Race CATEGORIES and StaRT ORDER
3.1 Composite club crews
The Hawthorn Rowing Club has created a class to run in the Masters bracket for rowers of any age, specifically for composite crews.
The crews will be handicapped according to handicaps for Male and Female for the A age group, and one set of medals will be awarded for the entire class.
The Hawthorn Rowing Club reserves the right to reclassify entry from the Open classes if it sees fit in the interest of high quality racing.
3.2 Youth club crews, Composite School/Club crews
The Hawthorn Rowing Club will allow composite school and/or club crews to enter School events at a level determined by discussion prior to the closing date.
The Hawthorn Rowing Club reserves the right to refuse entry, reclassify entries or reallocate crews after the finish of the race if it sees fit.
Clubs and schools considering entering a composite junior crew should contact the Hawthorn Rowing Club in good time to allow a planned allocation.
Entries for School/Club composites should be made at least 8 weeks before the regatta.
In following years, the entering School/Club will hold a ranking position in the same manner as for sole School/Club crews.
3.3 Remainder crews
The Hawthorn Rowing Club will allow composite school and/or club "remainder" crews to enter School events at the level of their choosing.
The Hawthorn Rowing Club reserves the right to refuse entry, reclassify entries or reallocate crews after the finish of the race if it sees fit.
Clubs and schools considering entering a composite "remainder" junior crew should contact the Hawthorn Rowing Club in good time to allow a planned allocation. Any "remainder" crews, including late entries, will be ranked at the very back of the class in order of entry.
3.4 Race categories and Likely start order for 2021
Note event entry is via ROWING MANAGER The sections and eligibility table below should be referenced when making your entry.
3.5 Sections and Eligibility
3.6 Para Rowing
Athletes wanting to compete in the Para8+ event must hold a Rowing Australia provisional or National Class-action. If you wish to compete in the Head of the Yarra as a para athlete but are unsure of your classification please contact Gordan Marcks of Rowing Australia at gmarks@rowingaustralia.com.au . All other enquiries should be directed to Penny Vogan at hoy-enq@hawthornrowingclub.com
3.7 Coxswains
For you planning please note that it will not be possible to accommodate requests to move crews to the rear of the grid to facilitate boat/coxswain recycling. This is an outcome of racing the Head of the Yarra in race categories.
3.8 Masters CrEWS HANDICAPs
Masters crews are generally placed in the age category corresponding to the average age of the crew attained during the current year. The following handicaps are based on the Australian Masters handicaps. The 1km handicap is multiplied by 8, which is the length of the Head of the Yarra course.
Based on Rowing Australia amended Appendix 10. Masters Handicap Tables as at June 2021.
Age Categories & Corresponding Handicaps
4.0 Grid Positions
4.1. Ranking Process
The Hawthorn Rowing Club wishes to implement a transparent ranking system for the Head of the Yarra race order. It is recognised that a starting position at the front of a class is an advantage for a crew.
The entries will close for ranking purposes 6 weeks before the raceday. Any questions regarding ranking should be directed to hoyentries@hawthornrowingclub.com.
Any errors in application of the following rules detected after publication of the draw should referred to regattas@rowingvictoria.asn.au by the entering club.
Ranking will be based on the entering club’s previous year’s Head of the Yarra result for each class. If there was no entry for that club in that category in the previous year, then the entry is randomly assigned after the allocation of places to clubs which had raced the previous year.
If there are any composite school crews nominated as remainder crews, then they will start at the very end of the category, after any class changes, if any. The entering club will rank multiple crews in each class 1, 2, 3 etc. with 1 being the highest ranking.
Composite crews will form part of the entering club’s entries for that class. The decision on which club should submit entries is at the discretion of the clubs. Clubs must only enter for their own club or composite. Clubs must not enter for another club which does not have the entering club’s crews rowing, even if Rowing Manager allows this action.
The ranking choice is made by the entering club, by ordering 1, 2, 3 etc. at entry. If no ranking is received, the earliest entry, as determined by Rowing Victoria, will be ranked highest.
The Head of the Yarra Organising Committee reserves the right to provide preferential ranking for international and representative first-time crews based upon their expected performance.
Results are not transferable between classes. For example, a winner in an E age group does not become first in an F age group as the crew ages. The club retains the ranking in E, or inherits a club ranking in F, or joins the random assortment after ranking of previously competing clubs in that age group.
Any changes to class of crews after the 6 weeks prior closing date will result in loss of ranking and starting from the back of the new class. The order at the back of the class will be determined by the time of receipt of changed entries.
There will be no planned break in the starting sequence of a class to ensure that there is no unfair advantage caused by increased separation of boats within a class
4.2. SUMMARY OF THE RANKING PROCESs
Once all returning club entries have been allocated in order of last year’s result, then the remainder of on time entries will be randomly allocated to the following starting places. Following this, changed entries will be added in order of date of change, together with any late entries
4.3. IMPORTANT ADVICE FOR CLUBS
The ordering decision is made by the entering club. There needs to be control within the club of the process, and independent entries should not be allowed.
Clubs should decide whether to enter composite crews if they then compete with rankings of solely club crews.
It is very important to enter crews correctly before the closing date. Starting at the back of a large class could be a significant impediment to winning that class.