Northampton Canoe & Kayak Club
Nene Slalom August 14th/15th 2010



Food
We expect that the cafe will be serving meals on both days, either from the upstairs cafe or the barbecue outside. I will update this when I know more.

Entries/Late Entries
Last year we reached the entry limit for both days by the middle of Saturday morning, and had to turn away entries. We strongly recommend entering, and paying, in advance.
The online entry system will close on Wednesday 11th August. All entries received after that date will be subject to the late entry surcharge.
Entries
 We had to turn away entries for both days last year.
We strongly recommend entering in advance. You can do this in the usual way by post, or on the website. The website entry system will work out the fees for you, if you make a batch of entries in one session, and will allow the multi-event discount. You can pay online using PayPal, or send a cheque in the post. You do not need to send entry cards for online entries, as we will print them.
Online entries will not be treated as confirmed until we receive payment, so if we reach the entry limit before you have paid, your entry will be discarded.
Entries are now open at
 http://slalom.nckc.org.uk/forward.php
This system will stop on Wednesday 11th August. Entries received after then will be subject to the late entry surcharge.

Access to the course

The event is a triple-division one, but the Division 4 event will take place on a shortened course. This course will start in Pool A, so the first gate will probably be number 6.
Having two different courses each day means a little loss of flexibility. In particular:
Re-runs will have to be taken during a period when the event is operating on the appropriate course.
Officials have to take their runs at the designated times, or during Div 2 or 3 periods.
Official practice runs will be from the appropriate start point. During free practice particular care is needed by Div 2/3 competitors entering pool A, not to collide with Div 4 competitors starting there. We recommend parents/friends act as spotters above Pool A.
There won’t be room in pool A for more than the boat about to start, and the next one. Competitors need to be ready to get on the water when called. Div 4 paddlers are welcome to warm up on the river above or below the course.

Updates and Results
Updated information, current startlists, and results will be posted on the club website, www.nckc.org.uk

Note that start times shown here may change as more entries are added. The basic start times for each day will be kept however - the event starts at 12noon on Saturday, and 10 a.m.on Sunday.

Camping

Camping will be around the course - literally feet from the water. There is room along the upper section of the channel for at least 20 smaller tents, or somewhat fewer larger tents, and there are a few other patches of ground as well. There is room for smaller tents inside the course. It will be possible to wheel camping trailers to most of these spaces, although we would ask you to return them to the carpark after unloading, to leave room for other tents. Cars will not be allowed across the bridge to unload or load, as it has caused significant congestion in the past. On foot it is about 100 metres from the car park. Caravans and camping vans will be able to use the Centre car park. As it’s a hard surface, you may not be able to use awnings.
Water will be available from the outside of the main building. The Centre building provides showers and toilets. We have to lock the building overnight (10:00pm to 7:30 am), so chemical toilets will be provided for overnight use only. The camping and caravan charge will be £5-00 per tent, £10-00 per caravan, per weekend.
Please note that tents are not permitted in the car park or near the Centre building. The area inside and around the whitewater course is designated for camping.
Please bring strong tent pegs, and a hammer. The ground is very stony. As it’s a bit uneven too, airbeds might help.
There is also a commercial camp and caravan site at Billing Aquadrome. The Aquadrome is about 4 miles east of the site, off the A45. It is high quality, but expensive. Finally the Courtyard Marriott hotel is directly opposite the site. There is a payphone in their bar. There is a cash machine at the HSBC bank near the site.
Event Times
We will be on site from Thursday evening, so early arrival is OK. There will be no paddling on the course during Friday. We have NOT booked the course to allow practice on Friday evening, because the income for the evening didn't come close to meeting the cost of the additional pumping time. The river is available for flatwater paddling.
There will be practice on both Saturday and Sunday. The course will be changed for Sunday immediately after Saturday’s competition is over. The amount of practice time will depend on demand, as we pay for the water by the hour, but will end by 8pm onSaturday evening. Help in changing the course will be appreciated, and will increase the amount of practice time.
The course will open for practice early on Sunday morning, i.e. as soon as at least one organiser and a few paddlers are up and about. The water is booked from 8am both days.




Timetable
Saturday
 8am Water on, course adjustment, free practice.
9am Control opens
10am - 11am complete run practice - Div 2/3/officials course.
11am Div 4 short course complete run practice.
10:30am entries close
12 noon competition starts Sequence Officials A, Div 2, Div 3, Officials B, Div 4
between 5pm and 6pm event finishes, prizegiving, course changed for Sunday.
Sunday
8am Control opens, free practice
9am Entries close
9am - 9:30 complete run practice Div 2/3/officials
9:30-10-00 Div 4 complete run practice.
10am competition starts
4pm approx competition ends, course cleared (must be complete by 5pm.)
Prizegiving as soon as results are completed.

It is anticipated that the times will change, depending on entry numbers, but the sequence and start time of 12:00 (Officials) will probably be adhered to. We anticipate following the same sequence on Sunday, starting at 10:00am. We have to finish and clear the gates away before 5pm on Sunday as the course will then be in use for rafting.
Late entries will close for the Saturday event at 10:30am on Saturday, and for the Sunday event at 9:00am on Sunday, or earlier in both cases if the entry limit is reached. This is to allow us to produce startlists for the starter and finisher, so that the event can start on time. If you expect to arrive later than these times, enter in advance, either online or by post, and send payment. Online entries will not be charged the late entry fee.
Location
The Nene Whitewater Centre is located on the A428 Bedford Road out of Northampton, just outside the ring road. The easiest access from North or South is via M1 junction 15 (not 15A). Follow signs for Wellingborough until you see the signs for A428 Bedford. Turn off towards Bedford. You are now almost there.
From the East approach Northampton on the A45. Turn off on the A428 Bedford. You are now almost there.
At the first roundabout on the A428 turn right, signed Rushmills. At the mini-roundabout turn right. Watch out for the height barrier if you are in a tall vehicle (2.25m)
Grid Ref SP776596. Postcode NN4 7AA
Parking
If you are in a high vehicle (over 2.25m high) and the height barrier is locked, please inquire at Control (at the back of the building) or in the office (right hand side of the building) if anyone is in there. Part of the Centre car park will be reserved for caravans.
The parking at the rear of the building is reserved for the rowing club and the slalom organisers.
Slalom Safety
Canoeing and Kayaking are “Assumed Risk” - “Water Contact” sports that may carry attendant risks. Participants should be aware of and accept these risks, and be responsible for their own action and involvement. A child must be accompanied by a parent, guardian or a nominated adult who shall assume responsibility for the child throughout the time the child is at the event. Neither the British Canoe Union nor the event Organiser will assume responsibility or be liable for a child who is unaccompanied or unsupervised. Note that while the definition of a child is a person under the age of 18, the statement applies particularly to children under the age of 16.
During a run, competitors must be prepared to rescue. After a run they must stay in their boat near the finish, in case they are called upon to act as rescue for the next or next but one competitor unless the organiser, having made other rescue arrangements, has specifically indicated that this is not required.
All helmets worn at this event must be to the CEN standard and carry the CE mark.
Just after the end of the course, under the footbridge, is a dam built of concrete blocks. Paddlers are not allowed to cross this, either in their boats or carrying them. You should get out in pool D and carry back to the start or to the car parks.

Prizes
The prize list for each day is as follows:

Trophies
Div 2 Men Winner
Div 2 Men Second
Div 2 Men Third
Div 2 Women Winner
Div 2 Women Second
Div 2 Women Third
Div 2 C1 Men Winner
Div 2 C1 Men Second
Div 2/3 C1 Women Winner
Div 2/3 C2 Winner
Veteran Winner
Div 3 Men Winner
Div 3 Men Second
Div 3 Men Third
Div 3 Women Winner
Div 3 Women Second
Div 3 C1 Men Winner
Div 4 Men Winner
Div 4 Men Second
Div 4 Men Third
Div 4 Women Winner
Div 4 Women Second
Div C1 men Winner
Div 4 C1 women winner
Div 4 C2 winner
Officials Mens Winner
Officials Womens Winner
Officials Junior Winner

Medals (awarded to the paddler with the best score, who did not receive a class prize.)
Div 2 Junior Mens Winner
Div 2 Junior Mens Second
Div 2 Junior Ladies Winner
Div 3 Junior Mens Winner
Div 3 Junior Ladies Winner
Div 3 Junior Mens Second
Div 4 Junior Mens Winner
Div 4 Junior Ladies Winner
Div 4 Junior Mens Second
Div 2 Masters Winner
Div 3 Masters Winner
Div 4 Masters Winner
Security
There have occasionally been thefts from vehicles and from the changing rooms during major events at the Centre. Please look after your property, including boats, and lock your vehicles. Neither the Whitewater Centre nor the Organisers can accept responsibility for your property.
Organiser
Alan Adams, 07976 274 301, e-mail slalom@nckc.org.uk

Canoeing and Kayaking are ‘Assumed Risk’ - ‘Water Contact’ sports that may
carry attendant risks. Participants should be aware of and accept these
risks, and be responsible for their own action and involvement.




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