BRIDGE TO BRIDGE INFORMATION PACK Images courtesy of Emma Craggs Photography & Leszek Lata www.emmacraggsphotography.com THE BRIDGE TO BRIDGE is a 14 km endurance downstream River Thames swimming event, from Henley Bridge to Marlow Bridge. This event is more relaxed than a race, and is aimed only at serious open water swimmers who would like to include a long distance challenge in their summer open water swimming season. Sunday 10th August 2014 Run in the style of a 'sportive', the swim is organised into a group format, with teamwork making this a fun and satisfying event with a difference, whilst at the same time swimming over a particularly beautiful stretch of the River Thames. Event organisers: Henley Swim Website: www.henleyswim.com Email: [email protected] Tel: 07714 776567 Title Detail Page Event Summary Date 3 Location Start time Course Pod structure Minimum age Wetsuit requirement Event Location How to get there 4 By car/ By train Venue & Event Facilities Parking 5 Event facilities Henley Swim event memorabilia Sports Massage Swim Guidelines Registration 6 Safety briefing Swim After the swim Safety Advice & Information 8 Route, Course Map & Feed Stations 8 - 17 Henley Bridge to Hambledon Lock 8 Pod structure 9 Course map 10 Stage 1 course map 11 Stage 2 Hambledon to Hurley 12 - 15 Stage 3 Hurley to Temple 16 - 17 Stage 4 Temple to Marlow 18- 19 Essential Contact Details 20 CONTENTS Page 2 EVENT SUMMARY Date: Sunday 10th August 2014 Wetsuit Categories: Gold pod – This will be a fast challenging group, with the emphasis Start Location: Leander Club, Henley-on-Thames on short stops at locks and foodstops (1500m swim time 25 minutes Exit Location: Marlow Rowing Club, Marlow or under) Silver pod – A steadier pace for regular open water swimmers Start Time: 8.00am (1500m swim time between 26 & 30 minutes) Bronze pod – A slower group for swimmers new to this distance Course: This runs downstream along the River Thames (1500m swim time between 31 & 45 minutes) from Henley-on-Thames to Marlow. It is split into 4 stages, with feeding stations and exit routes to avoid the locks. Wetsuit requirement: compulsory Non Wetsuit Categories: (see website for details) Minimum age: 18 Individual Kayak Support Additional Kayak Support Page 3 EVENT LOCATION - HOW TO GET TO HENLEY-ON-THAMES By Car Sat Nav Details: Henley-on-Thames, Oxon, RG9 3DB Turn RIGHT at the roundabout, again signposted 'Henley' onto the A4130 and follow the signs into Henley Town Centre. From M4 - Leave the M4 at Junction 8/9. Take the A404(M) towards 'Henley' & 'Marlow'. Leave A404M at the 2nd junction signposted 'Henley', By Train 'A4130'. Turn LEFT at the give way and go straight over at the roundabout, The nearest train station is Henley-on-Thames, which has links to London again signposted 'Henley' onto the A4130. There is no event car park, (Approximately 1 hour) and Reading (Approximately 20 minutes) however, there are a number of car parks in the town centre. Leander Club is just a short walk from the Town centre, across the bridge. From M40 - Leave the M40 at Junction 4. Take the A404(M) towards Marlow Exit Parking & Minibus Service 'Marlow'. At the first roundabout go straight over towards 'Henley' and Vehicles can also be left near the swim exit in Marlow. A Minibus Service will also be in place for anyone who wishes to park in Marlow. Further details of 'Maidenhead'. Take the next junction, signposted 'Henley', 'A4130‘. car parks, etc, will be provided on the website and by email nearer the event. Page 4 VENUE & EVENT FACILITIES Parking There is no event car park, however, there are a number of car parks in Henley & Marlow town centre. Further details will be provided nearer the event. blueseventy will have a small range of swimwear and accessories to cater for any needs you may have on the day. Henley Venue – Leander Club We will be based at the front of the Leander Club, where competitors will Our Sports Massage Therapy4Fitness will be on hand to provide have access to toilet facilities before the start of the swim. Registrations 15 (£12) or 30 (£22) minute sports massages. You can book this in will take place on the lawn in the front of the Club house. advance by selecting this option on the Merchandise page of your registration form. Marlow Venues Swim Exit Competitors will exit the river at Marlow Rowing Club. Event Memorabilia Henley Swim Hoodies, Bridge to Bridge hoodies & t-shirts, and Court Gardens other event memorabilia will be available to purchase at Court Toilets, showers and changing facilities will be available for you to use. Gardens. A buffet lunch will be held in the General Higginson room. Catering Page 5 SWIM GUIDELINES Before the Swim Swim Start Please ensure you arrive at least one hour before the race start time, Once briefed, you will enter the river at the designated entry points so that you have sufficient time to register and prepare for your swim. You will then have a short warm up before being asked to swim to the Start Registration - from 6.00am to 7.30am line, just under the Henley bridge. From there you will be guided by support All competitors are required to register with photographic ID, before canoes as you make your way en masse down the first reach to Hambleden being allocated a numbered swimming cap. You will be able to Lock. Pod details are explained on page 8. leave your belongings or valuables such as car keys in a named bag Non wetsuit entrants will be allocated their Individual Kayak Supporter after registering. These will be taken to the Marlow Swim Exit for you before the start of the swim and will swim with them from Henley. Additional to collect after your swim. Kayak Support entrants will be allocated into their pods at Hambleden, with Safety briefing additional kayak support. It is compulsory to attend the briefing, which is held approximately 20 After the Swim minutes before the race start. You will need to be ready to start the Once you have completed your swim, you will be able to collect your swim immediately after this. belongings before walking to Court Gardens, where changing facilities will . be provided. There you will be able to join your supporters and enjoy the Buffet Lunch. Sports Massages will also be available here. Page 6 SAFETY ADVICE & INFORMATION Safety Advice Whilst water quality tests provide an indication of the suitability of a next swimming session or event. venue for open water swimming they do not mean that that there is a complete absence of potential pathogens. Further Health & Safety Information Please be aware of our Terms & Conditions of entry and Health & You are advised to adopt the following procedures to minimise the Safety Protocol before attending this event. This information is risk of infections:- • Cover all cuts and abrasions, however minor, with sticking available on our website, at:- www.henleyswim.com. plasters. You should not consider swimming if you have deep cuts. Event Safety • Wash hands in fresh water before eating after you have swum. We take your safety very seriously and work closely with our Medical • Take a full shower at the earliest opportunity. and Water Safety providers to ensure that the necessary cover is in • Try not to ingest water while swimming. place both on and off shore, along the whole course of this marathon swim. Our partners for this event are Event Water Safety UK & In addition all swimming kit (wetsuit, costume, goggles, hat ,etc) Criticare UK. should be washed in clean water and thoroughly dried prior to your Page 7 SECTION 1 – HENLEY TO HAMBLEDEN LOCK Swimmers will be set off from Henley Bridge. Please swim at a pace you can maintain for 14km. This first section is approximately a 4km swim. Once you arrive at Hambledon Lock you will be allocated into pods, based on your actual swimming speed. There will be approximately 20 pods, averaging 20 people per pod. All pods will be expected to work together as a team (including the canoe safety support) to complete this marathon swim course. Please listen carefully to all instruction from the safety team, as the river will be open to other traffic. Examples below are pod goals and speed expectations: • Gold pod – This will be a fast challenging group, with the emphasis on short stops at locks and feed zones. Average 1500m swim time of under 25 minutes • Silver pods – A steadier pace for regular open water swimmers new to this sort of distance. Average 1500m swim time of between 26 & 30 minutes • Bronze pods – A slower group. Average 1500m swim time of between 31 & 45 minutes • Non Wetsuit swimmers will either swim with their Individual Kayak Support, or within a suitable pod, with Additional Kayak Support. Page 8 Swim Pod Procedure – Once assigned to your pod the following rules must be adhered to • Lead canoe will hug the Right hand bank (facing down stream) most of the way to Marlow (with 1 short stretch on the left hand side) • Trail canoe will follow about 50 metres behind, with a third canoe watching the Pod • Swimmers must swim inside the Swim Zone at all times (3 warnings) • Swimmers who struggle and fall behind, will be guided to the next feed station, and asked to wait for the following pod, where they will continue the swim with the next pod • Swimmers who cannot maintain the pace of the final pod will be guided to an exit point where they will be picked up by a safety vehicle.