Lower Bann Canoe Challenge 50 km race notes

'Check in'– You will be required to check in on the day of the event at the Registration desk; this desk will be well marked and situated at the START car park – it will be open between 8:00 am and 9:15 am.

Registration is available using the downloadable form and completition notes. Maps and flyers are also availabale for download (scroll down to the bottom of this page)

RACE PACK – (issued at registration desk)
Included in your Race Pack are the following:
1. Boat Race Number
2. Meal Card(s)
3. Lower Bann Challenge T-Shirt

SAFETY
All competitors must wear approved buoyancy aids and all craft must have securely fitted and adequate buoyancy.

Competitors in all classes are highly recommended to wear approved helmets.

Adequate footwear should be worn, as the terrain at the start and at the portage sections is very uneven. It is also important to consider, because of the possibility of changeable weather conditions, that adequate thermal gear/wetsuit is worn or carried.

Competitors who do not reach Portneal Lodge by 2:00 pm or Drumahiglis Marina by 4:15 pm should retire from the Race as Rescue and First Aid will be withdrawn shortly afterwards.
Should you need any help/information or if you withdraw from the Race, inform a Race Official or Rescue Crew as soon as possible or inform the Information Centre at the Finish or ring the Help Line 078 0827 9696, giving your Race Number. Please note that this number is only to be used on day of the challenge.

Canoe and/or Rescue Cover will be provided at all major weirs. Competitors are also obliged to give assistance should it be called for during the course of the race.

The First Aid Co–ordinator, who will be in radio contact with First Aid and Rescue Crews, can be contacted on 07808 279696. throughout the day of the Challenge.

First Aid Crews will be located at the following points:

• Port Glenone Marina
• Carnroe Weir
• Finish – Christie Park (Coleraine)

Marshals will be located at the following points:

• Start Car Park – Toome
• Newferry
• Portna lock
• Portneal Lodge
• Movanagher lock
• Drumaheglis Marina
• The Cutts
• Finish – Christie park (Coleraine)

RACE NUMBERS
Your Race Number must be firmly stuck on the LEFT FRONT DECK of your kayak, or the LEFT FRONT SIDE of your canoe. If you obscure your Boat Race Number your finishing place may not be recorded. No other number should be visible on your boat

SCRUTINEERING
All craft/equipment must be examined before the race by an official scrutineer at the Muster Point. Do not leave the Muster Point unless your craft and equipment have been examined. Any competitor who does not have a scrutineer's approval sticker will not be allowed on to the river. Check that you have all your equipment before you leave the Muster Point.

Scrutineers will be moving through the Muster Point examining craft and equipment, or alternatively you can bring your craft and equipment to the designated Scrutineering Area which will be located within the Muster Point. Scrutineers will only be located at the Muster Point, so do not arrive at the rivers edge without a sticker. Race Numbers should be attached to your craft before you leave the Muster Point

EQUIPMENT CHECKLIST
Scrutineers will check that……

• your personal buoyancy aid is adequate and in good condition.
• your boat's buoyancy is adequate and fitted securely. In particular, Open Canadians must have sufficient buoyancy.
• where relevant – toggles are secure and usable.

If any of the above are inadequate or insecure, approval to participate in the race will be withheld by scrutineers.
Your buoyancy aid must be worn prior to entering the water. Competitors will be refused access to the river if their equipment fails a scrutineer's examination. To avoid disappointment – make sure your equipment meets the necessary requirements.

• 
  ACCESS TO RIVER & START
  Announcements will be made at regular intervals advising competitors when to proceed to the start line.
• Boats will need to be scrutineered by 9:30 am sharp.
• Read and be familiar with the Race Start Sequence.

RIVER ENTRY AREA
All boats will enter the river at the slipway situated in the carpark – this will be clearly marked.

START LINE
There will be a mass start at 10 am sharp.
Anybody in front of the start line before the starter announces the starting sequence will be automatically disqualified.

The starting sequence will be “ARE YOU READY – GO”.

TROPHY & MEDAL PRESENTATIONS

The Trophy and Medal Presentations will take place at the finish point at approximately 5:30 pm and will start in the following order:

• Senior Racing Kayak Doubles (K2)
• Mens Senior Racing Kayak (K1)
• Womens Senior Racing Kayak (K1)
• Junior Racing Kayak (K1)
• Junior Racing Kayak Doubles (K2)
• Mens Senior Sea Kayak (SK)
• Womens Senior Sea Kayak (SK)
• Junior Sea Kayak (SK)
• General Purpose (GP)
• Open Canoe Doubles (OC)
• Open Canoe Singles (OC)

If you are in the top 3 in any of the above classes, be at the stage for 5:30 pm. Please identify yourself to an official who will be positioned beside the stage. Listen for PA announcements. Please dress appropriately for photographs.

RESULTS
Results will be displayed at the stage, as they become available. Any objections should be brought to the attention of an official at Finish Information point.
The Race Co-ordinator’s decision is final. No changes to results will be accepted after 5.30pm.
The Trophy & Medal Presentations will proceed based on the results as of 5:30 pm.
Results will be posted on the Canoe Association of Northern Irelands website www.cani.org.uk before September 30th.

• NOTE
  Time keeping will close at 5.00 pm. Participants arriving after 5:00 pm will not be included in the final results and will not be considered official finishers.
• When you pass the FINISH LINE, do not paddle back upriver across the FINISH LINE as this causes considerable difficulty for the Finish Line Judges.

MEALS
A BBQ tea will be provided at the catering tent up until 6:30 pm. All competitors have a meal card included in their Race Pack which can be exchanged for a meal. Meals will only be available to competitors who produce a card. Meals can be purchased by the public at the catering van throughout the day.

• Please make every effort to keep the park litter free.
• Services such as information, car park, security will cease at 6:30 pm sharp.

CAR PARKING
At the Start (Toome)
All vehicles must park in the designated Car Park Area, which will be clearly signposted. Parking in the Village, or causing a traffic obstruction of any kind will be dealt with by the Police. The Start Car Park Area will be supervised until 6:30 pm.
Please arrive early and abide by instructions from parking stewards.

At the Finish (Christie Park – Coleraine)
Only park in the areas indicated by the parking stewards. Vehicles causing obstruction will be towed away by the Police. Security will cease at 6:30 pm at the Finish Car Park.

The Organisers accept no responsibility for the safety or security of vehicles

BUS SERVICE
Saturday morning and afternoon
There will be a mini bus service offering shuttles to and from the start; these will be operated on a first come first serve basis. The first bus will leave Christie Park at 8:00am, the service will stop at 8:45am and resume again at 3:00 pm the last evening bus will depart at 5pm sharp. These buses must be pre booked on the registration forms or by calling the CANI office 0870 240 5065 (booking must be made by the 11th September 06). There will be an administration charge of £5.00 per booking (1 person = 1 booking) – this fee must be paid by the 15th September. You will only be allowed on this bus if you have pre booked and paid. This service is intended for car drivers who do not have support crews - so please do not book unless you really need to.

 

THE RACE COURSE
6 sections on the Lower Bann Challenge Course require particular attention.

Lough Beg – the lough is approximately 2.3km from the start line and is 5km in length – it is shallow in places – large waves can build in windy conditions. Paddle with care.

Portna Flood Gates/ Lock Gates – there is signage prior to the gates – paddlers should keep river Left and enter the canal – use the portage facility on the left provided around the lock gates.

Movanagher Weir – there is signage prior to the weir – paddlers should keep river right and enter the canal - use the portage facility on the right provided around the lock gates.

Cairnroe Weir – there is signage prior to the weir – paddlers should keep river right and enter the canal - use the portage facility on the right provided around the lock gates

Drumaheglis Marina – this can be a very busy marina – approach with caution.

The Cutts Weir /Flood gates/ Lock Gates – there is signage prior to the weir – there is a very strong current flowing towards the flood gates. Once the gates are in view paddlers should keep close to the left bank – keep river Left and enter the canal - use the portage facility on the left provided around the lock gates – You will be tired at this point so take extra care here.

Extra Notes
Please note that the river is divided into zones – there may be water skiers in some places – be aware that the boats used in this sport can create large wakes – be prepared for this.

When portaging – be aware of your footing – some areas can be very slippery when wet.

UPDATES AND CHANGES
Please check the CANI website www.cani.org.uk regularly for updates and changes. The last major update will be in the afternoon of Monday 18th September.
There may be minor updates during the week prior to the event – the last being on Friday 22nd September.

We look forward to seeing you on the 23rd September – if you haven’t started training – now is a good time to start!

Downloads

To download a copy of these notes click here (word file)

To download a copy of these notes click here (PDF file)

Click here to return to the Lower Bann Challenge home page

 

 

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