ETIVE RIVER RACE

One River One Race

Aim

The aim of the event is to be quickest team (two persons) to cover the course. 

The course / water Levels

The race will held on the River Etive, Scotland and will largely depend on the water levels

Low – medium level: the race will start at Triple Falls and finish at the bridge just before the confluence of the Allt a Chaoruinn, grid NN 219 519 (for arguments sake, the finishing rapid will, for this race, be referred to as ‘Twist and Shout ’).

Low levels: the race will Start at Triple Falls and finish at Right Angle. 

High/mad levels: the race will start just below the grade 5 rapid on the River Coupall to the top of Triple Falls. 

Race Rules

1. Each team shall consist of two persons in one-man kayaks, each.
2. The time taken for each team shall be the time of the slowest kayak in that team, to cross the finishing line.
3. Kayaks must be made of plastic, have end grabs so that a karabiner can be fixed.  No ‘duo’ / k2 type kayaks allowed.
4. Each kayak must be fitted with end grabs of some sort to fix a karabiner. All boats must have, where possible, air bags (2) in the boat.  It will not be sufficient to have only pillar type buoyancy.
5. All kayakers must wear Buoyancy aid and helmet as a minimum of kit.
6. The race starts at 11:00hrs.  The first two teams must be ready to present
   themselves and all their equipment to the control marshal at 10:45hrs.  Once their kit has been checked they will then move forward to the water.  Only two teams will be allowed to be on the water, at the start, at any one time.
   
   Once the first two teams are through the kit check area all following teams must present themselves, in race order, to the controller to be checked fifteen minutes before their allotted race time.
   
   There will be a maximum of two teams in the kit check area at any one time.
   
   If a team is late to be checked and is not in race order to be checked, in
   the kit check area, they will receive a 1-minute additional time penalty.
   
   The controller is ensuring you all have appropriate flotation in the back of
   your kayak and that kayakers are wearing the required safety kit.  Appropriate floatation would be the voids in the back filled with airbags, foam or other type of floatation.  If you have a kayak and there is no floatation in the back, you will be disqualified!   This safety check is essential and is for the benefit of everyone involved.
   
7. All teams must paddle over the start line and kayak the first rapid, Triple Falls.
8. Any team member swimming at Triple Falls will be red carded and asked to leave the river, as they had not displayed the necessary skill and competence to continue.  
9. Teams red carded at Triple Falls will be allowed to start the race again if they so wish.   They must return to the start quickly and they will be restarted as soon as possible.   Their first start time will be void.  
10. Teams swimming at Triple Falls on the second attempt will be disqualified from the race.
11.  Once Triple Falls has been paddled teams can continue downriver and may portage at any point.   They may stop and leave the river to examine a particular hazard.   All the time their race time will be ticking.
12. It is the responsibility of each team to read the specific rules concerning the flag system in operation at some drops.   Failure to comply with the flag system may lead to disqualification.
13. Should the race be stopped, all teams upstream will be afforded another opportunity to return to the start and race again.   Their first time will be void.
14. Teams restarting after the race has been stopped and who swam at Triple Falls will be allowed to start afresh.
15. Teams must paddle over the finish line and leave the river safely and as quickly as possible.
16. Controllers of the race, particularly controllers at the start and finish, must not be obstructed in any way.
17. Teams stopping, resting or inspecting rapids must give way to kayaks wishing to overtake.
18. A draw will take place soon after the closing date to decide the race order.   Once this draw has been made it will be final.   Teams will not, under any circumstances, change places in the racing order.   Teams doing so may be disqualified.
19. The Chief Controller will decide on any matter brought to his/her attention concerning the rules.   His/her decision will be final.

RULES GOVERNING ELIGIBILITY TO ENTER AND TAKE PART IN THE EVENT

1. All entrants must be 16 years of age or over on race day.
2. All entrants must hold a five star award.
3. Entrants not holding a five star award MUST produce a letter outlining their skills, achievements and rivers they have kayaked.   A current five star award holders or coach level 4 MUST endorse this letter.
4. All entrants MUST be a member of their respective NGB.   The level of insurance cover must be a minimum of five million pounds (£5,000,000)
5. ALL sections of the application form must be completed.   Any form not fully completed will result in the form being returned.
6. Each year the closing date for entries will be 31st August or when the first fifty correctly completed application forms have been received, whichever comes first.
7. Entry to the race will be on a first come basis provided application forms are correct completed and the entry fee is paid.
8. Teams must read and understand the disclaimer; read and understand the possible dangers as outlined in the risk assessment.   Both these documents are attached to the application form.   Teams submitting application forms will be assumed by the race organisers to have read these documents and understood them.

PRE RACE RULES

Glen Etive is one of Scotlands most beautiful glens.   It is wild and remote with a single-track road and few passing places and fewer parking places.   All teams and their supporters are respectfully asked to comply with the following.

1. No camping in Glen Etive.
2. No lighting fires in Glen Etive.
3. No damaging flora or fauna anywhere.
4. No depositing litter anywhere.
5. Teams must not drive in Glen Etive on race day.   (Alternative transport will be provided for teams and all kit.)
6. Spectators supporting teams are encouraged to come and enjoy the scenery and the event but they, too, must not drive in Glen Etive on race day.   (Alternative transport to and from a nearby car park will be provided.   This transport will operate all day during the race)
7. Teams must not paddle the river the day of the race.  
8.  All teams must attend registration.
9. Once the draw has been made teams are not allowed to change places, under any circumstances.
10. Waterproof numbers must be firmly attached to each kayak, using Gaffer / Duck tape along all four edges of the number and not just on corners or two sides of the number.   (Water pressure could force numbers off if all edges are not properly secured in the above manner.)

Any team flagrantly ignoring the pre race rules may be disqualified from taking part in the race.   These rules are to ensure that the race runs smoothly and that access through Glen Etive is unrestricted should any emergency arise.   The organisers realise that they cannot enforce some of these pre race rules as Glen Etive is a public place with a public road running through it and members of the public have free and unrestricted access.   However, the race organisers reserve the right to disqualify teams who act in a manner that could discredit the event or whose behaviour is overtly unacceptable.   Please observe all the pre race rule.     

Safety / Controllers:

Safety and Control persons have two different roles entirely.

Safety persons are all experienced kayakers and have attended a site specific training weekend, on the Etive. Their main role is to ensure their safety, their teams safety and then the competitors safety whilst the race is underway. Safety persons will be wearing their normal kayaking attire (without spray deck) and stationed at the seven main rapids.

Controllers might not have a kayak back ground. For example the timekeepers. However, there will be other controllers on the river acting as an official. All controllers will be identified with having a day glow vest. Controllers main rolls are to ensure the smooth running of the race and ensuring rules are adhered to.

The following rapids / drops will have the following persons designated, at the start of the race, assigned to.  Note, some safety people will be peripatetic and change throughout the day, but as a minimum will be assigned the numbers against the rapid / drop.  Note Ski jump will not be manned!

Controllers will have no input in practical safety on the river. 
 

Safety people will not intimate or show paddlers the ‘line’ in which a paddler might navigate a rapid.  Safety persons can intervene and assist a competitor in trouble, if the competitors self help has been insufficient or is clearly futile. Where aid has been afforded to competitors the time in giving this aid will be penalty enough.

Each major rapid will be marked with a flag, traffic light system. A Green flag will indicate the rapid is not obstructed by a competitor or their equipment. An Amber flag, will indicate that there is some sort of competitors kit obstructing the rapid and caution should be used. A Red flag will indicate that a competitor is 'seriously' injured and the race will be stopped till that person has received the appropriate medical care.

Where the race has been stopped and the course is under a red flag, those teams that might be upstream of the incident will be allowed to run again. Any team passing a red flag will be disqualified.

Radios will be at each rapid and for race doctor, starters and the race coordinator to communicate to each other.

 Registration:

Teams will be issued with race numbers at registration.   Teams should ensure they have the correct number.   Each kayak in the team carries the same race number.   It is the kayak that is registered at the start and finish along with the kayakers.   Numbers must then be fixed to each kayak using Gaffer / duck tape on all four sides, ensuring that all edges of the number are securely fastened down.   Kayaks without a number will not be allowed to take part in the race.

Registration will be opened on Friday, the day before the race, from 18:30 – 20:00 hrs, that’s 6:30pm to 8:00pm and on Saturday morning from 08:00hrs to 08:30 hrs that’s 8am to 8:30am.  If you do not register between these times you will be disqualified and your place will be either be void or passed on to any reserve team that might be waiting.

There is NO exception to this rule, so don’t get angry or upset!