Bedford Amateur Regatta

The 147th BEDFORD AMATEUR REGATTA

Organised by the Bedford Regatta Committee under British Rowing's Rules of Racing
and Guide to Safe Practice in Rowing
over a course of 1200 metres on the River Great Ouse from County Bridge to the Suspension Bridge

SATURDAY 15^th MAY 2010

Affiliated to

For visiting competitors:

The following information is important: please read, even if you are familiar with Bedford events:

The Regatta safety plan (PDF) and water circulation plan (PDF) also posted out to clubs with the draw
Important information about parking and associated map
Regatta Safeguarding Policy including contact numbers
Regatta Welfare Plan

What sets Bedford Regatta apart from the rest?

This Regatta is for eights and fours only

Pint pewter tankards are awarded to all winners of main events

There are special ‘Plate’ events for events marked with a (P) on the poster, allowing first round losers another opportunity to race

Our entry fees represent excellent value at only £8.50/seat (coxes free) [NOTE: these rates are only for fees received by Wednesday 12 May, a late payment penalty applies to fees received after this date]

Unfortunately the Rowing Almanack no longer includes a table of the number of entries to regattas, but we feel fairly safe in saying that Bedford Regatta remains by far the largest one-day river regatta in the country. We have been forced to turn away a number of entries in recent years as there physically isn't the space on the river or time in the day to run with more crews than we accepted. Clubs will be advised by post with refund cheques to follow where appropriate.

What events are offered?

See the details on the Regatta poster:- we offer a wide range of events including J14 octuple and quad events for those crews who might wish to get some race practice before the National Schools Regatta two weeks later.

If there is sufficient demand, we will consider offering additional events. Write/phone/ e-mail your requests for additional events to us. Keep an eye on our page on the Bedford Regatta website for latest details.

How do the Plate events work?

All first round losers of events marked with a (P) on the poster with twelve or more entries are automatically entered into a new event for no extra charge. Entrants in these events are therefore guaranteed at least two rows (subject to programme timing - if you are doubling-up you may not have sufficient time for your ‘Plate’ event rows). The winners of these Plate events win a small (but very attractive!) prize and DO NOT attract status points

If you are fortunate enough to receive a 'bye' straight through to the second round, unfortunately you will not go through to the Plate event if you lose your first race. Sorry, but the logistics of the draw simply do not allow it.

Am I entering the right status for my crew?

Please advise us when making your draw of any regattas that you will be attending that may change your competitors' racing points total before the Regatta.

Note that some regattas don't upload results instantly, therefore you may enter our regatta mid-week before the closing date and the points for your competitors haven't yet been updated. Please be very careful when choosing which events to enter to ensure that you are taking into account the 'actual' points total rather than the one shown on BROE (formerly OARA), which may not be completely up-to-date.

We are delaying the draw this year to the Monday before the Regatta - much later than usual - in order that we can take any wins over the weekend into account. Regattas in the fortnight before our event that may affect your crews points totals include (inter alia):

City of Cambridge Sprint
Durham City
Wallingford
Evesham
York

We must know of any status changes by 10am on Monday 10^th May in order that we can plan our draw correctly. To give as many crews as possible the chance to compete in the Regatta, we are unlikely to put 'status change' slots in the draw as we are leaving it as late as Monday to perform. If you don't tell us about a win that affects your entry then we will NOT refund your entry fee.

Can I compete in more than one event?

Yes, but doubling-up is at your risk and is ONLY permitted in any TWO events at the discretion of the Committee. Our draw software can detect where individuals are doubling-up, but not boats. To be on the safe side, any doubling and MUST BE REQUESTED in the notes field on the BROE (formerly OARA) entry. Such entries will only be accepted if they can be fitted in the programme, on the clear understanding that programme timing must be adhered to.

With the co-operation of our competitors and the expertise of our umpires and marshals, we have built up an excellent reputation for racing a packed schedule on time. Our sophisticated draw software manages this by running thousands of iterations of the race timetable to avoid clashes of those doubling-up or boat sharing; it is only as good as the information that it is provided with so (at the risk of labouring the point) please clearly specify any doubling-up with each entry concerned

How do I enter the College events, I can't see them on BROE (formerly OARA)?

This is a quirk of the BROE (formerly OARA) system. The College events are not constrained to a maximum number of points, therefore are listed as Elite events, differentiated from the mainstream Elite events with '(College)' on the entry system, i.e. 'ELI.8+ College (+Plate)' and 'W.ELI.8+ College (+Plate)'. Please ensure that you enter the correct sex for your crew - we have 'Open' events rather than mens', so you will get no warning if you enter a crew of ladies into the open event. This could work in your favour, as a crew of men short of a body or two is quite legitimately entitled to enter some ladies into the crew.

Do I need to be registered with British Rowing for the 'College' events?

Yes. This is an open event under British Rowing's Rules of Racing, as are all of the other events on offer, therefore all crew members (including the cox) need to be registered. See the British Rowing Website for details of membership and application forms. We are told that British Rowing are returning applications by return of post at the moment so there is plenty of time to get registered before the day of the Regatta.

How do the 1^st boat/'Other' boat events marked # on the poster work?

It is the intention that these events are for clubs making at least one entry in the '1^st boat' category, even if you are not entering your actual '1^st boat' in the regatta. However, we are aware that some schools have entries for their first boats at other regattas instead of Bedford and would therefore look to make an entry in these events without making a '1^st boat' entry. The Committee is minded to accept entries in these circumstances ONLY, not just because you don't feel that the crew would be competitive in the 1^st boat event.

Please provide supporting information in the notes field of your BROE (formerly OARA) entry to justify any entries in the 'others' event where no '1^st boat' entry is made. The Committee reserves the right to move or reject entries as it feels appropriate to ensure that these events run in the spirit that they are intended.

In the event of insufficient entries, crews entered in the 'others' events will be merged with the '1^st boat' entries.

What are the School 2nd and 3rd boat events?

These events run on a large element of trust, in the same way as the '1^st boat'/'Others' events as noted above. It is the intention to give meaningful races with a chance of victory to those crews that are not expected to be fully competitive in the main junior event. In order that these events are not qualifying for racing status points, the Regatta offers this as a special event that will be drawn on the day. You must enter the crew on BROE (formerly OARA) with the rest of your crews to gain a place in the draw. To make this happen, all entrants must be entered for one other event in the Regatta, the 2nd and 3rd boat events can then fall within the definition of a 'fun' event created on the day under British Rowing's Rules of Racing.

What are the new Intermediate 3 "Club" events?

These are new for 2010, designed for crews from non-academic institutions who are fed up with getting thrashed in the first round by students or school crews. This is in response to a request from clubs, who are perhaps envious of the extra time that many school and college crews can devote to training than many club crews. We'll see: if there are sufficient entries then we will run the events, if not then any entrants to this event will be merged into the mainstream Intermediate 3 event. We are running these events in Open Intermediate 3 eights and fours only.

Who do we make Day Ticket payments payable to?

Day tickets are no longer available, and have not been for over two years now: you need to be registered with British Rowing to compete at this - and all future - competitions run British Rowing's Rules of Racing.

Can I make online entries using BROE (formerly OARA)?

Yes, please see the British Rowing's race entry site for details. Please note that we are not accepting payment via BROE (formerly OARA), but welcome entries made electronically. Payment must be sent to the entries secretary to hold your place in the event.

Can I pay by card?

Yes, we can accept card payments from all the usual suspects (not Amex) via Bedford Rowing Club. Card payment on-line is not possible; we will arrange to call the card-holder at a mutually convenient time once we have accepted your entries to take card details by phone. A special on-line form to arrange this is available here. Note that debit card payments will be accepted without additional handling fee, though credit card payments will be subject to a 5% levy.

N.B. You MUST, MUST, MUST have your valid Racing Licence (with photograph affixed) with you at this event, or you will not be allowed to take your prize home and may even be prevented from competing!!! British Rowing are turning around applications very quickly at the moment, so if you aren’t registered apply now.

Gavin Dods, Hon. Secretary, Bedford Regatta Committee
Tel: 07721 622729 e-mail: Secretary@bedfordregatta.co.uk

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