengths of the pool, ducking under the lane rope after one length in every lane. 

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Free parking is available to athletes only on the grassy field at the end of West End Lane, next to the recycling centre (CO12 3SF). Car park marshals will be on hand on both event days to assist with parking, and this car park is then locked for the duration of the event to ensure none of the public park there. If you are just spectating or need to leave before the races have finished, we advise you park in any of the free car parks around the town or along the seafront or streets were parking is unrestricted and free. Please try not to park along Wick Lane between West End Lane and the pool - this can make this section of the bike very congested. There is a short walk to Race HQ from the car park. You can cut across the playing fields (shortest distance as the crow flies) or walk with your bike along the promenade.

For Juniors: Registration takes place as you enter transition (outside). 

For Sprint athletes: Registration takes place in the upstairs gallery within the Dovercourt Swimming Pool building. Meeters and greeters will be on hand to direct you. Centre staff have requested that the event provide personnel to assist entrants. If possible, please avoid making any demands of the Council staff who work at the centre and find someone in hi-vis instead. Other areas of the centre are open to the general public. We are reliant on their goodwill to hold future events.

For Olympic athletes: Registration will be near transition on the grass (outside).

As fast as humanly possible. Hopefully, shortly after the race has finished.

No - all of the events happen on open roads. Please bare this in mind when racing - rules of the road do apply.

Yes - entries can be transferred for no cost up to two weeks before the race. Please use your booking reference number and follow the instructions on the confirmation email you received. If you have any issues transferring your entry, please feel free to drop us an email and we will help you as quickly as we can.

Unfortunately, we cannot offer refunds; we only offer transfers. We try to keep the cost of this event as low as possible to make it accessible to everyone, but in doing so, we cannot issue refunds. We hope you understand. 🙂

Yes. As much as we’d love to say how warm the water is in our beautiful bay... We highly doubt it will be above 24.6 degrees (if it does get this warm, wetsuits are banned). Therefore, following BTF guidelines, the swim will fall into the "wetsuit optional" category (between 14-24.6 degrees). This means it is your choice. However, we highly recommend you do wear one... It will feel pretty chilly without! 

For all races, the easiest clothing option is a trisuit. These allow you to swim, bike and run without needing to change any of your clothes. For the Olympic Traithlon sea swim, you can wear a wetsuit over the top of your trisuit. However, a trisuit is not mandatory and if you'd rather, you can swim in a swimming costume or shorts, and then add clothing in transition before you get on the bike. The key rule around clothing is that after you have come out of the swim, your torso must never be on show. So whatever clothing option you choose to go with, for the duration of the bike and run, your torso must be covered up.

The British Triathlon Age Groups work by taking the age of the athlete as of December of that year. So whatever age your child will be as of the 31st December 2025, is the age group your child will race in. This means, 7 year olds with a birthday between June and December can still race in the "8s & Under" category, even though on race day they will only be 7. This works for all age groups. If you are 8yrs old on race day but 9yrs old on 31st December 2025, you will race in the 9-12 age group.

We have three Junior Age Groups: 8s & Under, 9-12s and 13+. All of these age groups will be worked out based on the child's age as of December 2025. If a 15 year old has a birthday turning 16 between June and December, they can race in the Adult Sprint race, if they want to. 

If you are 16yrs old on the 31st December 2025, you must enter one of the adult races.

No. We will write your number on you at registration and your helmet and bike will be mottled in number stickers, don’t worry!

Yes - Harwich has a great range of sporting clubs and facilities for all age groups. Harwich Runners is the place to go for all run training. With adult training on Tuesday and Thursday nights, welcome to all abilities. Junior training is on Saturday mornings for 8-16yr olds.

Harwich Parkrun is a free and inclusive 5k “race” held every Saturday morning at 09:00 from Cliff Park. This is a great way to train for the 5k at the end of the Sprint Traithlon.

Dovercourt Bay Lifestyles (our Race HQ), has various public swimming sessions through out the week.

Harwich, Dovercourt and Parkeston Swimming Club is the place for swim training, especially for Juniors. With club nights 3-4 times a week and a Masters Swimmming Club every Monday evening.

Colchester Rovers Cycling Club is the closest cycling club to us, offering weekly time trials throughout summer, and weekly Saturday and Sunday social rides for those wanting to follow some cycle training with company.

If you have fallen pregnant since entering one of our races and can no longer take part on the day, please contact us. Firstly, CONGRATULATIONS. Secondly, we would love to be able to help you with a deferral or refund to best suit your situation.