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The Rules of the Oriel Regatta

The Committee shall investigate any questionable entry irrespective of protest and shall have power to return any entry up to the time of its first race in the Regatta without being bound to assign a reason.

Clubs and competitors take part at their own risk. The Committee take no responsibility for injury, loss or damage to their persons, boats, equipment or other property while taking part in the regatta.

If there shall be more than two entries for any event, those entered shall row a heat or heats, but no more than two boats shall contend in any one heat.

The draw, including stations for each race, shall be made by the Committee.

If a crew withdraws after the draw is published, their entry fee will be retained.

If at any time after the Draw a crew or sculler should be unable to compete, then the opponent of that crew or sculler must row over the Course at the appointed time.

The Committee shall ensure that medical and life-saving services are provided throughout the hours of racing.

Every boat shall carry securely affixed to the bow a white protective ball, minimum diameter 4cm., in rubber or similar material fitted in a safe manner unless the bow is so constructed as to afford equivalent protection.

In order to avoid accidents arising from capsizing, all boats must be equipped with stretchers or shoes which allow the competitors to get clear of the boat without using their hands and with the least possible delay.

It is the duty of those entering to ensure they are eligible under Proctors’ Rules and OURCs regulations. The committee shall not be responsible for ensuring those entering have passed swim tests or capsize drills.

No boat with a sliding rigger mechanism shall be used.

No competitor shall not make use of any substance capable of modifying the natural properties of water nor employ any substance such as prefabricated plastic film on the outer skin of his boat to improve his performance.

All questions of eligibility, qualifications, interpretation of the Rules or other matters not specifically provided for shall be referred to the Committee, whose decision shall be final.

In case of exceptional emergency the Committee shall have power to abrogate, alter or suspend any rule at the instance of any competitor, provided it is satisfied that no other competitor is thereby placed in a less favourable position than he would have been in if such an emergency had not occurred.


CONDUCT OF RACES

Races at the Regatta shall be conducted as follows:—

(a) Each competitor must have his boat in position at the start and ready for the bow to be aligned by the Judge at the start two minutes before the advertised time of the race. Crews will be started at a stagger which will be decided by stream and other river conditions. A competitor whose boat is not so positioned may be disqualified or warned by the Umpire. Such a warning shall penalise the crew as if it had caused a false start.

(b) Races will be started as follows:— The Umpire, when satisfied that the competitors are ready, will give the warning command: ATTENTION and will then say: GO.

(c) In the case of a false start the Umpire will recall the competitors to the start. A competitor who refuses to start again or who makes or causes two false starts shall be disqualified by the Umpire.

(d) If the Umpire wishes to stop a race after the word GO, he will give the order:STOP.

(e) A competitor’s proper course is such course as will enable him to reach the winning post in the shortest possible time provided that he allows ample water for his opponent to steer his own proper course on the side on which that opponent started. A competitor who leaves his proper course does so at his peril and may be disqualified by the Umpire if he thereby interferes with his opponent or in the event of a foul.

(f) It shall be considered a foul if, after a race has been started, a competitor shall come into contact by his oar, scull, boat or person with the oar, scull, boat or person of his opponent.

(g) The Umpire shall be the sole judge of a competitor’s proper course and shall decide all questions of interference with an opponent or of a foul.

(h) The Umpire may warn a competitor if he considers that there is the probability of a foul or that the competitor is out of his proper course and in danger of interfering with his opponent. The Umpire may also warn a competitor of an obstruction in his course. The Umpire shall not in any other circumstances direct a competitor’s course.

(i) In the event of a foul, a competitor may claim that his opponent be disqualified. Such a claim must be made to the Umpire by the competitor by raising his arm immediately after the finish of the race.

(j) If the competitor making the claim was in his proper course and his opponent was out of his proper course, the latter shall be disqualified unless, in the opinion of the Umpire, the foul was so slight as not to influence the race. The Umpire may reserve his decision but will give it as soon as possible after the race.

(k) In either of the following circumstances the Umpire may himself disqualify a competitor out of his proper course who is involved in a foul or in interference with his opponent, provided that he does so immediately:—
(i) If the competitor has, in the opinion of the Umpire, wilfully encroached on the proper course of his opponent.
(ii) If the foul or interference is of such a nature as clearly to influence the race.

(l) In the event of a foul, the Umpire shall have power, if he has not disqualified either of the competitors, to re-start
the race according to his discretion, or to order a re-row.

(m) A competitor shall abide by his own accidents except that, if during a race a competitor shall have suffered interference from some outside agency which in the opinion of the Umpire may have influenced the outcome of the race, the Umpire shall have power to stop and re-start the race according to his discretion, or to order a re-row. If a competitor considers that he has been subject to outside interference he must make an objection to the Umpire immediately after the finish of the race.

(n) No boat shall follow any race for the purpose of directing the course of a competitor, nor shall a competitor be given any advice, assistance or steering aid during a race. No radio equipment shall be used in a boat during a race. A competitor who receives any extraneous assistance during a race may be disqualified by the Umpire. In particular, the use of any form of megaphone by supporters is forbidden.

(o) Crews must start the race with the full complement of competitors specified in the Qualification Rules for that event. A crew is judged to have completed the Course when the bow of its boat reaches the finishing line unless prevented from doing so either by outside interference or by damage caused by a foul. A crew shall not be debarred from winning a race if a competitor other than a coxswain leaves the boat during the race. If a coxswain leaves the boat during a race, the crew shall be deemed not to have completed the Course.

(p) The Judge at the finish shall decide the order in which the competing boats reach the finishing line, and his decision shall be final and without appeal. If the boats reach the finishing line simultaneously, the race shall be rowed again at a time to be arranged by the Committee. If a crew refuses to re-row, it shall be disqualified.

(q) The Umpire’s jurisdiction shall extend over the whole race from the time that it is specified to start until its end, and his decisions shall be final and without appeal.

(r) A competitor who refuses to abide by the decisions of the Umpire or the Judge, or fails to follow directions given to him by the Umpire, may be disqualified.


INTERPRETATION
In these rules where the context so admits:—
(a) The singular shall include the plural and vice versa.
(b) The masculine shall include the feminine.
(c) Rowing shall include sculling.