In search of a UHF Multisport tag that works
From the day we produced our first ULTRA we have been acutely aware of the requirement for a UHF multisport tag. This is because events like triathlon that must use a transponder attached to the ankle because a shoe cannot be worn for all disciplines and often a wetsuit is worn right up to the transition between swim and cycle. The problem with passive UHF tags is that water is a major barrier to good read performance. This occurs either due to the tag’s close proximity to the skin or having a wetsuit dripping in salt water wrapped around the transponder. Most attempts at a solution in the past have seen chunky plastic clips used to hold the tag off the skin but this is cumbersome and not effective for wetsuit swims.
RFID Race Timing Systems in conjunction with our agents in USA and Europe have been testing a new special Gen 2 UHF tag with amazing results in triathlon. The tag has been tested and modified by RFID Race Timing Systems to maximize read performance when worn on the ankle. These tags are reliably read using only two antenna ports connected to two side flank antennas either side of a timing point that can be up to 6m wide. The new tag will be officially unveiled in January 2012 at the RFID Race Timing System conference in Florida. Attendees at the European Conference held at Stansted UK were also given a sneak preview of the new multisport tag we call UltraTag.
RFID Race Timing helped make history when it had the honor of being selected as the first RFID system used to time all participants in an Ethiopian event. On September 19, the first race of the 2011 Coca-Cola Road Race Series – a 7K run – took place in Addis Ababa with more than 3,000 participants. The ULTRA system was used by the Great Ethopian Run who was proud to have results posted for all runners online within two hours of the event’s completion.
On September 17 and 18, over 60,000 spectators cheered on the 5,600 competitors lining up in various races comprising the 24th Triathlon Audencia La Baule. The event, which included nine races geared for any age and athletic level took place in picturesque La Baule, France, northwest of Nantes. The triathlon was timed by RFID Race Timing distributor, Ipitos, with the HDD System.
Some 1,000 participants gathered on a misty September 19 morning for the inaugural Challenge Henley ironman triathlon. Taking place on the River Thames, through the scenic Chiltern Hills, and nearby villages, the event included a 3.8K (2.4 mile) swim, 180K (111.8 mile) bike race, and 42.2K (26.2 mile) run. Challenge Henley-on-Thames is part of the Challenge Family global series of long distance triathlons featuring 13 races over three continents. The race was timed by our UK / Ireland distributor, StuWeb Timing Solutions, using the HDD System.
An estimated 25,000 runners and spectators came out for the fourth annual Fort4Fitness event which took place on September 24 in Fort Wayne, Indiana. A total of 8,600 participants registered for the Half Marathon, 10K, and 4 Mile Run/Walk making it the largest Fort4Fitness to date. End Result LLC used the ULTRA System combined with disposable tags to time the race.