DEADLINE FOR ENTRIES MIDNIGHT WEDNESDAY 2nd APRIL 2025!

Saturday 5th April 2025

Entries

Entries are invited for all fine boat and fixed seat boats. 

Categories in Open / Women's / Mixed, split into: 

• Championship - The highest category. Crews containing members who in the past have rowed at national level events.

• Club A - Below Championship level and an average of more than two BR, CRA or CUCBC event wins in last 24 months.

• Club B - Below Club A level and above Novice level (see below).

• Novice - A maximum of two members of the crew who have won a BR, CRA or CUCBC event.

• Beginner - All members of the crew learnt to row in the previous calendar year.

• Masters, Juniors, and Adaptive - As defined by British Rowing.

Where an event has a large number of entries, the organising committee may band entries into student and CRA, or by creating bands based on past performance.  The organising committee reserves the right to change banding if they feel that a crew has been entered in a category that is too low.

Division times are as follows:

• Div 1: 09:00
• Div 2: 11.00
• Div 3: 13.00

Crews may express a preference for a division and to avoid a division when entering.  The organising committee will try to accommodate preferences where possible.  

Entries close on Wednesday 2nd April 2025 at midnight and must be made via the form below.

Race fees are £12 per seat excluding the cox plus. Fees will be paid via BACS at the time of entry and details will be given on the entry form.  Any crew that has not paid the entry fee before the event will not be allowed to race.

In the event that the race is cancelled, full refunds will be given.

Pre-Race and Boating

Race numbers can be collected from City of Cambridge boathouse from 7:45am on the day of the race.  

At the end of racing each club must return numbers to the City of Cambridge boathouse where there will be a “post bin” for numbers.  Any number not returned will incur a £5 charge to cover the cost of replacement.

The event organisers may do spot checks of crews that are racing to ensure that they comply with British Rowing’s RowSafe guidelines.

Marshalling

All crews must be in the marshalling area 20 minutes before the start of their division.  Crews will marshal on the towpath side of the river from the start downstream from the Plough.  Numbered boards will indicate the marshalling positions of crews.

Racing

• The race course will be approximately a mile run from the Plough in Fen Ditton to the Winter League finish line before the Green Dragon bridge.
• Crews must row downstream and spin at Baits Bite lock before returning to the pre-start position.
• Once crossing the finish line crews should continue to row until they are clear of the finish line.
• Crews overtaking have priority on the racing line (i.e. the inside line on any corner).  Any crew impeding another during an overtaking manoeuvre will be awarded a time penalty. Claims of impedance must be reported to the finish immediately after the division.
• Competitors and coaches are reminded of the need for courtesy to other river users, including walkers and anglers and to respect the river’s wildlife.
• Timing will be by RowClock with back-up paper timing.  In the past some crews have queried times on the basis of in-boat timing apps such as Strava and Rowing In Motion. Having tested these we have found that that times from the apps can vary by as much as 5 seconds from people in the same boat.  Such timings will therefore not be considered in any appeal.
• Time penalties may be awarded for any crews not following the event instructions or acting in an unsporting manner.

Prizes

Prizes will be given for Senior categories with 3 or more entries or Junior categories with 2 or more entries.  Prize giving for winning crews take place at 14:30 at the City of Cambridge boathouse.

Safety

The Champion of the Thames Rowing Club personnel will endeavour at all times to ensure a safe event, but all competitors must follow marshals’ instructions and be alert at all times to the safety of themselves and others.

All competing Clubs have the responsibility to ensure that their crews and scullers abide by the Row Safe: A Guide to Good Practice in Rowing. In particular, all Clubs must ensure that:

• Inexperienced crews have experienced coxswains.
• Coaches of novice must crews evaluate the ability of these crews and consider whether they require an individual bank party on a bicycle, carrying a throw-bag, to escort them before, during and after the race. 
• All junior crews MUST have a bank party on a bicycle, carrying a throw-bag.
• Competitors are aware of the BR Row Safe Code, the Event Safety Information and Competitor’s Guidance and have been instructed in capsize drill.
• Competitors are competent to take part in the event without putting other people at risk.
• Competitors are responsible for proceeding safely at all times, especially to the start and after the finish.

The Row Safe guide is available at 

https://www.britishrowing.org/about-us/policies-guidance/rowsafe/

Equipment

It is the responsibility of each crew to ensure that the equipment they are using is safe and compliant with the requirements of the BR Rules of Racing and Row Safe: A Guide to Good Practice in Rowing.   Event organisers may make spot checks on boat safety.  Coxes arriving at the start without a suitable lifejacket or buoyancy aid will be disqualified.  Any boat deemed unsafe will be disqualified and asked to return to its boat house with its crew.

Swimming Ability

Every competitor is expected to be in good health and must be able to swim a minimum of 100 metres in their kit.  The river is relatively narrow and shallow in most places, and there is good access from the bank along the extent of the race course, however all crews should make due allowance for the stream and for points of the river which have increased depth or where navigation is more difficult.

Juniors

All junior crews MUST have a bank party on a bicycle.

Accidents

If you see an accident, give appropriate assistance if required.  A marshal will take action or alert the rescue services by radio or phone as necessary.  The whole course is visible to marshals, and there will be marshals with throw lines along the course.  In the event of capsize please stay with your boat, check for the safety of all members of your crew and await assistance from marshals.

Insurance

All crews must have adequate third party insurance.

Health Information

Competitors are reminded that the Cam water is likely to contain the Leptospirosis (Weil’s Disease) bacterium other sources of harmful and infectious diseases.  Ensure pre-existing cuts, blisters etc. are covered with a suitable waterproof dressing before going afloat.  Cuts, blisters etc. sustained during the race should be thoroughly washed immediately upon return to the boathouse.  Should you be unlucky enough to fall in, please ensure you shower at the earliest possible opportunity.  It is recommended that water bottles (including those with a “sports top”) are placed in a waterproof plastic bag, rather than loose in the bottom of the boat, to reduce the risk of contact with unclean river water.

Marshalls

The BR Rules of Racing (https://www.britishrowing.org/events/entering-events/rules-of-racing/) will apply. The marshals will stop the race if an unsafe situation arises.

Allow plenty of time to boat before the scheduled start time. All boats must be downstream of the Plough 20 mins before the advertised start time; crews that are late will be turned back.

Marshals will be posted at regular intervals (see map) throughout the course, on both banks of the river wherever possible. Marshals will be wearing high-visibility tops, and will be equipped with radios, mobile phones, loud hailers, throw lines, and emergency foil blankets.

Incidents

Report any incidents immediately to any marshal or to the control desk. In the event of an incident needing reporting to British Rowing, the Chief Marshal will liaise with the club(s) concerned and report(s) filed with British Rowing accordingly.

Failure to Abide by Safety Instructions

Champion of the Thames want to run a safe event that can be enjoyed by all concerned. It is imperative that all competitors abide by instructions given to them for their safety. Failure to abide by the instructions in this document, other instructions given to competitors, or instructions given by marshals on the day, may lead to disqualification from the event.

Weather

The race takes place in April, so the weather may be warm, cold, windy, wet or any combination thereof. If the forecast for the race is poor, or if conditions worsen during the day, the race organisers will make an assessment prior to the race start and may cancel racing either for specific crews (e.g. juniors) or for everyone.  Refunds will be offered if this is needed.

• Fog or otherwise reduced visibilty the event of fog or otherwise reduced visibility making racing unsafe, the organisers may delay, suspend, or cancel racing. This will be clearly communicated to crews at the boathouse areas.
• HIGH WIND, SNOW, HEAVY RAIN etc In the event of adverse weather such as High Wind, Snow, Heavy Rain, the organisers may delay, suspend, or cancel racing. This will be clearly communicated to crews at the boathouse areas. In the event of racing going ahead in less-than-ideal conditions (e.g.: moderate winds), it is up to coaches to assess whether each crew is capable of coping with conditions. Crews not deemed capable of safely competing in such conditions may withdraw and will receive a full refund.
• LIGHTNING PLAN The Met Office forecast will be consulted prior to the event to check if thunderstorms are at all likely. The Event Safety Adviser will watch the weather for the (unlikely) event that thunderstorms affect one or more of the divisions. In the unlikely event that a thunderstorm occurs during the event, the provisions laid down in the document “Recommendations for Lightning Protection in Sport” (available from British Rowing) shall be followed if feasible:
  • “Suspension and resumption of rowing shall follow the 30 second/10 minute rule: rowing shall stop when the flash-to-bang count is 30 seconds or less, and shall not resume until 10 minutes after the last lightning”
  • Ideally crews shall be cleared from the water and shepherded back to the landing stages by safety and Race marshals as rapidly as possible.
  • Marshals will instruct all athletes, officials and spectators to move into their vehicles or into a suitable building.
  • The 30-10 rule should give sufficient time to clear all crews from the river safely.
  • Any Race Monitor observing lightning, shall inform the Event Safety Advisor and Race Control immediately; umpires and race marshals will instruct crews to return to landing stages as quickly and as safely as possible.

However, it is recognised that there is negligible safe shelter adjacent to the further reaches of the Cam Head course and that crews may well be safer staying in their boats than standing exposed on the (higher) bank.

Whether they are directed to stay stationary in their boats, drawn in to the bank, or to return to the landing stages, will depend on their distance from the landing stages when lightning is first observed.

The safety advisors reserve the right to amend this plan on the day if weather or conditions on the day make this necessary.

In which case, or if the event has to be cancelled, information will be posted on the Champs website https://championrowing.org.uk/ and will be announced at Race Control.

Key Positions

Events Secretary - Les Whitfield 07973 323451 events@championrowing.org.uk

Safety Officer - Ian Knights 07768 174500

Welfare Officer - TBC

Control - Race control at City of Cambridge boathouse.

Start - Plough Reach (see map)

Finish - 1 mile down upstream of the Plough just before Green Dragon Bridge.

Marshals - As marked on map (wearing yellow/orange tabards) All equipped with throw lines/radios/thermal blankets/megaphones/mobile phones

Hospital - Accident and Emergency at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Hill’s Road, Cambridge t: 01223 217118

Emergency - Fire, Police, Ambulance 999

Emergency Access Points

Much of the river is relatively narrow and the majority of the river is easily accessible from the towpath. Marshals can see all parts of the river and will be stationed at regular intervals throughout the course. Nevertheless, potentially dangerous areas on the river include:

• Stretch of river between Cutter Ferry Bridge and the Cantabs boathouse (no access to river from bank, high wall at side of river). Marshals will be in place in this stretch of river to assist as needed with navigation.
• Sharp corner at the Green Dragon footbridge (Marshals will be in place in this stretch of river to assist as needed with navigation).

Postcodes, GPS , what3words /// locations:

All GPS positions in Degrees East and North. In general the tow path is not suitable for rapid vehicle access.

A: Combined Boathouse, Logan’s Way. CB4 1EQ E: 0.14009; N: 52.21190 /// bikes.congratulations.spring

B. Green Dragon Foot Bridge (North side). Pedestrian access to race finish only. Water Street. CB4 1NZ E: 0.14546; N52.21771 /// uses.early.hogs

C. Vehicle access to finish on common, South side of river via key locked gate at Riverside (key access from Cambridge City Council) CB5 8EY Locked gate: E: 0.14489; N:52.21495 /// cards.deeper.public

D. Vehicle access to western (nearest to Cambridge) tow path (code locked, vehicular access); Also coordinates for Penny Ferry (formerly Pike & Eel Public House) CB4 1PA E: 0.15052; N:52.21885 /// march.needed.path

E. Vehicle tow path access on Fen Road, Chesterton, near rail way bridge. Gated, code locked, vehicular access to tow path near railway crossing over river Cam. Pedestrian access. CB4 1TX E: 0.15523; N: 52.22034 /// every.zebra.smart

F. Vehicular access to tow path from Grassy Corner, Fen Road. Code locked, vehicular access (rough, wet terrain for 100 m). CB4 1TU Fen Road access: E: 0.16457; N: 52.22698 /// hired.spirit.mass Tow path joining point: E: 0.16647; N: 52.22654 ///bugs.vital.wake

G. Car park at Towpath for access to Baits Bite lock & weir, (code locked) eastern section of Tow path and start point. CB24 6AF Car Park E: 0.17803; N: 52.23757 /// career.extent.tested

H. Vehicle access to Ditton Corner (south, non-tow path side) at end of Long Reach, via Fen Ditton High Street CB5 8ST E: 0.16779; N: 52.22271 /// deals.protester.pothole

I. Vehicle access to First post corner (east, non-towpath side) from Green End, Fen Ditton. CB5 8SZ E: 0.17068; N: 52.22795 /// overgrown.regrowth.puppy

Results

Final results will be published below. Presentations will take place at the City of Cambridge boathouse at approximately 1430.

Course Fastest Times

As this is a brand new event the fastest times from this year will form the course records for future years.

Future Dates

Each year we aim to run this event on the 1st Weekend in April dependant on when Easter falls. Future dates are to be approved by Cambridgeshire Rowing Association & Cam Conservators.

Course Map

Enquires

Entry Form 

Race Status:

• Championship - The highest category. Crews containing members who in the past have rowed at national level events.
• Club A - Below Championship level and an average of more than two BR, CRA or CUCBC event wins in the last 24 months.
• Club B - Below Club A level and above Novice level (see below).
• Novice - A maximum of two members of the crew who have ever won a BR, CRA or CUCBC event.
• Beginner - All members of the crew learnt to row in the previous calendar year.
• CUCBC categories based on the position in Lent bump races (where Lent Div 2 includes any lower division). 
• Fixed Seat boats (skiff).
• Masters, Junior and Adaptive - As defined by British Rowing.  For adaptive categories, please provide details of the category in the final box at the bottom of this form.

Final Draw

Final Results

Final results are published below:

Documents