When you have decided on your role, please fill in the volunteer form.
Which role (2018)
Raft set up:
Usually Friday evening from about 17.30, lasting approximately 2 hours. Jobs include:
- Unbolting the club rafts and storing securely, ready to be moved across to Riverside Meadows on Saturday morning.
- Getting additional raft sections from storage and putting them together, storing them securely, ready to be moved across to Riverside Meadows on Saturday morning.
- Putting signs up around town to direct HoR traffic.
And then Saturday morning from 05.30 onwards, lasting approximately 2-3 hours. The main task is to ferry rafts across the river from the club to Riverside Meadows and secure them all into place. This needs to be done efficiently and smoothly so as to be in place by the time the first crews arrive.
Use the Notes (“foibles”) section to indicate if you can only do part of this.
Car Parking: From 06.30 onwards. Can require a firm but polite approach with drivers with regards to where they can/cannot park. Only cars carrying boats will be permitted in the Riverside car park. All non-towing vehicles must use the car park at South Oxfordshire District Council (S.O.D.C.) offices. Volunteers are needed in the following places:
- In SODC car park to oversee parking
- Next to the traffic lights on the Town Bridge to monitor vehicles entering Riverside car park.
- In Riverside car park to ensure that cars and trailers are all parked prettily and appropriately.
Saturday pm clear-up: From approx. 17.00 – as soon as the last crew has landed and The Chairman’s Barge is back.
- Rafts will need to be unbolted and ferried back to the club where they will need to be secured back into place. If you are unavailable to help during the day, this may be a job for you.
- Litter duty and general tidy up of car-parking area. Help to pack away catering supplies and transport relevant items back to the club.
Launches: From approx. 09.00 onwards with a brief meeting first. This is a difficult role to fill so if you are able to drive a launch, please consider this role first, and please note in the foibles box if you hold an RYA2 license. Volunteers are needed to drive launches; they may carry an Umpire, and they may act as Race Monitors. Some roles will simply require you to moor up to your position and be aware of any hazards during racing, others will be required to follow races. Div 1 starts at 11.00, Div 2 starts at 14.45, Div 3 starts at 15.00.
Race Monitors (formerly known as Bank Marshals): From approx. 09.00 with a brief meeting first. A team of volunteers are required to monitor crews as they head to the Start and be aware of any hazards before and during racing. Race Monitors may have to also politely inform cruisers of HoR event and request their co-operation where necessary. Race Monitors will be positioned along the course of the river and each will have a radio. Some Race Monitors will be in pairs. Warm kit, wellies and something to sit on are advised. A kind but sometimes firm instruction can be required with some crews.
Start Marshals: From approx. 09.00 with a brief meeting first. Volunteers will be positioned above the Start Line and will marshal crews into their relevant numbered positions, prior to racing. Start Marshals will also inform crews when to sort out kit ‘ready to race’ and will advise crews on when to turn their boats.
Rescue Car: One located on the bank at South Stoke opposite the Beetle and Wedge, and another at Cholsey Ferry. These volunteers will need their own cars, to collect any scullers who fall in before the start (they will be brought to the bank by launch) and return them to the boating area by road.
Start Timing: From approx. 09:00. Volunteers are required at the start of the race to time crews as they pass the Start Line, note the order in which they go past and note any other relevant details. A clear head and good eyesight are important along with a calm approach! The Start team will be required to move to the shortened course Start Line for Div 2, before returning to the longer course Start Line for Div 3. Further details to follow in due course.
Intermediate Timing: From approx. 10.00 onwards and located at Oxford Brookes. Similar to finish timing: Volunteers are required to call out the order of the crews and time them as they pass, and note any other relevant details. A clear head and good eyesight are important along with a calm approach!
Finish Timing: From approx. 10.45 onwards and located at the Finish Line next to OUBC. Volunteers are required to call out the order of the crews as they finish, time the crews as they cross the line and note any other relevant details. A clear head and good eyesight are important along with a calm approach!
Results: To work with Ben Townsend after each of the Divisions to analyse data to produce race results in super-speedy time, with a view to taking on this role for future events.
Medical Officer: Whilst St. John Ambulance (or similar) will be on hand to offer First Aid if required, a Medical Officer is required throughout the day to offer advice as and when needed. The Medical Officer is normally located near to Registration or on Rafts.
Rafts: From 08.30 onwards. Volunteers are required to help crews boat in time for their race, holding the boat whilst they get in and then helping them to push off the raft. Collecting their blades as they join the rafts will also assist in the smooth running of boating. When crews return from races, some may need guidance to ‘land’ safely, particularly if there is a strong wind. Volunteers should also help move blades from the boating area.
Catering: From approx. 06.00. Volunteers needed to serve and sell: hot and cold drinks, cakes, crisps, chocolate and hot food. A dedicated team to work well under pressure, feeding and watering a nation of hungry competitors, coaches and spectators!
When you have decided on your role, please fill in the volunteer form.