Regatta Officials

British National Sprint Regatta Volunteers

The organising and running of our National Regattas are implemented entirely by volunteers. Several officials work throughout the year in Pre-Regatta groups that liaise with the Sprint Racing Committee, the Performance Department and HPP Centre. These officials also follow up issues and feedback that arise during and at the end of the racing season. Plus, they also update club colours, and paddler registrations. Prepare the Canoe Sprint Handbook each year which has all the information for competing at National Regattas.

We also have a volunteer IT team who coordinate the development of the software for online entries, live results and the preparation of the official results. 

A full-time paramedic takes overall responsibility for First Aid care and reporting accidents during the regatta. However, Clubs’ First Aiders who assist with a First Aid incident on or around the regatta course during the regatta weekend should report the incident to the Paramedic.

Your National Regattas can only run because of the people who volunteer their time on the day.  These volunteers are mainly parents of current and ex paddlers.  They are all supporting a discipline that is developing the young paddlers of today for the future. Without the help of new volunteers our regattas will eventually, not function as they do at present.  Our existing team often work solidly throughout the weekend without breaks.  You are probably not aware of this, but that is why we always need more help.   

We are continually asking clubs for more assistance to help run your sprint racing national regattas. No experience or special skills are required.  Each person is a small cog in a large wheel, which makes each area manageable.  Working as a team is important along with a sense of humour and commitment to the time you can offer.  Just half a day helping, whether morning or afternoon, would support and develop our team.

The more volunteers we have in an area allows volunteers to organise amongst themselves to have breaks, which means at the end of the day they are not shattered. Which they are at present.

Apart from Boat Driving, no qualifications are needed as all the jobs can be learnt during the event.  We have experienced knowledgeable people overseeing each area to train new volunteers.  We also have written ‘job description’ for each area.

Some of the jobs are in:

• Boat Control:  This is where boats that are called in at the end of a race are weighed and checked for buoyancy. One member of the team stands out on the pontoon to place a lane number on a board for the appropriate paddler to come in for weighing. The findings are then reported through to the top of tower so the result can be cleared and published.
• Photo Finish:  The races are filmed and then rerun to check the final positions. The results are also checked with the Chief Official at the top of the tower and Line Judging at the bottom of the tower, if there is a close finish. Results are checked in 3 areas before being confirmed correct and displayed on the score board and sent through to the computer room.
• Line Judging: A central wire in the line judging window lines up with a marker on the far side of the lake. This marker is the official finish line.  The number of paddlers entered in each event are shown on a screen.  As they paddle towards the finish line, they are counted to check they have all started.  As the boats cross the finish line, the lane number is called out, and a time buzzer is pressed so the photo finish know that all paddlers have finished.  The lane numbers are written down by another team member.  The A races have two people watching the finish line.
• Computer Room: from Photo Finish, once results are confirmed correct by the top of the tower, the results go through to the computer room and published on the ‘live’ results. It is here that the draws for finals are made and added to the timing system.  Most draws are automatically sorted by the computer programme but some need to be sorted manually. 
• Promotions and Demotions:  are methodically worked out during and after the event. Weather conditions are continually measured throughout the day for the K1/C1 events as this has bearing on the times. 
• Merchandise: We have a selection of goods for sale to promote the regattas and raise some extra funds. This allows interaction with the community, which is always valuable. This unfortunately is an area which does not always happen when we are short of volunteers as they are required to run the regatta.  Having more people to look after this would be good.
• Starters: these are based at the 1000m, 500m, 200m huts.  They work in pairs due to the size of the huts.
• Boat Drivers:  Must have a level 2 Certificate. The Driver will collect and check the motorboat is in working order, also the amount of fuel at the start of a day and return after the end of racing. Life Jackets are provided. A rota for time ‘on the water’(working) and off (rest period), is worked out for each day of the regatta.
• Umpires: must be able to extract a paddler from the water if necessary. They also watch for lane infringements. A rota for time ‘on the water’(working) and off (rest period), is worked out for each day of the regatta. 
• K4 Shed: To prepare and check the K4 crew boats are in working order prior to being used and on their return. Report any damage that requires repairing. To assign the correct style of boat according to the ability class or age group borrowing the boats. 

Helping for a whole day or either a morning or afternoon would be greatly appreciated.

Interested to find out more?

Please, contact Ann Hoile by email or at the Information Desk during the regattas.
You will be invited to come and sit alongside experienced officials to find out what is involved. Whilst most learning is ‘on the job’, annual ‘Workshop’ days are organised where we can meet to catch up on developments for the year ahead. 

Developing the number of officials to increase the knowledge and wider experience is highly important for the development of sprint racing.

 Please read below.

For any club that enters ten or more paddlers, you are expected to provide at least one volunteer to help run the regatta. We are happy for volunteers from smaller clubs too of course.

The following clubs provided Volunteers regularly at the National Regattas.:
ADL: ANK: BAN: CLM: DEV: EAL: ELM: GAI: GLO: IND. LBZ: LKR: MK: NOT: NOR: RDG: RIC: RLS: ROY: SOU: TON: WHI.

If your club is not listed, please consider who from your club might be able to help this year.   

The Regatta Volunteer’s Inter Club Award.

All volunteers will earn points.  One point for each half day worked. Once a minimum of 8 points has been accumulated, they will be transferred to the volunteers nominated club.  Points will also be awarded for attending an Officals Workshop.  

National Regatta Contact infomation

ICF International Technical Officals

Officials who have gained experience in key areas can progress on to take the International Canoe Federation (ICF) Technical Officials Examination (ITO). This qualifies them to officiate at major International Canoe Sprint Regattas. 

These officials must have worked a minimum of 50% of the regatta days during the current year to qualify to apply to be nominated for an international appointment. 

Regatta officials interested in knowing more about the ICF Examination please contact the Chief Official.

The following Volunteer Officials have all gained International Canoe Federation ITO status.

Phil Caisley, Paul Edwardes, Sara Edwardes, Martin Hook,
Liz McGown, Adam Miles, Cathy Wynne.