Oxford City Royal Regatta & Sprint
Saturday 21st and Sunday 22nd August 2004

Introduction

The Oxford City Royal Regatta is organized annually by the City of Oxford Rowing Club and affiliated to the Amateur Rowing Association. It is one of the oldest regattas in the country, with trophies dating back to 1841. The current course is 1000 m downstream on the Isis, starting at Christ Church Meadows just below Folly Bridge and finishing at Long Bridges. The event now extends over two days to incorporate a Sprint Regatta on Sunday over a 500 m course, starting opposite Oxford University Boat Club and finishing at Long Bridges.

The new two-day format proves to be very popular. This year we welcome competitors from 60 clubs from the UK, Ireland and the Netherlands, among them crews from Oxford’s Twin Town, Leiden. 510 crews have been accommodated in 113 events over the two days, with a total of 400 races scheduled to run at 2-3 minute intervals between 9.00 am and 6.30 pm each day. This is intentionally scaled down from last year’s record entry to ensure that the racing programme keeps to schedule.

Clubs participating in ARA open events are eligible to compete for two Victor Ludorum prizes, a Senior prize of £750 and commemorative trophy for the most successful visiting club in Senior and Veteran events over the two days of competition, and a new Junior prize of £300 and a commemorative trophy for the most successful club in Junior events over two days. The Junior prize was generously donated by the Henley Schools’ Head of the River Race, and is not restricted to visiting clubs.

The 2004 Regatta incorporates a number of special events:

• The Fire & Rescue Services Boat Race (Saturday 4.00 pm.)
  An Oxford v Cambridge Boat Race between crews from the Oxfordshire and Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Services. The event is a memorial to Steve Vermeulen, an Oxfordshire firefighter who tragically passed away last year after battling a brain tumour. It has also been a catalyst for raising money for Sobell House Hospice Charity, which works tirelessly for terminally ill people in the Oxford area. Both crews have been training for months, so please give them a big cheer and visit their ‘pitch’ near the finish and make a donation to a very worthy cause.
  
• The Invitation Corporate Eights Challenge (Saturday).
  An event for absolute beginners sponsored by local companies to learn to row and compete in a regatta within 8 weeks. This year, Darbys Solicitors and Harley Davidson Motor Company will compete for the Trophy in the best of three races.
  
• The Invitation Corporate Eights Sprint (Sunday).An event for crews whose members have gained experience of rowing through having participated in previous Corporate Eights Challenges.
  
• The Invitation Adaptive Sculls (Sunday). Single sculling events for disabled rowers organized in collaboration with Oxford Adaptive Rowing Club.
  
• A Sprint Indoor Rowing Competition (Saturday & Sunday) open to all comers, with separate competitions for rowers and non-rowers.

The Regatta is free to spectators on the towpath. Refreshments will be available each day from the refreshment tent near the Finish at Long Bridges and from the club bar at the City Boathouse on Meadow Lane. In addition hot breakfast will be available from the clubhouse between 7.30 am and 10.00 am on Saturday and Sunday mornings, and a Disco will be held in the City Boathouse on Saturday night starting at 8.00 pm. Tickets are £3 in advance, available from the tea tents and the club bar, or at the door.

Finally, for anyone looking for last-minute inspiration, the Olympic rowing finals will be replayed on a large screen in the club bar throughout the weekend; and for anyone in need of solace after an early exit from the day’s competition, retail therapy is provided in the form of official Regatta T-shirts on sale at the tea tents and in the bar.
 

Umpires

Individuals

Steve Gaisford, Julian Money, Mark Pottle, Jim Ronaldson, Tom Rose,
            Mike Sheridan, Rachel Shaw, Ailsa Thom

Organizations

Abingdon Rowing Club, Hertford College Boat Club Society, 22^nd Oxford Sea Scouts , Christ Church, Oxford City Council, The Riverside Centre, Environment Agency, Oxford University First Aid Unit  

Sponsors

ACS Architects, BigBlade Rowing Photographs, Blackwells Publishing,
D & A Autos Witney, Darbys Solicitors, David Fisher Photography, Four Pillars Hotels,  Hands on Therapies, Harley Davidson, Mediterranean Fish Bar, Oxera Consulting, Oxprint, PA Consulting, RAF Croughton, The Rowing Service, R.T. Harris & Son, Smiths Bletchington, The Tree Hotel Iffley, Unique Bodies Gym, A.R. Wentworth (Sheffield)

And last, but not least

           The members of City of Oxford RC.