Scottish Canoe Association

Advice to Organisers

Organiser Packs

Race Details

Courses

Race Classes

Numbers

Briefing

Start and Finish

Race Entries

Results

Race Levy

Safety

Download Advice to Organisers in PDF Format

ORGANISER PACKS

All organisers will receive a pack 7 weeks before their event with an action plan to use as a guide to getting everything completed on time.

RACE DETAILS

Details of the race should be published at least four weeks prior to the event and should include: Venue, proposed course description, starting and finish points, start times, safety measures and any other relevant information. These details must be sent six weeks before the event to:

SCA Administrator 
Caledonia House 
South Gyle 
Edinburgh

Yvonne Yost
Marathon Events Co-ordinator
30 Long Craig Walk
Seafield Gate
Kirkcaldy
KY1 1SJ

COURSES

Up to three courses should be offered at each event.

a: Long Courses must be a minimum of 15 km in length,

b: Short courses must be a minimum of 10 km in length.

c Mini courses should be about 5km in length, and when nominated as a championship event the course should not be less than 5km.

For events where there is to be no long course, a separate class should be offered for Division 1-3 paddlers over the short course. This class should start at the same time as the Division 4-6 race but should be treated separately for the purpose of results and prizes. If conditions on the day of the race dictate, courses may be changed from those described in the race details.

RACE CLASSES

Subject to a minimum entry of 3 boats per class, the following age classes should be recognised over each course.

Senior              
Junior (U18) 
Youth U16 
Youth U14

Youth U12
Veteran (O35) 
Masters (O45)

Ages for all classes are as at 1st January of the year of the race. In the U12 class, competitors may use the new Lightning boats, and where there are sufficient numbers a separate Lightning class should be recognised.

NUMBERS

Number bibs or boards as provided by the SCA committee, or equivalent numbers, should be issued for each boat and competitors should be advised on how to display these to ensure that they are clearly visible. Where a bib is issued for a crew boat the competitor in the front of the boat should wear it. It is the organiser's responsibility to ensure that numbers are collected and returned at the end of the event and a charge may be levied for any numbers that are not returned.

BRIEFING

A briefing for all competitors should be provided after entries have closed. This should confirm details of the course and any special features or arrangements that have been made.

START AND FINISH

The start and finish lines must be clearly described in the race information and marked on the course. An audible signal must be given to each competitor as they cross the finish line. Race organisers should devise a suitable start procedure, taking into account the nature of the course and conditions on the day. This procedure should be described at the briefing and applied without favour.

ENTRIES

Entries should be taken on SCA Marathon Entry Cards and the event organiser should ensure that paddlers have provided complete information. Organisers should encourage entry in advance of the date of the event. The suggested minimum entry fees are: - Juniors £2.50 Seniors and Veterans £3.50 However, where additional facilities are required or provided then a higher entry fee may be appropriate.

RESULTS

Accurate and complete results must be returned to the Ranking List Compiler (Karen Hailey) and the Events Coordinator (Yvonne Yost) using the standard forms supplied, within 5 days of the event. This timescale allows rapid processing of any promotions and all information must be provided to ensure correct identification of paddlers and allocation of points. Completed entry cards must be forwarded to the Event Coordinator along with the results. Results should also be sent to all competitors who provide a stamped addressed envelope for this purpose.

RACE LEVY

The race levy is £1 per paddler entered. The finance sheet and a cheque for the full amount of the entry fees should be sent to the Marathon Treasurer (Margaret Chapman). Cheques should be made payable to the Scottish Canoe Association). The race organiser will receive by return from the SCA Office a cheque for the value of the entry fees minus levies.

SAFETY

Race organisers are responsible for understanding the risks associated with their particular event and for advising paddlers of these, taking into account the conditions prevailing on the day of the race. Where races are held on moving water, or open water, all paddlers must be competent to cope with the water conditions. It is advised that they required minimum level of competence should be equivalent to 3-star placid water for long and short courses. Where there is a question about a paddler's competence, that paddler should be advised not to race or to enter the mini-course event if one of a suitable standard is provided. Races that are held on open water must have adequate safety cover in attendance. If, in the opinion of the organiser, conditions are not suitable for any or all entrants to compete over any course then the organiser has complete discretion over whether a race takes place or any individual paddler's entry is accepted.