Image courtesy of Leszek Lata THE HENLEY CLASSIC is a 2.1 km endurance upstream River Thames swimming event, held over the Henley Royal Regatta course, very early on the Sunday morning before the start of Henley Royal Regatta. HENLEYThis celebrationCLASSIC of midsummer provides a unique opportunity to swim one of the most famous and beautiful INFORMATIONstretches P ofACK open water in the world, at what we believe is the most beautiful time of the day - dawn. th Sunday 25 June 2017 Event organisers: Open Water Swimming Ltd Website: www.henleyswim.com Email: [email protected] Tel: 01491 577922 EVENT DETAILS Date: Sunday 25th June 2017 Categories: Elite – Men & Women (by application only) Location: Temple Island Meadows, Henley-on-Thames Open – Men & Women – 18+ Traditional – Men & Women (Swimsuits only) – 18+ Start Time (first wave): 4.30am Masters 45-54 – Men & Women (on the day of the race) Course: Unique straight line point-to-point swim (i.e. no Masters 55 and above – Men & Women (on the day of the race) turns) taking advantage of the Henley Regatta boomed Junior – Men & Women aged 14 to 17 (on the day of the race) course Sporting – A single (non-competitive) category for both Men & Women Minimum age: 14 Oxford V Cambridge Varsity Match, Alumni Match Wetsuit requirement: Non compulsory Team cup - Any size team, fastest 4 count towards the result Schools cup - Any size team, fastest 4 count towards the result Page 2 EVENT LOCATION & DIRECTIONS By Car From Henley town centre: Sat Nav Details: Temple Island Meadows Car Park, Remenham Church Lane, Go over Henley Bridge towards 'Maidenhead'. Go past the Little Angel on your Henley-on-Thames, Oxon. RG9 3DD left. At the top of the hill, turn LEFT into Remenham Church Lane, and follow the signs to the event car park. From M4 - Leave the M4 at Junction 8/9. Take the A404(M) towards 'Henley' & 'Marlow'. Leave A404M at the 2nd junction signposted 'Henley', 'A4130'. Turn LEFT at the give way and go straight over at the roundabout, Event Car Park again signposted 'Henley' onto the A4130. Follow this road for approx. 4 You will be directed to turn RIGHT off Remenham Church Lane down a track, miles. Just after a petrol station on your right take the next RIGHT turn into then across a minor road and into the event car park. Please park as indicated by the Car Parking Stewards, who will direct you. Remenham Church Lane, and follow the signs to the event car park. From M40 - Leave the M40 at Junction 4. Take the A404(M) towards By Train 'Marlow'. At the first roundabout go straight over towards 'Henley' and The nearest train station is Henley on Thames which has links to London 'Maidenhead'. Take the next junction, signposted 'Henley', 'A4130‘, then see (Approximately 1 hour) and Reading (Approximately 20 minutes) Temple Island Meadows is approximately 1 mile from the Town centre and is above easily accessed, on foot, via the towpath. Page 3 VENUE & EVENT FACILITIES Temple Island Meadows something sweet and a soft drink. The cost will be £14 when booked in advance or £16 on the day. Parking Free parking is available at the venue in Temple Island Meadows Car Camping Park. Access is via Remenham Church Lane only. PLEASE ENSURE Glebe Campsite will be open to event competitors and supporters with full you drive slowly on the approach to the car park and whilst on the facilities including toilets and showers. premises. Pitches are bookable in advance for £16 per person per night. Campervans are £21 per person. Children under 12 are free. Facilities Toilets will be provided at the event site. If you wish to book Saturday Night Supper or Camping please add to your registration by using this link https://myevents.active.com Catering Full catering facilities are available in the main event area on registration Henley Swim Event Memorabilia day and the morning of the Classic. There will be a selection of hot Event clothing and memorabilia will be available to purchase at the event, breakfast options, hot and cold drinks. including the new Selkie range. Full range is available in the Selkie online shop www.selkieswim.com Saturday Night Supper If you are in Henley the evening before the Classic, join us for a delicious and nutritious Saturday Night Supper. Supper will be served from 5pm – 8pm and will consist of locally sourced pulled pork and pulled lamb, pork and lamb sausages, (or vegetarian option) a variety of energy giving salads Page 4 DIRECTIONS REMENHAM CHURCH LANE A4130 FROM A404 Page 5 DIRECTIONS DRIVING / WALKING Parking SITE ENTRANCE WALKING RIGHT HAND REMENHAM CHURCH LANE TURN Event HQ DRIVING FROM A4130 Page 6 COURSE MAP FinishFinish line line 2.1km 2.1km Car park - Temple Island Meadows Boomed course Boomed course Registration point Loos & showers Start line Camping area - Glebe campsite Start line Food Court/Trade Stands/Meeting Area Temple Island Meadows Page 7 EVENT TIMINGS th Saturday 24th June Sunday 25 June Venue and car park open to competitors 0200 Registrations 0200 - 0345 Car park and venue opens 1400 Catering open 0200 Campsite opens 1400 Retail outlets open 0200 Registrations 1400 - 1800 Retail outlets open 1600 - 2000 Race timings Saturday Supper 1700 - 2000 Competitors walk to start 0350 - 0405 Venue closes for the evening 2030 Safety briefing & race warm up 0410 - 0420 Race start 0430 Results available 0530 Prize giving 0730 Event ends 0800 Page 8 USEFUL INFORMATION On the Day Checklist Wetsuit Hire Here's your recommended kit list for the day:- Wetsuits are available to hire from our wetsuit partner Cliff Lakes. Bookings must be made in advance. Please email [email protected] • Torch – it will be dark (experienced Henley swimmers wear head for further information. There will be no on-the-day hire. torches) • Alarm clock – please don’t sleep through!! Water Temperature • Photographic ID for registration • Warm kit The water temperature at the Classic depends upon both the outside • Bottled water/sports drink temperature and the quantity of rainfall in the days and weeks running • Goggles – select carefully based on dim light conditions (anti-fog up to the event. It is therefore very difficult to predict. spray is very useful also) Based on previous years, at the end of June, we would expect the • Swim kit obviously (swim costume, wetsuit) water to be between 17 and 19 degrees centigrade. • Flip flops + plastic bag • Money for Saturday Supper & breakfast, not to mention some of Traditional Category our Henley Classic memorabilia kit available to purchase at the event. Standard swimming costumes – trunks (not jammers) for men, and costumes for women. The leg on all trunks and costumes must not go below the line of the crutch. (See here for Traditional Category Rules). Page 9 SAFETY ADVICE & INFORMATION SAFETY ADVICE & INFORMATION Safety Advice Further Health & Safety Information Whilst water quality tests provide an indication of the suitability of a Please be aware of our Terms & Conditions of entry and Health & venue for open water swimming they do not mean that that there is Safety Protocol before attending this event. This information is a complete absence of potential pathogens. available on the Event Information section of our website, at You are advised to adopt the following procedures to minimise the www.henleyswim.com. risk of infections:- ● Cover all cuts and abrasions, however minor, with Event Safety waterproof sticking plasters. You should not consider We take your safety very seriously and work closely with our Medical swimming if you have deep cuts. and Water Safety providers to ensure that the necessary cover is in ● Use hand gel or wipes provided/wash hands in fresh water place both on and off shore, in accordance with ASA Open Water after you have swum and before you eat. Swimming Guidelines.. ● Take a full shower at the earliest opportunity. ● Try not to ingest water while swimming. In addition all swimming kit (wetsuit, costume, goggles, hat ,etc) should be washed in clean water and thoroughly dried prior to your next swimming session or event. Page 10 RACE GUIDELINES Before the Swim Waves Please ensure you arrive at least two hours before the race start time, so Waves will be at approximately 5 minute intervals. Once briefed, you will that you have sufficient time to register and prepare for your swim. be called forward in your Wave, in the following order: • Elite Men Registration • Elite Women All competitors are required to register with photographic ID, before being • Performance allocated an event pack including a numbered swimming cap, timing chip • Men’s categories (up to three waves depending on numbers) and bag tag, either on the Saturday afternoon or the Sunday morning. • Women’s categories (up to three waves depending on numbers) There will be a facility to leave any valuables at this point. Saturday • Junior category registration is encouraged to avoid delays on Sunday morning. • Sporting category – Men & Women • Oxford V Cambridge Varsity Match, Alumni Matches Walk to the start There is a ¼ mile walk to the start, and just under a mile walk back from the finish. Once you arrive at the start area you will be able to leave your flip You must enter the river only at the designated entry point, you will have flops in a named plastic bag (PLEASE BRING YOUR OWN PLASTIC BAG) a short warm up swim before being asked to swim to the start line. The which will be taken to the finish area ready for collection. NON-WETSUIT signal will then be given to start the race. SWIMMERS ONLY WILL BE ALLOWED TO HAVE AN ADDITIONAL ITEM After the Swim OF WARM CLOTHING TRANSPORTED TO THE FINISH LINE.