Summer Regatta

Gloucester Rowing Club's Summer Regatta will take place over the August Bank Holiday weekend 23rd - 24th August 2025

The draw is now uploaded and can be found via the Draw button above - this includes both race orders and race trees for both days.

You will note that Sunday has ended up very light, and unfortunately we had too few entries for any races in all the beginner events and quite a few other events too, which has meant that the races have to be spaced out a bit more than on Saturday simply to give everyone time to recover from their previous round.

With this in mind please ensure you are here in good time on Sunday, in case we end up running ahead of time, as this could happen.

For those who have not raced here before, it's important to be aware that once you are on the water in a division, you will not be coming off again until you have raced all your races. For this reason we limit our races to a maximum of 8 participants, which ensures you never have to do more than three races, which should take about an hour from the first to the last.

You can drop trailers off on Friday if you need to - please let me know in good time because I need to sort out access for the driver to use the bluetooth lock system so that they can get in.

You are also welcome to camp on the field - you can use the facilities in the downstairs part of the clubhouse (showers etc) but we do ask that you make your own arrangements for cooking etc.  Again please let me know in good time so that I can provide access if you are arriving Friday night or Saturday night, and those who are here for Saturday and staying over but need to get out and back in again.  

Based on the answers provided I think we will have 15 trailers on Saturday which should fit in the boathouse car park.  Those arriving with boats on a roof rack please drop off the boat and then park your car on the field or in the big car boot sale car park if it's Saturday.  

On Sunday the smaller entry means we should be fine to have cars in the club car park too.

The car boot sale will be on so please allow extra time in the morning to get in, and park on the field near the club, not in the car boot area.

Please use the links above to find other information.

Organisation of Racing

In the same way as the last few years, the racing will be organised into divisions and events will, as far as possible, be raced in blocks within a division. This means that all crews competing in an event will all boat at the same time and will be marshalled at the start area in to consecutive races. Winning crews will proceed back to the start for the next race of the event and the remainder will make their way to Boats Off. The aim will be for an event to be raced to completion once started, saving some overhead in crews not having to pass back through registration between races. Extra recovery time for semi-finals and finals will, of course, be achieved by interspersing races from other events.  If there are more than eight crews entered in a race we may choose to split the event into bands, to keep the number of rounds down.

Racing Divisions

The racing format will be by division and there will be strictly no doubling up within a division, nor will it be possible to share equipment between crews within the same division. By having 3 rather than 2 divisions, competitors will be able to enter a wider range of events. Please note that individual events will not run across divisions. Crews failing to arrive for their race because their equipment was not ready will be disqualified.

Entry Limitations

We will limit entries in each division to balance the number of races, as well as the overall number of races each day.  Entries into a division will be suspended when numbers pass the limit, however this is not an exact science because crew changes can result in opposition becoming available. If as a result entry numbers are too high at close of entries then priority will be given to crews that have paid already.

Unopposed races will not normally be allowed, the main exception being where all opponents drop out after close of entries, in which case a row-over will be allowed.

Boat Checking

The responsibility for racing with safe equipment and properly clothed crews remains with the competing clubs. The Umpire team will make visual inspections rather than 'hands on' checking.

Biosecurity

Please ensure that all boats and blades are cleaned at your club before loading onto your trailer. It is a requirement of the Canals and Rivers Trust that every effort is made to prevent the transfer of harmful or alien species from other areas into our local water, and we recommend that similar precautions are taken when returning, to minimise the risk of transferring anything from our water to yours.  The club will provide each competing club with a bucket and sponge for them to use

Covid 

While we are no longer required to apply strict limitations, please do not attend the event if you become aware that you are testing positive for covid.  Full crew refunds will be given in such circumstances.

Adaptive entries

We are pleased to be able to accept adaptive entries in the Sunday Regatta.  These events are all "Open" on BROE to simplify the entry process.  Exact adaptive events will be worked out based on entries received, in consultation with advisors from entering clubs.  

Other information

Most other components of the event will be familiar to those who have been here before :-

• Masters events are all set up as Masters A on the on-line entry system, but will be rearranged to suit the actual age groups who enter once entries are closed.

• Beginner events are open to those who started rowing (in any discipline) after 1st August 2024

• The racing will take place on a straight course along the canal, and will be run from a free start on both days - no stake boats again this year.

• There will be interruptions to racing for canal boats to pass through every hour or so.

• When available the Poster PDF document will be attached below for details of events, divisions, fees etc.  In the event of any discrepancy, the online entry system should be taken as the official word.