Star Autumn Head: Sunday 15th November 2026
Dear Parents and Athletes,
Star Autumn Head is run on the River Great Ouse in Bedford over five divisions of racing: Headington have entered crews in the J14 and J15 categories in divisions 3 and 5. Please note that all girls should use school transport to get to the event unless the Head of Rowing has been notified beforehand that you intend on meeting the team at Bedford, if dropping your daughter off please ensure that she is there no later than; 9:45am for division 3, 12:45pm for division 5.
Location:
The address of the event is:
Star Club
Poynter's Boathouse
Commercial Road
Bedford
MK40 1QS
There is competitor parking nearby (details below) and there are also several public car parks within walking distance of the race venue.
The Draw:
Headington crews will have been confirmed with the rowers this week at training. Any girls still recovering from injury or illness (or who have only just returned to training this week) will not be entered to race.
The start order will be published on the event website in the coming days
Division 3 - 11:45am
WJ15 4x+
WJ14 8x+
WJ14 2x
Division 5 - 2:45pm
WJ15 2x
WJ14 4x+
Transport:
The school bus will depart at 8:15am at the latest. Please meet outside the school gym at 8am.
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 also available back from Bedford at the end of the days racing.
You are welcome to bring your daughter to the race yourself, in this case please let the Head of Rowing know your intention to do so via email and ensure that your daughter is at the race venue by 9:45am for Division 3 or 12:45pm for Division 5.
If your daughter is racing in division 3 only (or indeed if you wish to head off directly after we are packed up after division 5) you are welcome to collect her from the race after she has finished racing and her boat has been loaded onto the trailer or she has been excused by her coach. The girls will be excused by their coaches once their boats have been derigged and loaded onto the trailer (normally approximately 90 minutes after their race)
Itinerary: Star Autumn Head - 15th November 2026
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.
0800: Meet outside school gym
0815: Bus departs from Headington.
0945: Bus arrives at Bedford - begin rigging boats
Please note: rowers are responsible for ensuring that they have boated at the correct times, rowers need to have inspected the draw and race instructions and made note of boating times. Crews that are late may not be allowed to race.
Division 3
1040: Dressed and ready for pre-race chat at the trailer. Warm up then boat. There will be no time for anything else.
1100: Approximate earliest boating time for division 3 athletes.
by 1130: In marshalling area (warm kit is needed as rowers may be there for a while)
1145: 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 5
1245: Those making their own way to Bedford arrive for division 5
1340: Dressed and ready for pre-race chat at the trailer. Warm up then boat. There will be no time for anything else.
1400: Approximate earliest boating time for division 2 athletes.
by 1430: In marshalling area (warm kit is needed as rowers may be there for a while)
1445: 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.
from 1500: De-Rig and load trailer. No girl may depart before the trailer is fully loaded or she has been excused by her coach.
16:30-1730: Approximate departure from Bedford.
18:00-19:00: Approximate return to Headington.
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 may 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
There is excellent viewing all along the course on the Bedford embankment.
Please do not approach the trailer park or boating area while your daughter is preparing to race or while she is loading her rowing equipment onto the trailer.
The girls may only leave if when all of their equipment has been loaded onto the boat club trailer and she has been excused by her coaches. There will be a bus returning to Headington at the end of the days racing.
Parking
Please see the notice below regarding competitor parking, there are also local car parks in Bedford within walking distance of the river.
Star Autumn Head - Competitor Parking info:
PLEASE PARK WHERE THE MARSHALS DIRECT YOU. DO NOT TAKE THE FIRST AVAILABLE SPACE . BE CONSIDERATE TO OTHER BOAT TRAILERS THAT WILL ARRIVE AFTER YOU.
Approaching Bedford from any direction, you are advised to take the A421 bypass, and leave at the A603 (Cardington Road) heading towards Bedford. Take second exit at the first roundabout, go past The Barns Hotel on the right, straight over the mini roundabout, straight on at the next roundabout with Tesco on the right, taking the right hand filter lane for the A5140 signposted to Cambridge.
At this point, competitor’s cars should take the entrance to the car park between the second and third exits off the roundabout. If you have a particularly high vehicle you may not get under the barrier in which case we suggest you go to the Aspects car park (see below). Walking access to the river is via The Engineers Bridge. Keep right when you have walked over the bridge and head for the Schools Boathouse over the weir footbridge, then over the Butterfly Bridge to your trailer.
Alternatively, competitors cars may be parked in the Aspects Leisure Complex car park. Continue past The Embankment to the roundabout. Go right round the roundabout and turn left just after MacDonalds. Follow road through to the car park. There is an underpass footpath through to The Embankment.
All rowers should read the following documents:
All safety and welfare documentation for the event will be published on the event website.