Sport Systems Disposable Chip Timing System
In order to make sure that the race timing for the Chippenham Half Marathon is accurate and efficient we will be using Sport Systems' Disposable Chip Timing System. Conventional manual timing requires a number of skilled and experienced operators and by it's very nature is prone to errors. Correcting these errors takes time and delays the production of the results and the prize list. Sport Systems' chip timing system removes these errors by recording the runner's race number and time as they cross the finish line and feeding them directly into the results system.
The system employs a lightweight Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) timing chip which is attached to the back of the race number. It’s literally a Chip ‘n’ Number in one! The chips are entirely disposable and are programmed when they are attached to a race number. Once in place that’s it. There is no possibility of chips becoming detached or lost during the race. If you don’t have a number then you certainly don’t have a chip! Sport Systems believe that the Chip ‘n’ Number system best replicates the rules of athletics as it’s the runners torso that is timed as it crosses the line rather than their foot or even arm!
Chip ‘n’ Number also give the operational advantage that there is no need to assign chip numbers to race numbers with the potential for mix up. As they are light and completely disposable they can be distributed by post well before the day of the event.
Here’s how it works
The timing chips are detected by an antenna. This simply consists of an unobtrusive wire strung between uprights. These are 2.5 or 3.0 metres above the ground allowing various widths to suit each timing point; there is no mat or any other obstruction across the ground to slip or impede you.
The antenna is connected to the Black Box; a combined control system and data logger. When a timing chip is detected its race number and the time is stored in the Black Box and passed on to a controlling computer. From here the data is transferred to the results system.
At the finish there is a backup system which consists of a number of hand held scanners. These devices scan the timing chips of each finisher and if, for any reason, a timing chip has not been detected by the main antenna it is added to the detection list and assigned a time between its immediate neighbours. This enables 100% detections of all finishers.
On Time results!
All of this adds up to allow initial race results to be produced whilst competitors are still finishing! The prize presentation report and team results reports can be produced at the same time. This means that results can be displayed quickly and that the prize presentation can be conducted at the earliest possible time.
Gun Time/Chip Time Defined
There are two times that can be recorded. The first is what is called the Gun Time. It's the official race time and is the time that the runner takes to complete the course from the time the gun was fired. Of course if you take say thirty seconds to cross the line this additional time is part of your race time.
There is also the Chip Time (or Chip to Chip Time as it’s sometimes referred to). This is the time that the runner actually takes from the time they crossed the start line (even if they took thirty seconds to do so from when the gun was fired) to the time they crossed the finish line. However, this time has no relevance to the results whatsoever and is used for information purposes only.
As far as the rules of athletics are concerned the Gun Time is the important time, and this is what the results and prizes are based on, otherwise the race becomes a time trial where the winner need not be the first person to cross the finish line.
We will endeavour to make the Gun Time results availabe here as soon as we possibly can after the end of the race.