Rowing: 4s & 8s Head 2024-25

Saturday 22^nd and Sunday 23^rd February 2025

ENTRY OPENING DATE

Tuesday 7 January 2025

STAGE 1 ENTRY CLOSING DATE

Thursday 6 February 2025 at 11:59pm – Institution Administrator (IA) Entry Deadline (Boats must be created/added (including reserve list boats)

Tuesday 11 February 2025 at 11:59pm - Student/Competitor Application Deadline (Individuals must have entered and joined a boat by this deadline)

Thursday 13 February 2025 at 11:59pm – Student/Competitor Application and IA Approval Deadline (Students must have joined their boat category and been approved/moved into their boat/squad on BUCS Play by this deadline)

Reserve competitors must be entered online via BUCS Play within the ‘reserve list’ boat before the entry closing date. 

There is no cost for submitting competitors to the reserve list. Institutions are strongly encouraged to fully utilise the submission of a reserve list.

ENTRY COSTS

£75 per 4s Boat

£150 per 8s Boat

(Coxes & reserve boats are free)

ENTRY ALLOWANCE

The number of boats accepted into the competition will be at the discretion of the BUCS Rowing Event Management Group (EMG).
If entries exceed this number priority will be given to:

• One boat entry per institution per category (prior to allowing a second boat entry)
• Championship categories (BUCS points eligible) 

Institutions may submit an unlimited number of entries onto the reserve boat which may be used for substitutions in advance of the competition starting.

ENTRY PROCESS

To apply for this competition:

1. Entries will need to be submitted via the team entries section of our online entry system, BUCS Play (Instructions on how to do this can be found here). Students/Competitors will not be able to apply for their boat unless an Institution Administrator has entered the relevant boat on BUCS Play.
2. Please speak to your IA as they will need to enter the correct number of teams/ boats for you.
3. Competitors then need to apply for the respective event. (Instructions on how to do this can be found here)
4. IAs must assign competitors to the correct team/ boat during the approval process. (Instructions on how to do this can be found here)

Any data will be handled in accordance with BUCS Privacy Policy

By participating in this event you agree to adhere to BUCS General Event Disclaimer

To check whether you are eligible to compete in BUCS competitions, please visit REG 4 Individual Eligibility.

RULES AND REGULATIONS

COMPETITION FORMAT

• approx. 3,000m for beginner crews.
• approx. 5,000m for intermediate and championship crews.

The course is a tidal river. The course may be altered if inclement weather conditions are predicted or occur on the day.

The competition will consist of the following boat categories for ‘open’ and women:

• Beginner 4x
• Beginner 4+
• Beginner 8+

• Intermediate 4x
• Intermediate 4+
• Intermediate 8+
• Intermediate Lightweight 4x

• Championship 4x
• Championship 4-
• Championship 4+
• Championship 8+
• Championship Lightweight 4-

N.B any category which does not receive at least 4 entries will not be held, and entries will not be charged for.

BOAT LICENSING

Licenses are not required for competition on the River Tyne.

BOAT HIRE

There is the opportunity to hire boats from the local rowing clubs.
These will be available on a first come first served basis. 

PARA SPORT

Rowing encourages entries from all students and whilst there are no specific para / adaptive categories at BUCS Head – provision can sometimes be made for students to join crew boats. Please speak to your Institution in the first instance.

WITHDRAWALS & SUBSTITUTIONS

Institutions can only make substitutions to their boats from competitors included on the reserve lists or included in another crew.

The reserve boat must be entered via BUCS Play before the entry closing date (Tuesday 11 February 2025 at 23:59). Institutions cannot make substitutions directly via BUCS Play.

Upon close of entries, club representatives (Coach/Captain/President) will be required to register for the competition management system where they will be able to administer their crews and make substitutions.

Withdrawal of boats after the entry closing date (Thursday 13 February 2025) will still be charged the entry fee as per our BUCS Withdrawal Policy.

Please note that all scratches / withdrawals must be made online by the institution rowing club captain or coach. Crews who do not withdraw, and do not compete at the event, will be classified as a ‘no-show’ and charged the entry fee and an additional £20 fine payable by the athletic union or students’ union as detailed in BUCS Withdrawal Policy.

If a crew wishes to withdraw on the day, they should scratch using the system a minimum of 60 minutes before the published start time of their division. Failure to do so may result in the boat being classed as a ‘no-show’ and the additional fine being imposed, as detailed above.

Competitors should also inform their institution they have withdrawn from the competition.

MEDALS AND BUCS POINTS

Gold, silver and bronze medals will be awarded to the top 3 finishing crews in all boat categories.

The following BUCS points are available in Championship categories only:

• 1st:  12 points       
• 2nd: 8 points
• 3rd:  6 points
• 4th:  4 points                                          

As per Rowing (5) Multiple Championship entries are permitted from one institution/Playing Entity, with medals awarded to the top 3 crews as applicable, but only the highest placed crew will receive BUCS Points.

Overall team points are available for the top Open teams and Women’s teams based on an institution’s placing in the final respective Victor Ludorum (VL) standings. The following points are available:

• 1st: 20 points
• 2nd: 14 points
• 3rd: 10 points
• 4th: 7 points
• 5th: 5 points
• 6th: 3 points
• 7th: 2 points
• 8th: 1 point

VICTOR LUDORUM (VL) STANDINGS

Are calculated based upon how each institution places in races in Championship, Intermediate and Beginner categories. Points are awarded according to the following placements in each category.

PHOTOGRAPHY & VIDEOGRAPHY

Anyone wishing to take photos or video at this event must complete the BUCS Media Accreditation Form prior to the event.

BUCS reserves the right to prohibit photography equipment being used at a BUCS event. BUCS reserves the right to request that the individual ceases to take photographs, deletes any images and, if considered necessary, leaves the venue.

If you wish to take photos or videos at this event, please contact the BUCS Event Lead. 

SAFEGUARDING AT BUCS EVENTS

BUCS’ mission is to provide exceptional student sporting experiences that inspire, develop and unite.

Critical to our success is our commitment to always providing safe, friendly and enjoyable environments for all participants. Whether competing, coaching, officiating, volunteering, working or spectating at these events, the welfare of all is critical to our mission.

To find out more or report a concern, please click here.

QUESTIONS

All questions should in the first instance should be directed to your Institution Administration.