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South West Schools Kayak championships

South West Schools Kayak Championships

Now in it's 4th Year, we're proud to be sponsoring the South West Schools Championships, and are welcoming students from schools in the South West Region to come and race at our annual schools sprint and marathon event.

Hosted by Exeter Canoe Club, we have a range of races for K2s as a kick-started for DW 2020 and an introduction to the world of race kayaking. There will be prizes for the class winners and trophies for the winning teams.

It is a great opportunity to strengthen the connection between Schools and Racing Clubs in the South West and to provide a fun and varied introduction to Sprint and Marathon Racing.

Spread the word!

Race Instructions

The South West Schools Kayak Championships is organised and run by the Racing Clubs of the South West, and supported by the DW Canoe Race, British Canoeing, Devon County Council and Exeter City Council.

This championship is proudly sponsored by Kirton Kayaks Ltd, now celebrating over 50 years of British boat-building excellence - www.kirtonkayaks.co.uk 

The 2019 SW Schools Championships will be held as a stand-alone event hosted by Exeter Canoe Club. The Championships will follow the same format as previous years.

The objective of the Regatta is to promote Schools Canoeing in the SW; by providing a Regatta specifically for Inter-School Racing, with opportunities for racing, coaching and social time with peers from other Schools, and to meet representatives from Clubs in the South West Region.

It will give Crews time for preparation for the Racing season ahead, for both new and experienced School Crews.

The following information and rules will govern this Regatta and must be read by all participants.

Entries

Entry is open to School Paddlers who:
  • Are in the South West of England
  • Wish to further their experience in both Sprint and Marathon racing.
Entry fees are £12 per seat. Entries and fees should be submitted per the instructions on the Entry Form, and must be received by Friday 20 April 2018.
 

Venue

The Regatta will be based at the Piazza Terracina adjacent to AS Watersports and races will be held on the River Exe and Exeter Ship Canal for both the Sprint and Marathon Championships.
 
There is good access to the full length of both the Sprint and Marathon courses from the river / canal path / cycle way for teams, organisers and spectators.
 
Piazza Terracina is located at the head of the canal basin on Haven Road (Post Code for satnav is EX2 8DP). Exeter Canoe Club is located off Haven Banks Road and Haven Banks Outdoor Centre is across the canal basin and is accessed via the Piazza adjacent to AS Watersports at the head of the canal basin. There is public (pay) car and bus carparks close to the club.

Classes and Distances:

All Races will be Junior Doubles, raced in K2 or C2 classes:  
  • Sprint Regatta: 200m and 500m
  • Marathon Race: 5 Mile (Single portage)

Individual and Team Prizes will be awarded for both the Sprint and Marathon events, for two Classes;

Open (Boys and Mixed) and Girls.

Regatta Format and Timings*

08.30 - 9.00 Arrival & Registration
9.30 Team Leader Briefing
10.00 - 12.30

Sprint Regatta – Two events:

1. 500m Timed Heat then seeded Finals (Fastest last)

2. 200m knock out.
12.30 – 13.30 Lunch
13.30 Team Leader Briefing
14.00 - 15.30 Marathon Race
16.00 Prize Giving
  Depart

*Final timings may be subject to change depending on total entry numbers

Paddler Eligibility and Team Composition

Both paddlers (making a crew) must be current registered pupils in the Schools they are representing; they must be under the age of 19 years, and not less than 14 years old, on the 1st of January 2019.
 
Where there are two paddlers from the same school, they should make up a School Crew boat before having a mixed School Crew.
 
School Teams will be nominated for the duration of the Regatta, and will consist of two or three crews, with the positions for the fastest two crews being counted.
 
All teams must be pre-nominated by the Schools they are representing - who must submit a completed team entry form prior to the Regatta start. Crews will not count as a team in any other circumstances.
 

Rules & Safety*

  • Races will be held in accordance with the BCU Marathon Racing Rules.
  • Race Number Boards will be issued at Team Leader’s briefing. All boats must have their number clearly visible. Please ensure number boards are returned at the end of racing.
  • Buoyancy Aids: ALL paddlers must wear approved buoyancy aids; these should be Integral Foam Buoyancy aid or lifejacket conforming to one of the following European standards: EN 393 or EN 395 or ISO12402-5 or ISO12402-6. The EN standard must be clearly displayed via a label attached by the manufacturer.
  • Competitors must be able to swim 50 metres in paddling kit and be trained and declared competent to be able to self-recover their kayak or canoe in the event of a capsize.
  • All crews and their supporters shall race in a fair and considerate manner and maintain a satisfactory standard of conduct throughout the Regatta. Unsporting conduct by either paddlers or their supporters will be penalised. The decisions of the Organisers on all matters shall be final.
  • Disciplinary matters: inappropriate behaviour by supporters and/or competitors will be penalised. Any failure to observe the rules or obey the instructions of any Race or Safety Official at any time may render the crew liable to disqualification or other penalty.
  • Canoeing and Kayaking are “Assumed risk”‐“Water contact sports” that may carry attendant risks. Participants should be aware of and accept these risks and be responsible for their own actions and involvement.
  • Any relevant pre-existing medical conditions must be advised on the entry form.

Boats and Equipment

Boats must contain sufficient buoyancy to support their crews in the event of capsize. Sandwich construction boats are not presumed to have sufficient inherent buoyancy and must carry additional foam or other non-porous buoyant material. Closed and water-tight compartments built in by the original manufacturer may be accepted at the discretion of the Organisers, but must have adequate buoyancy at both ends.

BCU Membership

All Competitors should be members of the BCU. Non-members must obtain a Day Licence to permit paddling on the day of the championships.

Request for Assistance

To keep costs down it is requested that for each school entered, a member of the School Staff is available to assist the race organisers to manage the racing on the day with duties such as Marshalling, Finish timekeepers and on the results desk.

Further information

Please contact: Jim Taylor-Ross – SW Schools Teams Liaison for SW Racing Clubs

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07813 845890