1. Every crew must have entered ( online or in person ) and have paid the appropriate entry fee, before they will be allowed to start.

2. All competitors must be able to swim 50 meters in canoeing clothing.

3. All competitors must be members of the BC or approved National Associations either as Junior, Young Persons or Adult. Each paddler must provide proof of such membership before he or she will be allowed to start. Membership of BC affiliated Club with a Registered Youth Section is acceptable for those representing that School, College or Club.

IF YOU CANNOT PROVIDE PROOF MEMBERSHIP YOU WILL HAVE TO BUY AN EVENT TICKET ON RACE
DAY (THE COST OF DAY TICKETS IS NOT REFUNDABLE). EVENT TICKETS COST £5.

Suggestion: Screen Print/Capture the BC online membership registration page whilst showing the expiry date. Note that internet
connection may not be possible at some start locations so best performed before arriving at the start.

4. Buoyancy aids are compulsory for all junior paddlers (regardless of the class entered), and are strongly recommended for all other paddlers. Paddlers over 18 who do not wish to wear a buoyancy aid can race in the senior classes. Buoyancy aids must be worn in the K2J, K1J and JV (junior paddler) classes. Spot checks may be made by race officials to enforce this rule. See also rule 23.

Buoyancy Aids. Junior competitors must wear an Integral Foam Buoyancy aid or lifejacket offering the wearer a minimum 50 Newton of inherent buoyancy and 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.

Buoyancy aids or lifejackets are not acceptable under any circumstance if:-

• They only display certification to BA83.

• Require partial or total inflation by mouth, or by the use of a compressed air/gas cylinder.

• Appear to be more than five years old.

• Have been subjected to heavy use thus degrading their flotation value

• Have been tampered with or modified in any way

• Failure to comply with this rule will result in disqualification.

5. All competitors must obtain their race number and sign the Attendance Register at Race Control at the start of each race. The race number must be mounted vertically on the boat throughout the race. Any boat which is not displaying a number when it crosses the finishing line may not be timed. Race numbers must be returned to Race Control at the finish of each race.
The Attendance Register is now very important as it is a direct means of contacting your Support Crew in cases of emergancey
or missed contact / retirement queiries highlighted by/to Race control - See also rule 21 i)

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6. Age categories are as follows :-

• Juniors must be aged under 19 on 1st January preceding the race.

• Veterans must be aged over 35 on 1st January preceding the race.

• K1 Veteran Masters must be aged over 50 on 1st January preceding the race.

• A crew qualifies for the Junior/Veteran class if one crew member is a Veteran, and the other is a Junior.

Please notify the organiser of ANY entrant below the age of 16. ( This is so we can verify the Support Crew arrangements
and establish the competency of the young paddler to undertake the challenges entering into The Waterside Series. )
Within the above restrictions, crews may choose which class to enter.

7. A Junior Team comprises of between 3 and 8 paddlers, with at least 3 boats, from any class, provided that all paddlers are under 19. Schools team members must be a full time enrolled person at the school or college being represented.

8. A Senior Team comprises of between 3 and 8 paddlers, with at least 3 boats, from any class. A Senior Team may include one or more junior crews.

9. The members of the Team must be nominated on the specific form before the start of the Series, after which no changes to the membership of the Team will be allowed. Crew pairings, within the nominated team members, may change and K1s can race instead of K2s. In each race, 3 boats, paddled by nominated team members must finish to qualify for the team event.
Team Nomination Forms must be handed to the organisers before the closure of race control at the START of Waterside A.

 

10. The Team time is calculated by adding up the times of the Team's fastest three boats at each race.

11. Competitors in the Canadian classes (12 & 13) must use a single bladed paddle and their boats must not have a rudder.

12. Boats will be started at half minute intervals. Competitors may start (or join the queue waiting to start) at any time within the time limits published for each race, but it is the competitor's responsibility to ensure that they complete the course before the Finish Control is closed. Any competitor who starts or finishes before/after the stated times will not qualify for any Race award.

13. Competitors and their support crews must comply with instructions given by Race Officials, the pre-race safety briefing, or during the course of the race.

Failure to obey the instructions of a Race Official will result in a TIME PENALTY for each offence. For more serious offences, competitors may be DISQUALIFIED. The Race Committee has absolute discretion in such matters.
Note: Road Crossing Marshals have NO right to stop vehicles on the highway. Therefore crews are likely to be held for short periods until it is safe to continue.

14. No outside assistance is to be given to any competitor, except for minor feeding of crews, or for safety reasons.

15.

a) West Mills Swing Bridge on the western approach to Newbury is a COMPULSORY PORTAGE. Crews must portage the bridge on the right hand bank, then paddle on to Newbury Lock and portage the lock. COMPETITORS WHO PORTAGE ACROSS THE BRIDGE WILL BE DISQUALIFIED. ( If your carrying a damaged boat – progress along the raod with care until the main ‘High Street’ next to Lloyds Bank, with care cross over the canal and follow the towpath to the finish line – get in before the finishline if possible).

b) Bulls Lock (Race B) has a LOW swing bridge just before the lock (on the way out). Canal and River Trust have installed a landing stage on river right. This bridge is now a COMPULSORY PORTAGE (out & back). The Lock is then situated 50m from the bridge.
Competitors who paddle under these bridges (or through the bridge when open), will have a TWO MINUTE PENALTY added to their race time.

 

16. THE SAVERNAKE TUNNEL ( Also know as Bruces tunnel)

• Overtaking to gain a race advantage is strickly not allowed and will be penaised.

• Overtaking SLOWER Crews (however slow) is strickly not allowed and will be penaised.

• Assistance to Capsized crew or crews in the water is a propriety.

• Passing a crew with the sole purpose of raising the alarm to the Marshals is permitted, communicate and agree this with others in attendance.

• Passing a crew which is being assisted/recovered by other crew(s) or by Marshalls/safety boat is at the discretion of those assisting the rescue.

• Communicate and assist those around you – especially if you are held back and are unstable or disorientated.

• There is NO support crew parking ( except to recover retiring crews )

• Crews held by marshals because of Canal traffic navigating the tunnel will have have their held time deducted – Let the marshals know your number on arrival.

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17. Canal and River Trust strongly recommend that all competitors wear a buoyancy aid and have a whistle and waterproof torch attached to the buoyancy aid while paddling through the Savernake Tunnel.

18. At the turning point for Race B, it is essential that the marshal's instructions are followed, in order to avoid impeding other competitors. (See Rule 13).

 

19. All crews who have finished all four races are eligible for Series awards, K2 and C2 paddlers must have had the same partner
for the whole series.

20. Every effort is made to present Prize giving as close to the end of the Finish Window as Possible. A short delay will exist for any Protests to be filed with Race Control. Protests after this time will be investigated but no guarantee is given to any results change. Protests must be presented on the official form available from Race Control.

21. The following rules apply equally to competitors and their support crews.

a) Competitors and their support crews must show courtesy and consideration to other towpath users. Any trespassing, nuisance or damage caused by competitors or their support crews can lead to a crew’s DISQUALIFICATION.
b) All competitors and support crews must use public toilet facilities or those provided by the organisers. This is particularly important in the villages along the course. Specific complaints have been received about using the towpath as a toilet at Pewsey Wharf. Any competitor or support crew doing this and recognised can be DISQUALIFIED.
c) Support vehicles must show courtesy and consideration to local residents and other road users, both while driving and when parking.
d) The start area at Great Bedwyn (Race A) is very sensitive. Competitors and support crews must restrict themselves to the towpath and the car park. This applies to paddlers and support crews. Toilets are available in the Village Hall and in the Wharf Carpark.
DO NOT TRESPASS ON NEIGHBOURING PROPERTY.
e) Little Bedwyn: No parkng for support crews. Little Bedwyn is completely out of bounds for All races
f) There is NO support parking at Burbage Wharf due to the dangerous road bend an close proximity of the bridges.
g) Vehicles must not stop on the road by the bridge at Pewsey Wharf, even for unloading. Please park at St Francis School or where indicated by race signs or marshals. Parking at the school is reserved for Competitors only and any cars without Canoe or Kayak will be advised of alternative parking. A drop off area will be reserved close to the School entrance on the Main Road ( Please take care while unloading ) ALSO for Race D, DO NOT park on the road but DO park at the Wharf or School carparks.
h) The land between the canal and the river at Bulls Lock (Race B) is private property, portaging into the river at this point involves trespassing, and is a cause of friction with anglers. Competitors must not use the river at this point.
i) Support crews must supply/confirm a telephone contact number for the day and car registration at Check-in for EACH race.
j) Rail crossings – either by Vehicle or Pedestrian must be taken with care – abide by all notices.
k) To reduce support crews at Hampstead Marshal – Only Junior crew Support Crews to attend here.

22. Newbury CC Refund policy:

a) If Newbury Canoe Club Cancel the Series or an individual race, a refund will be given at NCC’s discretion.
b) If for any reason a paddler(s) withdraws from 1 or more races after an entry has been accepted, no refund will be given - a change of Class, Crew or Race will be permitted.

23. Boat Buoyancy: Random checks will be made at the start of each race as per MRC rule 5) a) i).

24. All disposable drinking systems must be collected/retrieved by a crew’s support crew.

25. The decision of the Race Committee on all matters is final.

26. We have introduced online Entry System, as used by the Marathon Racing Committee for many other events including the Hasler events. We qualify to use this as Waterside Series pay race levies and is a group A event and is run under the BC Marathon Racing committee rules. The online System also collects and appropriate race entry fee.

27. Use of the MRC Entry System for Junior Entries assumes parental consent, as Payment has to made via a Payment Card of
some description which requires Adult authorisation to set up. Any Postal/Late entries use the Paper Entry form and require
a wet signature of a Parent/Guadian.