Rowing SafetyRowing Classes
Induction
Novice rowing is where you start. Induction and basic sessions currently takes place on Sunday afternoon from 2pm until 4pm. It is beneficial for instructors and pupils if you attend regularly to quickly gain competence.
Personal Equipment & Clothing
Seasonal comfortable clothing designed for the sport is recommended. Bulky anoraks make it difficult to row but waterproofs are good in our climate.
Competitive rowers must wear the same ‘kit’ as the rest of the crew and preferably when representing the Belfast Boat Club they should wear club colours supporting the clubs badge. Many of us obtain kit from - www.powerhousesport.com
COXES ARE EXPECTED TO WEAR LIFE JACKETS, PROVIDED BY THE CLUB. THIS IS MANDITORY AT COMPETITIVE EVENTS.
Rowing is about learning and developing technique. Good technique with physic will make a good oarsman or women. Size does matter, but size without technique is nothing!
The categories shown below are related to your age and your success on the water, i.e. wins!
The classes for men and women, they are follows:
a) Senior - Open to all
b) Lightweight Rowing
Lightweights shall be classified as follows:
The average weight of a men’s crew (excluding coxswain) shall not exceed 70 kg. No individual oarsman shall weigh more that 72.5 kg. A single sculler (male) shall not weigh more than 72.5 kg. For women the average weight of a crew (excluding coxswain) shall not exceed 57 kg. No individual oarswoman shall weigh more than 59kg. A single sculler (female) shall not weigh more than 59 kg.
Lightweight Competitors shall he weighed, wearing at least bathing trunks or a swimsuit, on tested scales not less than one hour and not more than two hours before their first heat on each day of competition. If their first heat is subsequently postponed or cancelled, the lightweight rower is not required to weigh in again on the same day.
Lightweight rowing events may he held only in senior classes.
Intermediate Rowing
Confined to individuals who have not won more than six events at Regattas in any of the following classes:- Senior, Intermediate and Lightweight.
An Individual who has won a Senior, Lightweight or Intermediate Championship of Ireland may not compete at the Intermediate Class.
An individual qualified as an Intermediate may compete until the 31st December of the year in which he/she has sufficient wins to cease being an Intermediate. After winning the sixth event, the individual may compete at Intermediate Level until the season is complete.
An individual, whilst still a Junior, but competing at Senior, Lightweight and Intermediate and winning, is using the part or all of the six wins permitted.
A Junior Rower, who wins one, or more than one, event at Junior 18A or Junior B at Regattas, enters Intermediate Class rated zero wins.
An individual who commences a season as a Novice and wins, may complete the season as a Novice. Subsequent Novice wins do not affect Intermediate Class.
An individual moving to Intermediate Class with only Novice, Junior 18 A, Junior 18 B wins enters Intermediate Class rated zero wins.
d) Novice Rowing
Confined to individuals who have not won more than one event at a Regatta in any of the following classes:- Senior, Intermediate, Novice, Lightweight Junior 18A and Junior 18B
An Individual who has won any Senior, Lightweight, Intermediate, Novice or Junior Championship of Ireland may not compete at the Novice Class. Competitors who have reached senior status in one discipline (rowing or sculling) may not compete at novice level in the other discipline
A Novice may compete until 31st December of the year in which he/she wins for the second time in one of the aforementioned categories.
An individual, whilst still a Junior may move out of the Novice class by winning at Senior, Lightweight, Intermediate or Novice.
Competition as a Coxswain, or in Junior 16 or younger events does not count.
e) Junior Rowing (Up to age 18 years)
A competitor ceases to be a Junior on the 31st December of the year in which he/she reaches the age of eighteen years. The following Junior categories apply:-
Junior 18 A: A competitor who qualifies under the age limit above.
Junior 18 B: A competitor who has never won a Senior event or a Lightweight Senior event. Note: A Junior 18 B moves to Junior 18 A ten days after his/her first win at Senior (including Lightweight, Senior).
Junior 16: A competitor who has not attained the age of sixteen years before the 1st January of the year of competition.
Junior 15: A competitor who has not attained the age of fifteen years before the 1st January of the year of competition.
Junior 14: A competitor who has not attained the age of fourteen years before the 1st January of the year of competition.
Junior 12: A competitor who has not attained the age of twelve years before the 1st January of the year of competition.
Any person under fourteen years of age on the 1st January in the year of competition, may only compete in races under The IARU rules as a sculler or coxswain.
Masters Rowing
A rower may compete as a Master from the beginning of the year during which he attains the age of 27.
A Masters rower shall be placed in the age category corresponding to the age he or she attains during the current year.
Age Categories:
A Minimum Age: 27 years or more
B Average Age: 36 years or more
C Average Age: 43 years or more
D Average Age: 50 years or more
E Average Age: 55 years or more
F Average Age: 60 years or more
G Average Age: 65 years or more
H Average Age: 70 years or more
Age categories do not apply to coxwains. Each competitor shall be responsible for his/her own health and fitness.
IARU RULES
www.iaru.ie
REGISTRATION
The Belfast Boat Club is affiliated to The Irish Amateur Rowing Union (IARU).
To take part in any official competitions, Heads of the River or Regatta’s being run under the Rules of the IARU it is mandatory for member of the BBC crews to be registered with them.
ALL THOSE WHO COX ARE EXPECTED TO WEAR LIFE JACKETS, PROVIDED BYTHE CLUB. THIS IS MANDITORY AT COMPETITIVE EVENTS.