IPICO Sports Prepares for the 2011 Virgin London Marathon
London Marathon race founder John Disley CBE and Chris Chittell the well known actor from Emmerdale, the popular and critically acclaimed long-running British soap opera, dropped the famous chequered flag on the world renowned Formula 1 circuit at Silverstone, the home of British motor racing, for the start of the adidas Silverstone Half Marathon on Sunday, March 6. The mass field included many stars from British stage and screen – most running in support of UK-based charities.
With just six weeks to go before the 2011 Virgin London Marathon, 6433 runners toured the famous Silverstone racetrack to take part in the official warm-up race for the 2011 Virgin London Marathon, to be held on Sunday April 17. In addition, the race also served as “Test Week” for the timing and communications infrastructure that will be used at the 2011 Virgin London Marathon. Twenty (20) IPICO Sports Elite Systems were deployed at the adidas Silverstone Half Marathon.
For the second year, IPICO Sports will serve as the exclusive Official Supplier of RFID Data Collection Technology for the Virgin London Marathon. Over fifty (50) IPICO Sports Elite Ssytems will be deployed at eighteen read points, including three separate start lines, and three finish arches at the 2011 Virgin London Marathon on Sunday, April 17. The timing will be conducted under the leadership of Mika Timing, with technical support from an international team of IPICO Sports customers and staff.
IPICO Sports announced its five (5) year exclusive partnership with the London Marathon Ltd. in 2009. At the time of the announcement, Virgin London Marathon Race Director David Bedford said, “After working closely with IPICO Sports during the last three years, testing thoroughly the IPICO Sports system under our extremely rigorous and demanding standards, we recognized the superiority of their RFID Data Collection Technology. We are delighted to form this relationship with IPICO Sports.”
The 2011 Virgin Marathon will also serve as the launch event for the new IPICO Sports Road Mat. The IPICO Sports Road Mat features an improved proprietary Dual Frequency (DF) antenna configuration embedded in a heavy duty, slip resistant PVC mat material. The IPICO Sports Road Mat was designed to meet the standards required by the London Marathon Ltd., the organizers of the Virgin London Marathon, adidas Silverstone Half Marathon and several other large London-based races. IPICO Sports will be providing customized Road Mats in “Virgin Red” for the Virgin London Marathon. After the Virgin London Marathon, the IPICO Sports Road Mat will be available on a special custom order basis with various lengths and colors available.