Rules of the Race 2011

The Head of the River Race is conducted under British Rowing Rules for Processional (Head) Events.  Failure to comply with these Rules renders the crew liable to a penalty up to and including disqualification as deemed appropriate by the Chief Umpire.

General
  1. All boats must carry a 6-character identification number.
  2. All competitors must behave in a decent and responsible manner. Crews nust not engage in acts such as the use of foul or abusive language, or urinating in public view.
  3. Any crew of club which involved in a verifiable navigational incident on the tideway during the fourteen day period prior to the event may be excluded from starting.

Safety

Safety is the responsibility of each competitor and club.

  1. All crews and boats must conform, in all respects, to the British Rowing Row Safe Code.
  2. Should a crew member go overboard the crew must stop, stand by and assist recovery.
  3. Boats with a front - loaded coxswain are NOT permitted to race.
  4. Captains of clubs are responsible for ensuring that all coxes are sufficiently competent to navigate and control an eight on the tideway.

Marshalling
  1. Crews must obey marshalling instructions contained in the " General Instructions to Captains and Coxswains".
  2. Crews not in their marshalling position by the time specified must proceed as directed by the marshals.
  3. Crews must not engage in firm pressure rowing or undertake practice starts in the marshalling area.
  4. In the event of the cancellation of the Race, all crews in the marshalling area remain under control of the marshals and must only move from their position following receipt of specific instructions from a marshal.

Starting
  1. Crews must not close up on boats next to or in front of them, and must immediately drop back if instructed.

Racing
  1. During the race, boats being overtaken must give way in good time to those overtaking so that overtaking boats are not impeded in following their proper course.
  2. All crews must pass through the centre arches of Barnes and Hammersmith Bridges, and pass on the Middlesex side of the line of the moored boats at Putney.
  3. Notwithstanding Rule 6-1-8 (Rules of Racing), radios and loudhailers must not be used by coaches
  4. In the event of the need to stop the race, marshals and umpires along the course will wave red flags and instruct crews to "STOP RACING". Crews must immediately slow to a light paddle and await further instructions. In the event of racing being stopped, all results will be declared void.

After the Race
  1. After completing the course, all crews must continue through the centre arch of Putney Bridge and the centre arch of Fulham Railway Bridge before turning.
  2. After passing through the centre arches of the Bridges all crews must turn right towards the Surrey (Putney), shore and paddle back on that side of the river between the line of moored boats and the shore.
    • Crews returning to Hammersmith clubs below Dove pier must present themselves to the umpire/marshal stationed above Hammersmith Bridge Bridge on the Surrey side of the river and only cross to Middlesex when instructed to do so. For those clubs above Dove pier (i.e. Latymer and Sons of the Thames) a second umpire will be stationed by St. Paul’s BC and crews must present themselves to the umpire/marshal and await instructions to cross.
    • Crews returning to Barnes, Mortlake, Chiswick and Kew must paddle up the Surrey side to Chiswick Steps, and present themselves to the umpire/marshal stationed at this point before crossing to the Middlesex side. They must then paddle up the Middlesex side keeping well clear of crews racing.
    • Only in exceptional circumstances and under the express direction of an umpire/ marshal, a crew may cross other than at one of these crossing-points
    • While marshalling is still in progress crews returning to Barnes, Mortlake, Chiswick and Kew must remain on the Middlesex side behind the 8th (and last ) division on Middlesex as they move upstream and wait below Mortlake Anglian & Alpha BC for them to complete their turn before proceeding further upstream. Under no circumstances may returning crews overtake marshalled crews. Crews wishing to cross to Surrey must await permission from the Marshal above Chiswick Bridge. This will not be given until the last crew to start has passed through Chiswick Bridge.

 

John Duff
Chief Umpire