MONTFORD CHALLENGE Saturday 12th MARCH 2016.

Race decision 10am Friday 11th March.

We welcome all crews to our inaugural 11 mile Montford Challenge time trial on the from rowing upstream to the Wingfield Arms Pub at Montford Bridge. The course can take between 2 & 4 hrs to row depending on river flow & conditions.

Longboat race classes Seniors, Ladies, Mixed, Vets & Supa Vets. Entry fee - £7.00 per person which includes food at the finish.

Registration 9.00 – 10.30am / Race briefing 10.45am / 1st boat off at 11.15am. Pre-race bacon rolls etc, tea & coffee available for purchase at start. Camping is available at both start & finish locations.

The v Wales 6 nations rugby match will be televised at the Wingfield Arms pub - kick-off at 4pm! The race presentation will follow the rugby.

Online booking form with paypal or card payment facility click the following link:- http://www.adventurerowingclub.co.uk/montford-bridge-challenge-time-trial- event-2016-entry-form

Any Queries to Justin Reynolds - Email : [email protected] Tel: 07973 823472

For all race details please refer to the information below

Montford Challenge Race Instructions 2016

MONTFORD CHALLENGE - Saturday 12th MARCH 2016 Race & weekend information.

Race format. The Montford Challenge will take place on the River Severn on outskirts of Shrewsbury. This is a non league challenge race in a time trial format, rowing upstream for 11miles in open countryside, taking approx 2-4 hrs depending on river & weather conditions. Race start is located at the West Mid Showground, Gravel Hill Lane, Shrewsbury, - SY1 2PF. Race finish is adjacent to the Wingfield Arms pub at Montford Bridge approx 7 miles from Shrewsbury by road - SY4 1EB. The race is open to longboats - classes are listed on the booking form,. Coxes are allowed to swap with crew. No Passengers ie 5 crew.

Online booking form is available with Card & Paypal facility for race fees – see link on race notice.

Deadline for bookings is Wednesday 2nd March 2016. We would appreciate bookings well in advance of this for obvious reasons.

Contact and Communication Information: Race control - VHF Communication Channel - Tba Shropshire Adventure Rowing Club Organiser – Justin Reynolds 07973 823472 - [email protected] Shropshire Adventure Rowing Club Organiser – Geoffrey Barton 07921 894921 Shropshire Adventure Rowing Club Commodore – Paul King 07772 228736 Shropshire Adventure Rowing Club Safety Officer – Oliver Edwards 07525 435307 Shrewsbury Hospital - 01743 261000

Provisional timetable Time Activity Location 08.30 – 10.15 Crews Arrive at start area & unload West Mid Showground 09.00 – 10.45 Boat preparation West Mid Showground 09.00 – 10.30 Registration West Mid Showground 09.00 – 12.30 Bacon Baps / Drinks available West Mid Showground West Mid Showground - Montford 09.00 – 10.15 Drivers take trailers to finish location - SEE note 4 Bridge Montford Bridge - West Mid 10.15 – 10.40 Transport for pre booked drivers back to start Showground 10.45 – 11.00 Race briefing West Mid Showground 11.15 Boats depart at 2 minute intervals West Mid Showground 13.00 -onwards Food / drinks etc. available in Wingfield arms Wingfield Arms Montford Bridge 13.00 – 16.00 Boats retrieved form river to trailers Etc. Montford Bridge 16.00 – 17.30 Televised England v Wales rugby match at the pub Wingfield Arms Montford Bridge 16.00 Anticipated latest boat finish Montford Bridge 18.00 Presentation Wingfield Arms Montford Bridge 18.30 onwards Food / drinks etc etc Wingfield Arms Montford Bridge

Montford Challenge Race Instructions 2016

The race will be held under the rules of the welsh sea rowing association with the specific variations / additions described below.

Safety & housekeeping : 1. All crew members MUST have lifejackets with them in the boat. As a minimum coxswains must wear lifejackets. Dependant on river conditions all crew may be instructed to wear lifejackets. 2. All crews to carry a VHF radio set to the stated channel advised at Race briefing. 3. Please bring boat mounted club /county /National flag. 4. As soon as boats are unloaded at the start area, drivers with trailers will be directed to proceed as soon as possible to the finish point 15 mins away to park up & return in transport provided by SARC. Ensure you have pre booked a seat if you require this. The cut off time to leave the start area is 10.15. If you arrive after this time, your trailer will have to remain at the start & be collected after the race. 5. If your driver is not rowing / camping at the start etc we would prefer the trailer to remain at the start area as parking is limited at the finish area & picked up later. 6. Registration point – Full race information, Race number, course map, vouchers for food at finish will be available when you register. 7. In addition to the post race food included in the race fee, a full menu will be available for purchase at the pub. 8. A must-do request from the Landlady - Due to the potentially muddy conditions adjacent to the river, we ask that you please bring a set of clean footwear to wear in the pub – Your best flip-flops perhaps!! – Thanks. 9. Showers will be available at the finish area.

Race Start Procedure: 10. A warning signal by whistle / horn blast will be given by the starter approximately 10 minutes before the race starts – ensure your boat is setup ready to race & prepared to enter the river. 11. Every 2 minutes with assistance in race order boats will be carried bow first down the slipway into the water, crews will board, set oars, pushed by marshals into the river & then turn right upstream. 12. The start line is approx 100m away. Crews will have approx 5 minutes in the river to prepare for the start/ hold water / begin approach to the start. 13. The starter will call each boat towards the start line, count down from 10 to a horn blast or whistle to go.

Race course / overtaking: 14. From start boats shall proceed upstream until they reach the finish at Montford Bridge. Please do not turn around & row downstream during the race without express permission from race control. 15. There are no exit points for boats between the start & finish. If you have to abort the race please find a suitable point on the river bank to safely disembark your crew & call in to race control on VHF radio for instructions / safety boat assistance. 16. There are several points of the river where flow is faster, trees etc protrude into the river & is shallow on inside of corners – These are indicated on the course map to the best of our knowledge. However Coxswains must read the river ahead & act accordingly. 17. During the race overtaking boats must steer clear of a slower boat. 18. Coxswains must steer a true course, allowing room for and must not steer to prevent or affect the course of a faster boat overtaking. 19. There are some points where the river is very obviously not wide enough for 2 boats. Chasing boats should be patient, catch your breath & then overtake when wide enough. 20. There are several bends in the river. Where overtaking occurs in these areas Coxswains must steer according to the WSRA rules for Buoy turns, but taking racing line at 2 boat lengths clear instead of 3. ie the boat overtaking can move in to take the racing line once they are 2 boat lengths clear of the slower boat.

Montford Challenge Race Instructions 2016 Race finish Procedures: 21. The finish is the central arch of Montford Bridge. Finishing time is when your boat fully clears the bridge arch. FYI -this is the only bridge across the course. 22. Coxswains must show their race number at the finish line. 23. After finish line boats should proceed as directed by race Marshall to disembark / retrieve boat on left hand bank. Coxswains please be aware of other boats crossing the finish line & move away from the central part of the river adjacent to the bridge.

Camping / Accommodation at both finish & start. 24. Camping / caravan / Campervan facilities available at race start location in Shrewsbury – Flat Rate is £10 per caravan, camper or tent per night – please email Justin to book - [email protected] 25. Camping / caravan / Campervan facilities available at race finish location at Montford bridge - Please call the Wingfield Caravan park for details / booking –07853 934379 or [email protected] & quote Montford Challenge row – Tent Camping is £5ppn – For Caravan / campervan pitches please enquire as limited number available. 26. Shrewsbury area Hotels, B&B’s – see www.shropshiretourism.co.uk/where-to-stay.html 27. Premier Inn is 15 mins walk from race start location. 28. If you cannot park your boat trailer where you are staying please contact us for assistance. 29. There is a café in the picnic area adjacent to Montford Bridge. 30. There is an Arriva No. 70 bus service available to / from Shrewsbury & Montford bridge.

NB: This information is subject to change - Any changes will be advised latest 5 days prior to race.

Montford Challenge Race Instructions 2016