College race at HBR
 College race at HBR | |
 RQquarrell@herald |  18:23, 23rd Feb 201023 weeks ago |
| This year the Henley Boat Races committee has agreed to the option of holding two college races (one women's, one men's) on Sunday 28th March, between the best available single-college crews of Oxford and Cambridge. These would be raced before the main HBR races, probably at 1:30 and 1:45, or similar. Rules for the races are below. At the Captains' Meeting this Thursday the three women's and lightweights' Presidents will be seeking input from the captains on how to settle who races. The two crews need to be decided before the end of this term. One option is to offer the slots to thei Head colleges in Torpids, with lower crews getting the chance working down the divisions if the higher crews decide not to do it. Or we could take the Cambridge option. They have chosen to let crews nominate themselves, and will then vote amongst the captains on who goes (presumably men's captains vote on the men's crew and women's captains on the women's crew) once Lent Bumps is done. The advantage of the latter, as well as allowing fast but low-placed crews to be considered, is that we can find out now before Torpids which crews would actually like to take part, saving time later on. it's really up to the colleges how this works. If it is a success it may become a regular event. HBR rules for Oxford crews in the Oxbridge college races: ---------------------- 1. One women's and one men's crew will be confirmed to race against their Cambridge counterparts (who have similar rules) on Sunday 28th March 2010. 2. Crews must be composed solely of rowers and coxes who have raced for a single college in this year's Torpids. Composite crews are not permitted (but members of affiliated boat clubs, eg Harris Manchester rowing for Wadham, are fine). 3. The rowers don't have to have rowed/coxed for the first crew during this Torpids, but must be eligible to have rowed for it under OURCs rules (ie no illegal associates). It is expected that largely first eights will be nominated, but this means they can use substitutes who have rowed for lower crews. (if Torpids is cancelled completely, then eligibility for this year's Torpids will be used and obviously the requirement to have competed this term will be waived). 4. The side-by-side race course length is to be decided but will definitely finish earlier than the HBR finish. It is likely to be around 1200-1500 metres, downstream, on the HBR course (which is not buoyed), and will finish in front of spectators. 5. College crews and their coaches will be required to attend a pre-race umpire's briefing, probably on Sunday 28th March, or on Friday 26th if both crews are available. They will be expected to stick to the circulation patterns and safety provisions made by the Henley Boat Races organisers. 6. Crews will be expected to abide by the general rules for the HBR races, ie must stay on station, may not false-start, and are liable to be diqualified if the umpire feels they gained an unreasonable advantage through aggressive steering. 7. Crews will be expected to arrange their own trailing, boating location, equipment, kit, practice times, etc. There will be no spectators' boat provided by HBR - if the college crews wish to arrange one themselves they may do so but it must abide by the circulation pattern on the day and not disrupt the Blondie/Osiris crews warming up. 8. Umpire and jury will be provided by HBR and by entering, the college crews agree to abide by their decisions. This year's umpire is former FISA and HRR umpire Mike Williams, who has also umpired the men's Boat Race and was the HBR umpire last year. 9; Coxes will be expected to fulfil the weight criteria for the HBR races (50kg for those coxing women's crews and 55kg for those coxing men's crews) and will have to weigh in on the morning of race day, on calibrated scales provided by HBR. 10. College crews do not fall under any sponsorship of the Henley Boat Races, so are free to wear their own sponsors' kit etc. 11. Once college crews are confirmed in 8th week, they are expected to race, and a default will result in an automatic win for the other side. (On the other hand, if the captains decide now not to take part, there will simply be no event). 12. If the Henley Boat Races have to move to a new venue, the colleges will almost certainly be given the opportunity to join in (costs permitting). Any questions, ask me. RQ (Oxford vice-chair, Henley Boat Races Organising Committee). | |
| RE: College race at HBR | |
| Zoe Lundy zoe.lundy@sjc | 20:34, 24th Feb 2010 22 weeks ago |
| This is a terrible idea and cannot believe it is actually happening. | |
