Dear Parents and Athletes,
Gloucester Spring Head is run on the Gloucester Sharpness Canal: Headington have entered J14 crews into the morning and afternoon divisions of racing. There will be two minibuses transporting the girls to Gloucester as the two divisions have a large time gap between them. Please note that all girls should use school transport to get to the event unless she has permission via email from the Head of Rowing to meet us at Gloucester, if dropping your daughter off please ensure that she is there no later than 8:30 am for division 1 and 12:30 pm for division 2.
Location:
If you are dropping your daughter off directly at the race, vehicle access to the site is via David Hook Way off the A430 bypass.
Parking will be limited and off-site due to the ground being very wet.
Please refer to the 'spectators' section below regarding parking options.
The Draw:
The draw is now available and can be found here.
Please note that the crew names are not necessarily accurate as our race entries were made several weeks ago and crew line-ups are adjusted subsequently. We also have less crews racing than stated due to the limited time we have had to train in boats.
Headington crews will be finalised with the girls this week. Any girls recovering from injury or illness will not be entered to race.
We will be training this Saturday at Dorney Lake. Information will be shared by email regarding times.
Transport:
The bus will depart at 7:00 am at the latest. Please meet outside the school gym at 6:45 am. Please note that there are boarders and girls who may be sleeping. THE GIRLS MUST NOT MAKE ANY NOISE while waiting outside the boarding house.
Transport is available back from Gloucester however, if you would like to take your daughter back please inform us. No girls may depart the event until the trailer is fully loaded.
Those who wish to meet the team at Gloucester should arrive no later than 8:30 am for division 1 and 12:30 pm for division 2.
Itinerary: Gloucester Spring Head - 17th March 2024
Please note that there are many girls racing and that it is their responsibility that they follow the coaches instructions and the timings below. Also, once the girls boat they may have to wait on the water before racing so they will need to make sure to have had a loo stop prior to racing and that have warm rowing kit available.
06:45: Meet outside school gym.
07:00: Bus departs from Headington.
08:30: Bus arrives at Gloucester- begin rigging boats.
10:15: Group 2 meet outside school gym.
10:30:Bus 2 leaves Headington.
- Division 1
09:30: Dressed and ready for pre-race chat at the trailer. Warm up then boat. There will be no time for anything else.
09:45: Earliest boating time for division 1 athletes. Please note: rowers are responsible for ensuring that they have boated at the correct times, rowers need to have inspected the draw and made note of boating times. Crews that are late may not be allowed to race. I have instructed coaches that under no circumstances are they to chase girls to get boated!
10:15: In marshalling area (warm kit is needed as rowers may be there for a while)
10:30: Approximate start time: it could be earlier so rowers are to row straight to the start.
After the race any breakages or other equipment issues should be reported to the coaches immediately.
- Division 2
13:00: Boats rigged for Division 2
13:30: Dressed and ready for pre-race chat at the trailer. You will then warm up and boat. There will be no time for anything else.
13:45: Earliest boating time for division 2 athletes. Please note: rowers are responsible for ensuring that they have boated at the correct times, rowers need to have inspected the draw and made note of boating times. Crews that are late may not be allowed to race. I have instructed coaches that under no circumstances are they to chase girls to get boated!
14:20: In marshalling area (warm kit is needed as rowers may be there for a while).
14:30: Approximate start time for Division 2: it could be earlier so rowers are to row straight to the start.
After the race any breakages or other equipment issues should be reported to the coaches immediately.
from 15:00: De-Rig and load trailer.
No girl may depart before the trailer is fully loaded.
Kit and Food
The girls will need:
- Water bottles 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).
- Make sure to have a meal for after each race, such as pasta and banana / fruit etc- Kit: It will be cold and possibly wet so a change of kit for after each race is needed.
Make sure you have enough warm and waterproof kit for when you are sitting around. Coxes and athletes will not be allowed to boat if they are not properly attired for the weather conditions
Spectating
Please see the event website for parking and spectator information
The best viewing is from a few hundred metres along the tow path.
Please only park in allocated parking spaces or to spaces where the car park marshals have directed you to.
Please see the following documents: