Check in is at Whitlingham Boathouses (the location of Norwich Canoe Club)

This can be found 100 meters away from the Regatta Lake between the small broad and the river. 

Check in times:

Friday: 17th 18.00 - 20.00 (Main room upstairs at Whitlingham Boathouse)

Saturday 18th 8am - 10.00 am (Office - Upstairs at Whitlingham Boathouse)

There will be a presentation of the Safety Briefing and the Event Schedule at 09:00 – 09:30 on Saturday morning at Whitlingham Adventure on the deck for all Team Leaders. A representative from each University or College is expected to attend. There will be an opportunity for any questions during this time.

There is a videoed Safety Briefing running on a loop at Check In. You are required to watch this through.

The lake is open at the following times for warm up:

Friday: the Regatta Lake is closed

Saturday 9.00am - 17.30

Sunday 9.00am - 13.30

We strongly recommend there should be a minimum of two paddlers on the water, together, for any warm-up.

There is a safety boat on the Big Lake during racing (but not on the river.) (If you warm up on the river - you do so at your own risk).

5K Course

The 5k races have held starts.  Boats will be backed up to the decking on Whitlingham Adventure and held. There is no line up order. One lap is down the lake around all five buoys delineating the 500m start anti clockwise (ie go down the return lane side of the lake) and back towards the finish and go around all 5 of the buoys delineating the finish. That is one lap. There are four long laps as described. The last additional lap is a shorter lap - paddlers go around all 5 of the boys at the start of the 200m course and then finish in lanes 4 or 5 at the normal finishing line. In summary held start at Whitlingham Adventure and then 4 long laps and 1 short lap. Boats must be sprint weight. Sprint rules to 5 K regarding missing a buoy will apply. There is a briefing for all competitors racing 5K   at 12.30 on Saturday on the main deck of Whitlingham Adventure.

200m Relay

The 200m relay will start at the finish line and the first person in the relay team will race to the 200m start. The sending person in the relay team will race down the same lane and finish at the normal finish. The 2nd person in each team must wait behind the line and wait until the first person in their team has cross the line. Marshalls will be watching closely. There is a briefing for all competitors taking part in the 200m relay at 12.40 on Saturday on the main deck of Whitlingham Adventure.

Buoyancy Aids

All paddlers ranked in Men’s D or Women’s D must wear a buoyancy aid. If you are unranked then you must wear a buoyancy aid. All paddlers entering the Open event must wear a buoyancy aid. The safety committee will make a decision on any buoyancy aid requirements for all other paddlers in the event of bad weather.

Any paddler who is required to wear a buoyancy aid but who is found on the water not wearing a buoyancy aid will be immediately disqualified.

Bibs

Please wear the bib number you are given at check in when racing. These should be returned at the end of racing on Sunday to Race Control at Whitlingham Adventure Centre.

University Colours

Please wear university colours under your bib.

Scratching / retiring

Please contact Race Control which is located at Whitlingham Adventure to inform them if you are unable to race.

The timetable, lane numbers and progressions will be available on the Linktree. 

The link is: https://linktr.ee/BUCSCanoeSprint23

You can scan the QR code to access this: 

Any protests concerning racing must be made within 30 minutes of the race starting to Tim Scott 07944209522.

If you wish to loan a boat for the event (eg K2) please get in touch with Tim Scott in advance on 07944209522

There is a field set aside if you wish to leave your boat overnight. While there has never been an issue with security and even though there is a locked gate on the field, we cannot guarantee the safety of your boat or take any responsibility for it overnight.

K1’s must weigh 12 kilos or more and K2s 18 kilos or more for all Championship races including the 5K. C1s must weigh 14 kilos or more. There will be boat weighting scales on the site which you can use from 9.00am Saturday and 9.00am Sunday. Boats will be called to boat weighing randomly after each race. If your K1 or K2 is found to be less than the prescribed weights you will be disqualified. To access the boat weighing tent and scales please do not cross the racing course and be watchful for racing finishing.

Please park in Lime Tree Car Park which will be signposted. (Also see attached map) It is the closest car park to the Regatta Course on the Large Lake at Whitlingham.

It is Pay and Display.

Camping is available next to the regatta lake at Whitlingham Broad Campsite in Whitlingham Country Park. They also hire camping pods. The website is here: https://www.whitlinghambroadcampsite.com

Betty’s Bar (Upstairs at Whitlingham Boathouses - home of Norwich Canoe Club) has a large kitchen which serves food and is opening longer hours especially for this event.

• Cooked All Day Breakfasts
• Snacks
• Hot and Cold Drinks
• Cakes

Opening times are:

Saturday 17th 9.30 am to 16.30

Sunday 18th 9.30am to 12.30

Medal presentation ceremonies will take place on the main deck at the Whitlingham Adventure Centre (at the top end of the lake).

See the race schedule for the times of the ceremonies.

We will have a photographer on hand to record the medal ceremonies - they will be by a volunteer rather than a professional. Friends and relatives are welcome to take pictures.

There are two points to launch - one with a hard bank where you can keep your feet dry opposite the finishing line and one from a beach area near the 200m start.

The return lane is on the near side. Please use this to access the start of the 200m and 500m. You can warm up in the top half of the lake beyond where racing is taking place at any time. The safety launch may not see you if you go to the very top of the Large Broad, so we recommend you stay within 500m of the start.

The lanes are numbered 1 to 5 starting from the car park side. Lane 5 has buoys on one side only. There are no buckets so please listen carefully to the race starter. There will be three commands eg “Ready Set Go” Please wait for the Go. They will call you back in the event of a false start. You may receive a time penalty.

Please bring racing lane numbers for your boat if you have them. It will make it easier for officials.

All questions should be communicated by an institution’s athletic union or students’ union staff member to:

Harry Spinks
BUCS Event Administrator

or

Tim Scott (Race Director) - 07944209522