A monitor for use in running races, biathlons, duathlons, triathlons and cross country ski races includes a transponder (1), which is carried by each of the contestants in the race, a scanner (2) for mounting in each of a plurality of gates located at race monitoring stations, each gate admitting one runner at a time, a reader (3) for reading the unique identification code contained in each transponder (1) when a contestant contacts a target holding the scanner (2) and a computer (4) which a built-in clock for determining the elapsed time taken by the contestant to reach the race station, and for providing a printout indicating, inter alia, the position of the contestant in the race. A light (12) is provided on the target carrying the scanner (2) for indicating that the identification code of the transponder (1) has been read. A horn or tweeter (13) can also be provided for emitting an audible signal that the transponder (1) code has been read. The information obtained at an individual race station can be transmitted to a central point, and fed into another computer (20) for providing an overview of the race.