Icom Equipment Used at UK Ironman Event

A combination of Icom Amateur and commercial two way radios were used in the coordination of the UK leg of the world famous Ironman event, held at Sherborne Castle in Dorset earlier this year. Over 1000 athletes took part in the triple-endurance event combining swimming, cycling and running.

The UK course featured a 2.4-mile swim in the castle’s lake, followed by a gruelling 112-mile cycle ride. Athletes finished the course by completing a full marathon. This year’s winner Scott Neyedli finished the entire course in an astonishing 8 hours 35 minutes and 53 seconds. Dorset Police insisted that whole event be covered by RAYNET, (The Radio Amateurs’ Emergency Network) the UK’s national voluntary communications service provided for the community by licensed Radio Amateurs.

Dorset RAYNET put together a complex communication system for the event using Icom Amateur and PMR two way radio equipment provided by local dealer, the Shortwave Shop (www.shortwave.co.uk). Due to the total area covered in the event over 70 RAYNET amateur radio operators and 100 private marshals were mobilised for the event.

Based at Sherborne Castle, Central Control saw members of RAYNET, Police, St John Ambulance, Race Organisers, Rotary club members and private marshals work together to ensure the smooth running of the event.

As well as the Central Control there were 3 'Out Control Stations' and 80 separate bases. Each 'Out Control Station' featured an IC-2725 for VHF (2 meter) communications with Amateur manned bases and motor cycle units. An IC-706MK2 provided talk back facility on 6 meters to Central Control. In addition to the Amateur Radio Equipment, the Shortwave Shop supplied a IC-F110 Icom VHF commercial mobile which provided communications with all the non-RAYNET manned bases covered by private marshals. Each private marshals was issued with an IC-F15 VHF handheld radio.

Duncan Kemp, from Shortwave Shop said, 'The Icom handheld units are ideal for this type of event as they are simple to operate, reliable and have high quality audio which is important when there is so much going on. We supplied Icom equipment because we needed to guarantee communications at all levels, from the marshals to Central control and with Icom we knew we could.'

Icom UK Marketing - marketing@icomuk.co.uk