Dear Parents and Athletes,
Kingston Small Boats Head is run downstream over 5.2km on the River Thames from Hampton Court Golden Gates to Steven's Ait over two divisions of racing: Headington have entered crews into both divisions. 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 the event, if dropping your daughter off please ensure that she is there no later than; 8:00am for division 1 and 11:30am for division 2.
Location:
Surbiton High School have kindly allowed us to boat from their boat house for this event. If you are dropping your daughter off directly at the race the address of the boathouse is:
Surbiton High School Boathouse
Trowlock Way
Broom Road
Teddington
TW11 9QY
There is no access for parents to the boathouse or the surrounding yard and cars are not permitted in the car park at all so if you are dropping your daughter off please do so at the gate and do not enter the car park. Please refer to the 'spectators' section below regarding parking options.
The Draw:
The draw can be found on the event website.
Headington crews will be finalised with the girls this week. Any girls recovering from injury or illness will not race.
Please note that there will be no training on Saturday for those who are not racing at Kingston.
Transport:
The bus for will depart at 6:00am at the latest. Please meet outside the school gym at 5:50am.
Please note that there are boarders and girls who may be sleeping. The ROWERS MUST NOT MAKE ANY NOISE while waiting outside the boarding house. Transport is available back from Kingston however, where possible, please can parents arrange transport back from the event (there is school transport available to all boarders back to school). No girls may depart the event until the trailer is fully loaded.
Itinerary: Kingston Small Boats Head - 9th November 2019
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.
- Division 1
05:50: Meet outside school gym
06:00: Bus departs from Headington.
08:00: Bus arrives at venue - begin rigging boats
08:30: Dressed and ready for pre-race chat at the trailer. Warm up then boat. There will be no time for anything else.
09:00: 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!
10:00: 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
11:30: Boats rigged for Division 2
12:00: 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.
12:30: 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!
13:30: In marshalling area (warm kit is needed as rowers may be there for a while).
14:00: 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
- 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.
- Wellington boots
Spectating
There is excellent viewing to be had on both banks adjacent to Kingston Bridge with some on street parking to be found in Hampton Wick and several car parks on the Kingston side of the bridge an easy walk to the river.
Please see the following documents:
- more documents and policies can be found on the event website