Thameside 1 2025

Please be aware when planning your travel that Junction 12 of the M4 will be closed the weekend of TS1. You may want to plan an alternative route and allow extra time as traffic through Reading is often affected.

Starting from Aldermaston Bridge, Thameside 1 is a time trial down the Kennet & Avon Canal, onto River Kennet, through Reading town centre onto the River Thames. A left turn where the mouth of the Kennet meets the Thames takes competitors upstream and over Caversham Lock, finishing upstream of Caversham Bridge at Reading Canoe Club on the right hand bank. Paddlers will then be required to turn downstream and exit the river on the side of Reading Promenade.

Start Window 09:45 to 11:45 - 1 minute intervals - batches up to 3

Finish Window 12:30 - anyone arriving before 12:30, will not get a result

Parking / Facilities

Pre-event parking in the British Rail car park at Aldermaston station, if you are using local roads to park please be very consdierate to locals and consider when parking whether you're causing any obstruction for emergency services (if the answer is yes then please find seomewhere else more suitable to park). Please note that facilities at Aldermaston are very limited - toilets are provided in the garden of the Aldermaston Tea Rooms - only customers of the cafe should use the inside toilet.

Post-event parking will be limited, there are a number of car parks near the Prom in Reading or on the other side of Richfield Avenue, you may need to drop boats and paddlers by the Rowing CLub and then park elsewhere. RCC asks that you park legally and considerately. 

There will be toilets and food available at the finish.

*Please note the race will finish outside of Reading Canoe Club as always however paddlers will then turn and exit the river on the opposite bank at Reading Promenade - please arrange boats to be collected from this side of the river. There will be strictly no access to Reading Canoe Club and no boat pick ups/drop offs from here. This is due to a recent change in parking along the length of the clubs boundary wall I.E. there is no parking available.

Approximate total distance: 12 miles
Portages: 13 

• Entries can only be made online this year. NO ENTRIES WILL BE ACCEPTED AFTER 12.00 ON THE SATURDAY PRECEDING THE RACE

• Early bird entries will be accepted until 23.59 on the Thursday preceding the race you are entering

• Comprehensive BC membership is required. Please bring your card on the day

• Those without proof of BC membership will be charged £5 for an event day ticket

• Entry fees include Thames Licences, light refreshments and the use of shower and changing facilities at finishing points.

Classes

• Juniors must be under 19 on 1st January {race year}

• Veterans must be aged 35 or over on 1st January {race year}

• A Junior/Veteran boat must be made up of paddlers from both classes. 

Prizes

At the finish of each race, prizes will be awarded as follows:

1st place in all classes, 2nd place where five or more starters, 3rd place where ten or more starters

Parking

There is strictly no parking at Reading Canoe Club/on The Warren - there has been fencing erected along the wall that runs along the Warren which means turning space is also limited in terms of drop offs/pick ups. 

If you are planning on bringing a trailer of boats please contact us via email before the day of the race so we can arrange a suitable time and manage the number of vehicles on The Warren at any one time.

Safety

• Canoeing​ ​and​ ​Kayaking​ ​in​ ​all​ ​its​ ​forms​ ​is​ ​an​ ​‘Assumed​ ​Risk​ ​–​ ​Water​ ​Contact’​ ​sport.​ ​The organisers​ ​have​ ​done​ ​their​ ​very​ ​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.

• Competitors and team leaders should note that competitors participate at their own risk, and that Reading Canoe Club cannot be held responsible for any loss or injury to person or property however caused.

• Team leaders must bring to the race organiser's attention any paddlers that are known to suffer with medical conditions that could adversely affect their safety. The race organizer will then decide what, if any, extra control measures to put in place to ensure the safety of the paddler.

• The course is open to others and you must be mindful of all others, and courteous, whether they are competitors/supporters/general public, on and off the water

• Competitors must provide support to any other paddler in distress to a level that doesn't put themelves at increased risk. At a minimum they should raise the attention of one of the safety boats or marshals along the course. 

• The rules of the river/waterway should be observed at all times. 

• The River 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. 

Kit Requirements 

• In the event of cold weather, paddlers considered by the race organisers to be too lightly dressed will not be permitted to take part. The safety marshalʼs decision in this matter will be final. 

Buoyancy aids

• All paddlers under the age of 16 years on 1st January in the year of the race must wear a buoyancy aid or life jacket.

• Division 7-9 paddlers must​ wear buoyancy aids, regardless of the class entered

• It is recommended that all other paddlers wear a buoyancy aid or life jacket and dress appropriately, since river conditions can be adverse at this time of the year and we may declare on race day it is compulsory for ALL classes, ALL paddlers

Boat Buoyancy 

• All boats must carry sufficient buoyancy secured in both ends to support their own weight plus that of crew members in the water, e.g. inflated airbags or fixed buoyancy blocks. Boats may be inspected before the start and any boats not meeting the requirements will not be allowed to race. 

Retirements 

All paddlers who fail to finish must report this, with their boat number, to a marshal. Alternatively report to race control on 07727 262925

General conduct

Littering is not acceptable at any site related to the event, nor on the river. Any paddlers or their support crew seen to be littering should be reported to race organisers and risk disqualification from the race.

Please be polite and respectful to anyone you come across in the duration of the event including spectators or pedestrians using the tow paths. 

Please encourage and support all racers