Richmond Hasler 2025

ENTRIES:

Canoe Marathon - Richmond Hasler 2025

Richmond Canoe Club are pleased to welcome paddlers back for our annual race on the River Thames at Ham, Richmond-upon-Thames. This year, we are pleased to introduce a new Stand-Up Paddleboarding (SUP) category to our lineup!

Parking/ Directions

Directions from Richmond: follow road signs to Petersham/Kingston, then brown signs for Ham House to the car park or signs for CANOE RACE

For Satnav, use postcode TW10 7RS. This will take you to the Ham House stables and then straight to the race parking.

Parking will be available on the Ham Riverside Pitches, turn left after passing Ham House stables. Access is controlled by lockable barriers, which will be locked at 15:00 so all cars must have vacated the area by this time. Please do not park in the main car park by the river, as this is for use by visitors to Ham House.

Schedule

• 09.00 Check-in opens
• 09:45 Briefing for all Geoff Sanders Mini K1 and K2
• 10:00 Geoff Sanders Mini K1 and K2 starts
• 10:45 Briefing for all other races
• 11:00-11:30 Hasler Divisional and SUP Starts at approx 1-min intervals
• 14:00 (or as soon as possible) Prizegiving

Start Order - Provisional

Starts may be combined depending on entries

• Division 2 K2
• Division 1 K1
• Division 3 K2
• Division 2 K1
• Division 3 K1
• Division 4 K2
• Division 5 K2
• Division 4 K1
• Division 6 K2
• Division 5 K1
• Division 6 K1
• Division 7 K2
• Division 8 K2
• Division 7 K1
• Division 9 K2
• Division 8 K1
• Division 9 K1

Courses

Hasler Divisional courses will be based on a 6.5km circuit between Glovers Island (downstream race starts) and Teddington Lock.

• Divisions 1-3 - 3 laps
• Divisions 4-6 - 2 laps
• Divisions 7-9 - 1 lap
• SUP - 1 lap

There are no portages.

Starts and Finishes will be facing downstream at Ham Riverside Car Park. There will be a dedicated finish lane, which you must enter to record your time. Please do not enter the finishing lane on any other preceding laps!

Geoff Sanders Under 14 races will race a 4km course around Glovers Island and Eel Pie Island.

SUP

SUP's are welcome to particiapte in the Hasler. There will not be a seperate SUP division, SUP's should enter and race within the hasler divisions. Participants will need to make a self assesment for a suitable division to enter and race in based on speed and desired distance. Please email marathon@richmondcanoe if you're unsure. Paddlers in division 7, 8 and 9 and juniors will be required to wear a bouyancy aid. Use of a leash from the SUP to your ankle/ waist is strongly recommended due to the tidal Thames conditions. 

Food & Drink

After the races, light refreshments will be provided for all competitors. Other food and drink will be available for purchase.

Prizes

Prizes will be provided for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place in each divisional race and all Geoff Sanders series races. 

Facilities

Portaloos will be available on-site, but we regret that no showers or changing facilities will be available. If you require disabled parking or toilet facilities, please email us in advance.

Results

Provisional results will be published live on www.richmondcanoeclub.com on the day in a mobile-accessible format. Final results will be published on the club website and the Marathon Canoeing site within 7 days following the race.

Race notes

• This event will be under the Marathon Racing Rules, per the 2024 Handbook.
• Number Boards London & South East region number boards will be supplied to all competitors and must be used.
• Buoyancy Aids are compulsory for all paddlers ranked in Divisions 7, 8 and 9, irrespective of the class entered. This applies across age categories and in singles and doubles.
• All juniors must wear buoyancy aids, except for paddlers ranked in Division 6 and above, for whom the paddler’s Team Leader or parent has agreed that a buoyancy aid need not be worn. Where this is the case, the team leader/ parent must sign a waiver form at the check-in desk to exempt juniors whom they consider not to wear buoyancy aids. Juniors who have not been exempted by their team leader/ parent and who attempt to start without a buoyancy aid will be immediately disqualified. Team leaders should decide if other paddlers should wear them according to prevailing conditions. The race organisers may request that all or some paddlers, in addition to the above may need to wear buoyancy aids; the race organisers’ decision is final.
• Team leaders/individuals must also bring to the race organisers’ attention any competitors who are known to suffer from medical conditions that could adversely affect their safety. The race organiser will then decide what, if any, extra control measures to put in place to ensure the safety of these competitors.
• Boat Buoyancy: Competitors must render their boats sufficiently buoyant to remain afloat and support the crew in rough water in the event of a capsize. Marshalls may inspect boats at any time for adequate buoyancy. The penalty for any non-compliant boat is the disqualification of the crew.
• Retirements: All competitors who fail to finish must report to a Marshal and inform them of their boat number and the fact that they have retired.
• Briefing: All competitors must attend the race briefing on the day, where up-to-date course information, hazards and obstructions will be made available, in addition to reading this briefing document.
• Starts: All boats must be on the water at least 10 minutes before the advertised start time. 

Important Safety Notes

The race organisers reserve the right to CANCEL the event up to and including on the day in the case of an incident, emergency or conditions. We will do our best to notify team leaders, but please check the website for the latest information.

Should circumstances require the ABANDONMENT of the race whilst in progress, the following procedure will apply and will be strictly adhered to: 

Crews on hearing continuous short blasts on air horns and/or seeing marshals waving red flags will immediately STOP. They will wait for a marshal to instruct them on how and where to proceed. Crews must be aware that other crews may not have heard or seen the warnings and must pass on instructions to any such crew they see still racing.

Depending on crews’ locations, whether or not the Race has started, and the number of crews still being marshalled, they may be asked to paddle to a specified get-out point or turn towards one of the banks and await further instructions.

Competitors should be aware that the River Thames can be busy with pleasure cruisers, rowers, and other craft. They must be mindful of these and other hazards. Competitors must also follow all instructions from the Port of London Authority crew, Thames Lock Keepers, Environment Agency Officials, and Race Marshals.

Below Teddington Lock, the river is semi-tidal and experiences two tides a day. As a consequence, this may make the access area and banks slippery. Care should be taken while getting in and out. High water is expected at 03:37 BST and again at 16:01 BST, with low water at 10:43 BST. The racing will occur between high water times when there is no tidal flow (only river flow).

Competitors must support any other paddler in distress and should attempt to raise the attention of one of the safety boats or Marshals along the course.

The Tidal Thames can experience sudden increases in pollution, especially after heavy rainfall. Any paddler who feels ill after the race should draw this to the attention of their medical practitioner.

Canoeing and Kayaking in all its forms is an ‘Assumed Risk – Water Contact’ sport. The organisers have done their best to provide a safe racing environment, but competitors are reminded of their duty of care to themselves and all other competitors. Safety is a shared responsibility.

Please use this telephone number to report any emergencies on the day – 07498012816. Please do not use this for any other purposes.