Nottingham Kayak Club Hasler Marathon 2025

Nottingham Hasler

Competitor Information 30/03/2025 -Please read

Parking

Please use the Brian Clough Stand car park, Nottingham Forest Football Club, Scarrington Road, off Lady Bay Bridge Road (A6011) NG2 5FA (next to the Environment Agency offices on Scarrington Road)

Under no circumstances should you drive onto TrentsideNorth from Trent Bridge (A60) on race day. 

There will be diagrams and pictures on the club web site showing the parking area.

THERE IS NO ACCESS ONTO TRENTSIDE FROM TRENT BRIDGE FOR EITHER CARS OR TRAILERS.

Registration

Registration will be from the clubhouse at Nottingham Kayak Club.  Number boards to be provided by competitors. Registration will be open from 0900.

Timings

Please remember that daylight saving time starts 30/03/25 

Classes

Course Descriptions

Geoff Sanders Classes

3 laps of a circuit going around Trent Bridge and Lady Bay Bridge.  Approx. 2 miles.

Divisions 1-9

Please note that this is a change of course from previous years. 

Downstream start outside NKC.

Approximately 700m to turn buoy at Trent Pool (anticlockwise turn).

Race upstream on the City side bank (right hand side) - no crossing permitted.

Through the City side span of the Wilford Toll Bridge.

Approximately 100m above Wilford Toll Bridge, anticlockwise turn around turn buoy.

Race downstream, through County side (right hand side) span of Wilford Toll Bridge & centre span of Trent Bridge, back to NKC to complete a 4-mile lap.

Strava flyover of course

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Portage

Get out on the University Rowing Club landing stage, just downstream of NKC.

Ascend the bank via the steps or the grass.

Turn left & proceed over the canal bridge.

Descend back to the river via grass bank & get back in on the concrete step.

Follow instructions given by Marshals at the portage. Please be aware & respectful of other towpath users.

Entries 

Entries Must be made by midnight on Friday 28th March to be early entries. Entries after that will still be possible up to 9-30 am on race day but would then be counted as late entries and would incur an additional late entry fee of £5.00.  Early entries are £15-00 for seniors and £10-00 for juniors.  Entries should be made on line and paid for using STRIPE.   Entry for the Geoff Sanders doubles races will be free for those that have entered the singles race.  Entries will only be possible from paddlers whose name is on the British Canoeing Marathon Ranking List / website and are current members on the day of the race (or take out British Canoeing on the water membership on the day of the race) will be allowed to race.

Safety All paddlers who are ranked in divisions 7, 8 or 9 or are unranked MUST wear an approved buoyancy aid.  All Geoff Sanders race paddlers MUST wear an approved buoyancy aid.  All paddlers racing in division 7, 8 or 9 classes MUST wear an approved buoyancy aid.   A buoyancy aid is advisable for all paddlers.  Buoyancy aids may be made compulsory for all paddlers on the day if the weather and river conditions warrant this. (So all competitors are advised to bring a buoyancy aid with them) .  See Marathon rule book.

Paddlers must take great care to avoid collisions with any other river users.

It is the duty of the team leader or person making the entry to the event to determine whether the paddler is sufficiently capable of completing the course in the type of boat entered and for the river and weather conditions on the day.  Canoeing and kayaking is by its nature an unpredictable sport and therefore involves an element of risk.  An entry for the event must have taken this into account.

All boats must have buoyancy at both the front and rear sufficient to support the boat and paddlers should the boat fill with water.   See marathon rule book.  

Paddlers retiring from races must let the organisers know as soon as possible after their retirement.

Miscellaneous points

Paddle UK Marathon Racing Committee rules will be used for the event.

All boats must have a white number plate showing their race number on both sides. This must be supplied by the paddler.

Toilets, showers and changing rooms are available at the NKC clubhouse.

Light refreshments will be available to purchase and a free drink and biscuits available for competitors.

The Canal and Rivers Trust (CRT) are fighting a battle against the spread of invasive plant species such as Japanese Knotweed, Himalayan Balsam, Giant Hogweed and Floating Pennywort in the canal and river system in the country.                                    Pictures on the CRT website show the effect that the spread of these plants can have on our waterways.  To aid them in this will you please wash and dry your boat before bringing it to Nottingham and again on your return home after the race before going on any other waterways.                     

Assistance could be provided for paddlers with disabilities for access and egress to the water but please contact the club in advance to discuss what help will be needed.  There are steps near to the start line down to the water’s edge.  For the divisions 7- 9 courses there are no portages.  Paddlers doing the div 1-6 course who have such difficulties would be allowed to paddle past the portage.  

Further information will be available on the NKC website the week prior to the event