HENLEY MILE INFORMATION PACK THE HENLEY MILE is a 1 mile straight line downstream River Thames swimming event, held over the Henley Royal Regatta course. It provides a unique opportunity to swim one of the most famous and beautiful stretches of open water in the world. Sunday 13th July 2014 This family event, which is held throughout the day, also features The Henley Half Mile swim for adult swimmers, and three shorter races for junior swimmers; The Henley Half over 800m, The Henley Quarter over 400m and The Henley Splash over 200m. These races will be held after the completion of The Henley Mile. The event also features The Temple Island 100m knock-out sprint event. 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 & Entry Categories Minimum age Wetsuit requirement Suits v Skins Challenge 4 Henley Half Mile Distance & Entry Categories 5 Temple Island Sprints 6 Junior Race Details Henley Half, Quarter & Splash 7 Distance, age & swimmer competence Event Location How to get there 8 By car/ By train Venue Facilities Parking 9 Event & Venue facilities Catering & Camping blueseventy Wetsuit hire Retail & event memorabilia Course Map 10 Event Timings Car park & venue opening times 11 Registrations Safety briefing Race start Results & Prize Giving Event ends Race Guidelines Registration 12 Safety briefing Swim After the swim Safety Advice & Information 13 Essential Contact Details 14 CONTENTS Page 2 EVENT DETAILS Date: Sunday 13th July 2014 Henley Mile Categories: Open – Men & Women Location: Temple Island Meadows, Henley-on-Thames Traditional – Men & Women (Speedos or swimsuits only) Masters 45-54 – Men & Women (on the day of the race) Start Time: The First Wave is at 9.00am Masters 55 and above – Men & Women (on the day of the race) Junior – Men & Women aged 14 to 18 (on the day of the race) Course: This unique straight-line, downstream point-to - Sporting/Parent & Child – A single (non-competitive) category for both point swim, (ie: no turns) takes advantage of the boomed Men & Women course of the Henley Royal Regatta. Teams – Men’s, Women’s, Mixed ( 2 + 2), Juniors Minimum age: 12 Wetsuit requirement: Non compulsory Page 3 SUITS V SKINS CHALLENGE The H2Open Suits v Skins Challenge will feature as part of The Henley Mile. All “Challenge” entrants will need to swim the Mile twice: once in a wetsuit and once without. Entry fee: £7 – this can be selected after you have entered by updating the Activities page on your registration form. First swim: 9.00am Second swim: Approximately 11.30am Timing & Results: Both swims will be electronically timed, with the cumulative totals being combined to give the overall finishing position, with details of individual times showing which swim was the fastest overall. There will be a men’s and women’s winner. Prizes: These will be confirmed before the event, but will include a free year’s subscription to H2Open Magazine. Page 4 THE HENLEY HALF MILE This new distance is a downstream swim over the Henley Junior – Men & Women aged 14 to 18 (on the day of the race) Regatta boomed course. This race will take place after the last Sporting/Parent & Child – A single (non-competitive) category for Henley Mile wave. both Men & Women Teams – Men’s, Women’s, Mixed ( 2 + 2), Juniors Times will be confirmed nearer the event, however, it is not likely to start till after 11.00am. Minimum age: 12 (10 in the Parent & Child category) Wetsuit requirement: Non compulsory Henley Half Mile Categories: Open – Men & Women Waves will be split by the following criteria, as listed below:- Traditional – Men & Women (Speedos or swimsuits only) Men – Open, Masters, Traditional, & Junior Masters 45-54 – Men & Women (on the day of the race) Women – Open, Masters, Traditional & Junior Masters 55 and above – Men & Women (on the day of the race) Sporting & Parent & Child (Men & Women) Page 5 THE TEMPLE ISLAND SPRINTS These races will be series of heats, semi-finals & finals over a 100m upstream course, alongside the iconic Temple Island. The winner of each heat will go through to the next round, until there are four finalists, who will then go head to head in the final. Initial heat numbers will be confirmed on the day of the event, however, there will be a maximum of 4 rounds, including the final. The first heats will be based on the entrant’s Henley Mile finishing time, with the slowest time heats taking place first, finishing with the final heat, with the fastest Mile finishing times. This competition will take place after the Henley Mile prize giving, and will be open to all Henley Mile entrants. If you would like to enter this competition, please enter and update the Activities Section of your registration form. Please Note: Exact heats, timings & final details will be announced at the event. Page 6 JUNIOR RACE DETAILS THE HENLEY HALF Distance: 800m Age limits: For juniors from 9 to 14 years (on the day of the race) Split into 9 to 11 & 12 to 14 age groups, with separate races for boys & girls. Swimmer Competence: Entrants should be able to comfortably complete 1km swim in the pool without stopping. * THE HENLEY QUARTER Distance: 400m Age limits: For juniors from 8 to 13 years (on the day of the race). Split into 8 to 10 & 11 to 13 age groups, with separate races for boys & girls. Swimmer Competence: Entrants should be capable of swimming 20 lengths without stopping. * THE HENLEY SPLASH Distance: 200m Age limits: For juniors from 8 to 12 years (on the day of the race). Split into under 8 to 10 & 11 to 12 age groups, with separate races for boys & girls. Swimmer Competence: Entrants should be capable of swimming 20 lengths without stopping. * * All entrants should be comfortable treading water in the deep end of a swimming pool. Wetsuit requirement: Non compulsory for all races. Page 7 EVENT LOCATION - HOW TO GET TO TEMPLE ISLAND MEADOWS By Car Sat Nav Details: Remenham Farm, Remenham Church Lane, Turn RIGHT at the roundabout, again signposted 'Henley' onto the Henley-on-Thames, Oxon, RG9 3DB A4130. Follow this road until you start to go down a hill, then turn RIGHT Into Remenham Church Lane, and follow the signs to Remenham Farm From M4 - Leave the M4 at Junction 8/9. Take the A404(M) towards and to the event car park. 'Henley' & 'Marlow'. Leave A404M at the 2nd junction signposted 'Henley', 'A4130'. Turn LEFT at the give way and go straight over at From Henley town centre: the roundabout, again signposted 'Henley' onto the A4130. Follow this Go over Henley Bridge towards 'Maidenhead'. At the top of the hill, turn road until you start to go down a hill, then turn RIGHT Into Remenham LEFT into Remenham Church Lane, and follow the signs to Remenham Church Lane, and follow the signs to Remenham Farm and to the Farm and to the event car park. event car park. By Train From M40 - Leave the M40 at Junction 4. Take the A404(M) towards The nearest train station is Henley on Thames which has links to London 'Marlow'. At the first roundabout go straight over towards 'Henley' and (Approximately 1 hour) and Reading (Approximately 20 minutes) 'Maidenhead'. Take the next junction, signposted 'Henley', 'A4130‘. Temple Island Meadows is 1 mile from the Town centre. Page 8 VENUE & EVENT FACILITIES Temple Island Meadows supporters. Pitches are bookable in advance for £11 per person per Parking night. Campervans are £16. See website for full details. Available at the venue in Remenham Meadows car park, for a cost of £2. Wetsuit Hire & Official Retail Partner blueseventy Sprint wetsuits are available to hire for this event. Event Facilities These need to be ordered in advance – see website for full details. Toilets and showers will be provided at Glebe Campsite. They will also have a supply of swimwear supplies & accessories. Children’s entertainment, including bouncy castle. Therapy 4 Fitness Sports Massage will be on hand to provide 15 Catering (£10) or 30 (£20) minute sports massages. These can be booked Hot & cold drinks and food will be available throughout the in advance online. event. Event Memorabilia Camping Henley Swim Hoodies and other event memorabilia will be Glebe Campsite will be open to event competitors and available to purchase. Page 9 COURSE MAP Page 10 EVENT TIMINGS Venue and car park open to competitors 7.00am onwards Subsequent Mile Wave Order Registrations 7.00am onwards Teams & Charity Challenge Wave 10.00am Catering opens 7.00am Women’s Waves (Open, Masters, Traditional, & Junior 10.20am blueseventy Wetsuit Hire 7.00am (up to 3 waves – these will be split by 1500m swim time) & other retail outlets open Sporting & Parent & Child Wave 11.30am Results available from 9.30am Charity Challenge Wave (swim 4) mid afternoon (tbc) Prize Giving 3.30pm Venue closes 4.00pm Temple Island Sprint Heats 1.45pm Henley Splash 2.15pm Race timings Temple Island Sprint Semi Finals 2.40pm First Wave Safety briefing & race warm up 8.40am Henley Half Mile 2.45pm Wave 1 – Suits & Charity Challenge 9.00am Temple Island Sprints Final 3.15pm Wave 2 – Performance 9.20am Wave 3 – Men (Open, Masters, Traditional, & Junior 9.40am NB. Please note all times are subject to change. (up to 3 waves – these will be split by 1500m swim time) Page 11 RACE GUIDELINES Before the Swim Swim Please ensure you arrive at least two hours before the race start time, Once briefed, you will be called forward in your Wave and must enter the river so that you have sufficient time to register and prepare for your swim.