Bedford Amateur Regatta: Saturday 10th May 2025

Dear Parents and Athletes,

Bedford Amateur Regatta is being run on the River Great Ouse on Satruday 10th May over 1,200 meter course. . Headington have entered crews in both the J14 and J15 age groups. This event is great preparation for National School Regatta.

Please note that all girls should use school transport (see transport section below for timings and information) to get to the event but if you wish to drop your daughter off at the race venue please let the Head of Rowing know by email so we know not to expect them on the bus.

If dropping your daughter off please ensure she has liaised with her coach regarding when she should arrive at the venue for her race and in any case should be at the trailer no later than 2 hours prior to her first race.

Location:

The regatta is held along the Embankment in Bedford; the nearest post code for the race venue is:

MK42 0BX or "occurs.same.analogy" on what3words

The Draw:

The draw can be found on the event website.

The girl's crews will be confirmed at training early this week (if they have not been already).

If your daughter is told she is racing but is in fact now unavailable for any reason please make sure she has let her coach know.

Transport:

There are two departure times for this regatta:

WJ15 4x+ rowers will depart at 6am, please meet outside the school gym at 5:50am

The rest of the group will depart at 8:30am, please meet outside the school gym at 8:20am

Please note that there are boarders and girls who may be sleeping during the morning departures. The ROWERS MUST NOT MAKE ANY NOISE while waiting outside the boarding house.

Transport will be available back from Bedford to school for all rowers after racing has concluded however if being collected by parents after racing; no girls may depart the event until they have finished racing and their boat and equipment is loaded onto the trailer and they have been dismissed by their coach.

Please note that there are boarders and girls who may be sleeping during the morning departures. The ROWERS MUST NOT MAKE ANY NOISE while waiting outside the boarding house. Transport will be available back from Dorney to school for all rowers. If being collected by parents after racing; no girls may depart the event until the trailer has been fully loaded and/or they have been dismissed by their coach.

Itinerary: Bedford Amateur Regatta - Sunday 10th May 2025

Please note that there are many girls racing and that it is their responsibility that they follow the coaches instructions and the timings below.

WJ15 4x+

0550: WJ15 4x+ meet outside school gym

0600: Bus departs from Headington.

0745: Arrive at Bedford and rig boats

09:15: WJ15 4x+ first race (see draw for all race times)

Main group

0820: Meet outside school gym

0830: Bus departs from Headington.

1015: Arrive at Bedford and rig boats

12:31: first race

19:12 last possible HSOBC race

All timings for the girls races can be found through this link. The girls need to arrive a minimum of 2 hours before their race time.

Boats will be derigged and loaded onto the trailer throughout the day as racing continues and as equipment is no longer needed.

No girl may depart before their boat and blades have been fully loaded onto the trailer and/or they have been dismissed by their coach.

20:30: Approximate departure time of HSOBC transport from race venue - the girls will be able to contact parents when we are departing Bedford

 22:00: Approximate return time to Headington

There will be no rowing on Sunday for the J15 girls

Kit and Food

 The girls will need:

- A Large water bottle (1L) with electrolyte replacement fluid.

- Food - appropriate for race day, if you are not sure what to bring please have the girls ask their coaches

- A good breakfast before departing (eg: Porridge, toast and a banana).

- A snack for after each set of races (if doing more than 1). If not sure what to bring; your daughter's coach can advise her.

- Kit: The girls will be required to race in a HSOBC lycra and white t-shirt, in the event of wet or cold weather the girls may wear HSOBC leggings and splash jackets. If they do not have any HSOBC kit yet please let me know.

Spectating 

Bedford Regatta is an excellent regatta for spectators so if you can make it up to watch it would be great to see you!

Parking information for the day can be found on the event website.

I would ask parents to please not enter the trailer park or approach the girls while they are at the trailer, rigging their boats and launching or landing for their races. The girls and coaches do not require any help with these activities.

Please may I also remind parents that only coaches are permitted to follow races by bike.

Policies and Documents

The following documents should be read/reviewed by all girls competing this weekend:

- Competitor Instruction

Any other safety documentation including risk assessments and welfare policies for the event can be found on the event website

If there are any significant changes to the information provided above I will email them to parents with as much notice as possible.