Image courtesy of Leszek Lata THE HENLEY CLASSIC is a 2.1 km endurance upstream River Thames swimming event, held over the Henley Royal Regatta course, very early on the Sunday morning before the start of Henley Royal Regatta. HENLEY CLASSIC This celebration of midsummer provides a unique opportunity to swim one of the most famous and beautiful stretches of open water in the world, at what we believe is the most beautiful time of the day - dawn. INFORMATION PACK Sunday 25th June 2017 Event organisers: Open Water Swimming Ltd Website: www.henleyswim.com Email: enquiries@henleyswim.com Tel: 01491 577922
EVENT DETAILS Date: Sunday 25th June 2017 Location: Temple Island Meadows, Henley-on-Thames Start Time (first wave): 4.30am Course: Unique straight line point-to-point swim (i.e. no turns) taking advantage of the Henley Regatta boomed course Minimum age: 14 Wetsuit requirement: Non compulsory Categories: Elite Men & Women (by application only) Open Men & Women 18+ Traditional Men & Women (Swimsuits only) 18+ Masters 45-54 Men & Women (on the day of the race) Masters 55 and above Men & Women (on the day of the race) Junior Men & Women aged 14 to 17 (on the day of the race) Sporting A single (non-competitive) category for both Men & Women Oxford V Cambridge Varsity Match, Alumni Match Team cup - Any size team, fastest 4 count towards the result Schools cup - Any size team, fastest 4 count towards the result Page 2
EVENT LOCATION & DIRECTIONS By Car Sat Nav Details: Temple Island Meadows Car Park, Remenham Church Lane, Henley-on-Thames, Oxon. RG9 3DD From M4 - Leave the M4 at Junction 8/9. Take the A404(M) towards 'Henley' & 'Marlow'. Leave A404M at the 2nd junction signposted 'Henley', 'A4130'. Turn LEFT at the give way and go straight over at the roundabout, again signposted 'Henley' onto the A4130. Follow this road for approx. 4 miles. Just after a petrol station on your right take the next RIGHT turn into Remenham Church Lane, and follow the signs to the event car park. From M40 - Leave the M40 at Junction 4. Take the A404(M) towards 'Marlow'. At the first roundabout go straight over towards 'Henley' and 'Maidenhead'. Take the next junction, signposted 'Henley', 'A4130, then see above. From Henley town centre: Go over Henley Bridge towards 'Maidenhead'. Go past the Little Angel on your left. At the top of the hill, turn LEFT into Remenham Church Lane, and follow the signs to the event car park. Event Car Park You will be directed to turn RIGHT off Remenham Church Lane down a track, then across a minor road and into the event car park. Please park as indicated by the Car Parking Stewards, who will direct you. By Train The nearest train station is Henley on Thames which has links to London (Approximately 1 hour) and Reading (Approximately 20 minutes) Temple Island Meadows is approximately 1 mile from the Town centre and is easily accessed, on foot, via the towpath. Page 3
VENUE & EVENT FACILITIES Temple Island Meadows Parking Free parking is available at the venue in Temple Island Meadows Car Park. Access is via Remenham Church Lane only. PLEASE ENSURE you drive slowly on the approach to the car park and whilst on the premises. Facilities Toilets will be provided at the event site. Catering Full catering facilities are available in the main event area on registration day and the morning of the Classic. There will be a selection of hot breakfast options, hot and cold drinks. Saturday Night Supper If you are in Henley the evening before the Classic, join us for a delicious and nutritious Saturday Night Supper. Supper will be served from 5pm 8pm and will consist of locally sourced pulled pork and pulled lamb, pork and lamb sausages, (or vegetarian option) a variety of energy giving salads something sweet and a soft drink. The cost will be 14 when booked in advance or 16 on the day. Camping Glebe Campsite will be open to event competitors and supporters with full facilities including toilets and showers. Pitches are bookable in advance for 16 per person per night. Campervans are 21 per person. Children under 12 are free. If you wish to book Saturday Night Supper or Camping please add to your registration by using this link https://myevents.active.com Henley Swim Event Memorabilia Event clothing and memorabilia will be available to purchase at the event, including the new Selkie range. Full range is available in the Selkie online shop www.selkieswim.com Page 4
DIRECTIONS REMENHAM CHURCH LANE A4130 FROM A404 Page 5
Par king DIRECTIONS DRIVING / WALKING SITE ENTRANCE WAL Eve n REMENHAM CHURCH LANE t HQ KING RIGHT HAND TURN DRIVING FROM A4130 Page 6
COURSE MAP Finish Finish lineline 2.1km 2.1km Car park - Temple Island Meadows Boomed course Boomed course Registration point Loos & showers Camping area - Glebe campsite Food Court/Trade Stands/Meeting Area Start line Start line Temple Island Meadows Page 7
EVENT TIMINGS Sunday 25th June Saturday 24th June Car park and venue opens Campsite opens Registrations Retail outlets open Saturday Supper Venue closes for the evening 1400 1400 1400-1800 1600-2000 1700-2000 2030 Venue and car park open to competitors Registrations Catering open Retail outlets open 0200 0200-0345 0200 0200 Race timings Competitors walk to start Safety briefing & race warm up Race start Results available Prize giving 0350-0405 0410-0420 0430 0530 0730 Event ends 0800 Page 8
USEFUL INFORMATION On the Day Checklist Wetsuit Hire Here's your recommended kit list for the day:- Wetsuits are available to hire from our wetsuit partner Cliff Lakes. Bookings must be made in advance. Please email Susi@clifflakes.com for further information. There will be no on-the-day hire. Torch it will be dark (experienced Henley swimmers wear head torches) Alarm clock please don t sleep through!! Photographic ID for registration Warm kit Bottled water/sports drink Goggles select carefully based on dim light conditions (anti-fog spray is very useful also) Swim kit obviously (swim costume, wetsuit) Flip flops + plastic bag Money for Saturday Supper & breakfast, not to mention some of our Henley Classic memorabilia kit available to purchase at the event. Water Temperature The water temperature at the Classic depends upon both the outside temperature and the quantity of rainfall in the days and weeks running up to the event. It is therefore very difficult to predict. Based on previous years, at the end of June, we would expect the water to be between 17 and 19 degrees centigrade. Traditional Category Standard swimming costumes trunks (not jammers) for men, and costumes for women. The leg on all trunks and costumes must not go below the line of the crutch. (See here for Traditional Category Rules). Page 9
AFETY ADVICE & INFORMATION SSAFETY ADVICE & INFORMATION Safety Advice Whilst water quality tests provide an indication of the suitability of a venue for open water swimming they do not mean that that there is a complete absence of potential pathogens. You are advised to adopt the following procedures to minimise the risk of infections: Cover all cuts and abrasions, however minor, with waterproof sticking plasters. You should not consider swimming if you have deep cuts. Use hand gel or wipes provided/wash hands in fresh water after you have swum and before you eat. Take a full shower at the earliest opportunity. Try not to ingest water while swimming. Further Health & Safety Information Please be aware of our Terms & Conditions of entry and Health & Safety Protocol before attending this event. This information is available on the Event Information section of our website, at www.henleyswim.com. Event Safety We take your safety very seriously and work closely with our Medical and Water Safety providers to ensure that the necessary cover is in place both on and off shore, in accordance with ASA Open Water Swimming Guidelines.. In addition all swimming kit (wetsuit, costume, goggles, hat,etc) should be washed in clean water and thoroughly dried prior to your next swimming session or event. Page 10
RACE GUIDELINES Before the Swim Please ensure you arrive at least two hours before the race start time, so that you have sufficient time to register and prepare for your swim. Registration All competitors are required to register with photographic ID, before being allocated an event pack including a numbered swimming cap, timing chip and bag tag, either on the Saturday afternoon or the Sunday morning. There will be a facility to leave any valuables at this point. Saturday registration is encouraged to avoid delays on Sunday morning. Walk to the start There is a ¼ mile walk to the start, and just under a mile walk back from the finish. Once you arrive at the start area you will be able to leave your flip flops in a named plastic bag (PLEASE BRING YOUR OWN PLASTIC BAG) which will be taken to the finish area ready for collection. NON-WETSUIT SWIMMERS ONLY WILL BE ALLOWED TO HAVE AN ADDITIONAL ITEM OF WARM CLOTHING TRANSPORTED TO THE FINISH LINE. Safety briefing It is compulsory to attend the briefing, which is held approximately 20 minutes before the race start. You will need to be ready to start the race immediately after this. Waves Waves will be at approximately 5 minute intervals. Once briefed, you will be called forward in your Wave, in the following order: Elite Men Elite Women Performance Men s categories (up to three waves depending on numbers) Women s categories (up to three waves depending on numbers) Junior category Sporting category Men & Women Oxford V Cambridge Varsity Match, Alumni Matches You must enter the river only at the designated entry point, you will have a short warm up swim before being asked to swim to the start line. The signal will then be given to start the race. After the Swim Once you have completed your swim and left the river at the designated exit point, you will be able to collect any belongings before walking back to the main event area. There you will be able to view your finishing time, join friends, enjoy a well earned rest and have something to eat after your exertions. Page 11
ESSENTIAL CONTACT DETAILS ESSENTIAL CONTACT DETAILS Event organisers: Open Water Swimming Ltd Website: www.henleyswim.com Direct contact: Event team Tel: 01491 577922 Enquiries: enquiries@henleyswim.com Page 12