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General News

Record Numbers
More than 3300 runners, triathletes, duathletes, and SwimCycle participants have participated in the first 4 weekends of Somersault’s 2007 event program – a record number!

We have still been blessed with excellent weather so far which has helped, but we are also very appreciative of the high level of support we are receiving from volunteers, Clubs of the Event, Canadian Ski Patrol, Somersault Motorcycle Patrol Group, Brockville Kayakers, and our own amazing Race Crew. 

By most participant accounts, we are steadily improving our event delivery, and will hopefully continue to do so.

New Maps on Event Sites
Most events now have new Google Earth based map sites.  These sites show the event site and the courses for each event, and can also be used to find your way to the event site from your home. Check them out.

New Awards Format at All Races
In order to speed things up at our events and avoid the long waits for awards presentations, we have adopted a new format, which has worked well at one race already.  Here is how awards will be handled at future Somersault events:

Everyone
All participants receive a completion medal at the finish line of their race.

Race Winners
The first place male and female winner of each race, receives a merchandise prize.

Top 3 Overall
The first three overall finishers in each race - male and female - will be honoured in an award presentation ceremony that will take place in the Awards Area shortly after they finish.

Category Top 3 Finishers
All Age, Weight, and Relay Category top 3 finishers, are eligible for a Gold, Silver, or Bronze Place Medal 'Add On'. This 'Add On' must be picked up on race day, any time the results are posted, at the Awards Table. The 'Add On' cannot be claimed after race day - sorry.

Award Medal "Add On" Must Be Picked Up on Race Day
The Award Medal "Add On' must be claimed on race day. 'It will be available to you at the Awards Table with 20 minutes of your race finish. Just check the official results to see if you finished in the top 3 in your category, and then claim your 'Add On' at the Awards Table.

Lynne Bermel – Media Director for The Canadian
We are pleased to announce that Lynne Bermel, one of Canada’s most successful woman Ironman competitors and successful media personality has agreed to become the Media Director and Communications Director for the September 1 Canadian Iron 226 and associated races. Lynne’s goal is to support our efforts to raise the profile of this signature Ottawa based event for the future. Welcome Lynne.

Charities
We are really proud of the contributions to charitable organizations, we have been able to make through our first 5 event weekends.  More than $11000 and many food items, have been directed to these organizations:  Children at Risk, Cumberland-Orleans Community Resource Centre, Search and Rescue Global 1, Canadian Ski Patrol, Bytown Storm Triathlon Team, Ottawa Riverkeeper, Dovercourt Recreation Centre, CHEO, Gloucester Hornets Girls soccer Club, the Smiths Falls RedHawks Athletic Program, and the Carleton Place & District Hospital Foundation.

Eastern Tri/Du Series

Graham Beasley Half Iron 113 Report
More than 600 enthusiastic participants showed up in Carleton Place on Sunday July 15^th for a very successful event!  Congratulations to Race Director Cheryl and the Carleton Place community for providing a great Mississippi River experience – the those Zebra Mussells be damned. Check out the results, photos, and certificates at : http://www.somersault.ca/results.htm

Champions Challenge Standings
Things are getting hot in the Champions Challenge within the Eastern Series.  The Champions Challenge winners will be crowned the top triathlete and top duathletes in the East.
Here are the top three in the rankings:

To check out the age group rankings, please go to http://www.somersault.ca/championships.htm

Upcoming Events
August 4 - National Capital Triathlon & Duathlon – Terry Fox Athletic Facility, Ottawa - http://www.somersault.ca/eventnationalcapital.htm

August 19 – thousand Islands Triathlon & Duathlon – Blockhouse Island, Brockville - http://www.somersault.ca/event1000islands.htm

September 1 – The Canadian Triahtlon & Duathlon – Mooney’s Bay, Ottawa -  http://www.somersault.ca/eventcanadian.htm

The Bytown Storm
Eastern Triathlon Team Championship
at the
The Canadian Sprint Triathlon – September 1 - Ottawa 

Who has the best Sprint Triathlon Team in the East? We will find out at the 2007 Canadian Sprint Triathlon on September 1^st in Ottawa, where one team will be pronounced the Eastern Sprint Triathlon Team Champions for 2007.

The Bytown Storm Triathlon Team has laid down the gauntlet and issued a challenge to all triathlon clubs and teams out there to vie for club/team supremacy at the Sprint Triathlon distance.

This Ottawa based club has some really fast young guys and girls, and they think they have what it takes to beat the best – and raise funds for their favourite charity too.

We invite your club or team to take up the Bytown Storm challenge and enter your team in the Bytown Storm Eastern Triathlon Team Championship. Here’s how it works.

Rules and Procedures:

1. Put together a team of 4 triathletes – with a minimum of 1 female member – from your club/program.
2. Enter each of the team members in the Canadian Sprint Triathlon.
3. Notify Terry McKinty at terry@somersault.ca of your intention to enter a team, team members’ names, and your team charity prior, to Race Kit Pick Up.
4. Select your team’s favourite charity.
5. Raise a minimum of $250 in pledges for charity:  $150 (or 60%) for your team’s charity, $50 (or 20%) for the winning team’s charity, and $50 (or 20%)  for “Children at Risk”, the Eastern Triathlon Series charity.
6. At Race Kit Pick Up, obtain and complete a team entry form/score card, and submit your charity donations.
7. Participate (all team members) in the Sprint Triathlon.
8. Record and total your team members’ place results on the team entry form/score card after the race.
9. Submit your team entry form/score card to the awards presenters.
10. Wait for the results to be announced.

Ottawa Run Series

Carleton Place Heritage 5Km Report
The Heritage Run, which is held in support of the Carleton Place & District Hospital foundation, grew again in 2007, with an enthusiastic group covering the in town 5Km Run under warm sunny skies.  More than $3000 was raised for the Foundation, making the run a huge success locally. Look for the results, photos, and certificates at http://www.somersault.ca/results.htm

Champions Challenge Standings

Upcoming Running Events in the Ottawa Run Series are:
August 4 – National Capital 5Km Run – Terry Fox Athletic Facility, Ottawa -  http://www.somersault.ca/eventnationalcapitalrun.htm

August 19 – Brockville Downtown 5Km Run – Blockhouse Island, Brockville - http://www.somersault.ca/event1000islandsrun.htm

September 1 – Mooney’s Bay, Ottawa - http://www.somersault.ca/eventcanadianrun.htm