Bedford Amateur Regatta

BEDFORD AMATEUR REGATTA

SATURDAY 9 MAY 2009

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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 6 May, a late payment penalty applies to fees received after this date]

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 be disappointed at not having events on offer at 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 ARA 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.

What are all these new event names?

Please note that new ARA Rules of Racing apply from 1st April, with new names for each class of event and - more importantly - changes to the way that points are incurred. As a result of these changes, it is likely that many more crews than normal will incur additional status points in early-season regattas.

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

Note that 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 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):

Notts City
Lea Spring
Hammersmith Amateur
Chiswick Amateur
Wallingford
Evesham
York

We must know of any status changes by 10am on Monday 4^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 will not 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 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 OARA?

This is a quirk of the 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 to pull them along.

Do I need to be ARA registered for the 'College' events?

Yes. This is an open ARA event under the ARA 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 ARA Website for details of membership and application forms. We are told that the ARA 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 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 ARA status points, the Regatta offers this as a special event that will be drawn on the day. You must enter the crew on 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 the ARA Rules of Racing.

Who do we make Day Ticket payments payable to?

Day tickets are no longer available, and have not been for over a year now: you need to be ARA registered to compete at this - and all future - competitions run under ARA Rules of Racing.

Can I make online entries using OARA?

Yes, please see the ARA's OARA site for details. Please note that we are not accepting payment via 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. Please fill in details below. Note that debit card payments will be accepted without additional handling fee, though credit card payments will be subject to a 5% levy.

We will endeavour to contact you between 7pm and 9pm on the evening of receipt of your request. Please therefore give a number that you will be available on during these times. The cardholder needs to have their card with them for some security questions.

If you are not paying by card, cheques, made payable to 'Bedford Regatta' should be sent to the entries secretary at the address shown on the poster.

N.B. You MUST, MUST, MUST have your valid ARA 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!!! The ARA 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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