Rowing: Regatta 2025-26

DATES

1-4^th May 2026

VENUE

National Water Sports Centre
Adbolton Lane
Holme Pierrepont
Nottingham
NG12 2LU

ENTRY OPENING DATE

Tuesday 31^st March 2026

STAGE 1 ENTRY CLOSING DATE

Team Events

Thursday 16^th April 2026 at  23:59 – Team Entry Deadline

(Deadline for teams to have been entered on BUCS Play by an Institution Administrator)

Tuesday 21 April 2026 at 23:59 – Team Join Deadline

(Players to have joined the respective event on BUCS Play)

Thursday 23 April 2026 at 23:59 – Admin Approval Deadline

(Players to have been approved and assigned in a team by an Institution Administrator on BUCS Play)

ENTRY COSTS

1 Person Boats - £21 per boat

2 Person Boats - £42 per boat

4s – £84 per boat

8s - £168 per boat

(Coxes and Reserves are free of charge)

Each institution may submit up to 10 boats per category. Entries will be accepted for each category following the entry closing date up to the safety limit of the event.

If entries exceed this number priority will be given to one entry per institution per category (prior to allowing a second entry).

Institutions are strongly encouraged to submit a ‘Reserve Boat’, one for open & one for women. Institutions may submit an unlimited amount of student entries into the reserve boat which may be used for substitutions in advance of the competition starting.

Reserve competitors must be entered online via BUCS Play within the ‘Reserve Boat’ before the entry closing date. There is no cost for submitting competitors to the reserve boat. 

SINGLE ENTRY

This competition will NOT operate a staged entry process. As such, please ensure all entries are submitted through BUCS Play prior to the closing date listed above.

EVENTS AND BUCS POINTS AVAILABLE

Please see Appendix 1 for available BUCS Points.

The following BUCS points are available in Championship categories only:

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

Multiple Championship entries are permitted from one institution, 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 open team and women’s team based on an institution’s placing in the final respective Victor Ludorum standings. Beginner, Intermediate and championship crews all contribute to Victor Ludorum points.

VL Points Table: -

Overall Team BUCS points are available for Open & Women’s as per the below:

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

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

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)
2. Please speak to your Institution Administrator as they will need to enter the correct number of teams for you.
3. Competitors then need to apply for the respective event. (Instructions on how to do this can be found here)
4. Institution Administrators must assign competitors to the correct team 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.

FORMAT OF THE COMPETITION

The competition will consist of the following categories for both open and women:

• Beginner 1x
• Beginner 2x
• Beginner 4x
• Beginner 4+
• Beginner 8+
• Intermediate 1x
• Intermediate 2x
• Intermediate 4x
• Intermediate 2-
• Intermediate 4+
• Intermediate 8+
• Intermediate Lightweight 2-
• Intermediate Lightweight 4x

• Championship 1x
• Championship 2x
• Championship 4x
• Championship 2-
• Championship 4-
• Championship 4+
• Championship 8+
• Championship Lightweight 1x
• Championship Lightweight 2x
• 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.

Beginner Boat Classes: Clubs are strongly encouraged to look at the times of qualifying crews in previous years when considering entering. Whilst BUCS is keen to be inclusive, any boats who are deemed on the day of racing to not be of suitable standard will be excluded from racing, and other Beginner crews from the same Club may be prevented from racing. 

BRITISH ROWING RANKING POINTS

• British Rowing ranking points will be calculated as if all competing students are British Rowing members.
• Points will be added to the accounts of students who have British Rowing membership as well as those from Scotland and Northern Ireland who have British Rowing visitor numbers.
• A record of those not covered by either of these options will be kept so their accounts can be credited if they sign up at a later date.

RULES AND REGULATIONS

BUCS Rowing rules and regulations

Para sport

BUCS is pleased to introduce and formally recognise para categories within the existing programme by adding Open and Women’s PR3 1x categories to the regatta programme.

These categories will be delivered within the existing 1x Championship and Intermediate races. Para athletes would compete alongside all other athletes, with results extracted to determine medal positions for PR3-eligible athletes where sufficient entries exist.

BUCS is undertaking a project to review all para points and the formal framework ahead of the 2026-27 season. Therefore to align with the BUCS strategy and all changes to the sport frameworks across other sporting events, the new para categories will be piloted without points, more information on this framework can be found here.

SUBSTITUTIONS

• 100% substitutions of a crew are allowed. However, institutions can only make substitutions to their boats from competitors included on the reserve boat or in another crew. The reserve boat must be entered via BUCS Play before the Individual entry closing date (Tuesday 21 April 2026 at 23:59) and students must have applied/been moved into this boat by the student entry date (Thursday 23 April 2026 at 23:59).
• Substitutions and withdrawals will be made using an online system and University rowing club representatives (Coach/Captain/President) will be invited to register for access once entries have closed.  
• Substitutions may be made up until the crew’s first race in the competition (i.e. before the time trial). Any crews not submitting amendments and found to have changed the crew in any way may be disqualified.
• Withdrawal of boats are the team entry closing date (16th April) will still be charged the entry fee as per our withdrawal policy.
• Withdrawals on the day of the competition must be done at the Regatta Office at the NWSC by the institution rowing club captain or coach. Institutions should advise BUCS in advance if they intend to withdraw. 
• 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 £30 fine payable by the athletic union or students’ union detailed in BUCS Withdrawal Policy.

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. 

EUSA CHAMPIONSHIPS

The European Universities Championships (EUSA Rowing) 2026 will be held in Zagreb, Croatia from August 26^th to 29^th at Lake Jarun, Students competing at BUCS Regatta and meeting the top four qualification in relevant championship event categories will be eligible to compete in the Championships. Those that meet the qualification categories will be contacted immediately after the regatta and will need to confirm their intentions by 15^th May.

The cost of this event will need to be funded by the individual students or institutions; the full cost of this event will be shared once an expression of interests has been submitted but please gauge from your institutional administrators who will likely funding this event.

For further information please see BUCS website https://www.bucs.org.uk/premier-sports/gb-students/compete/eusa.html and the event website https://rowing2026.eusa.eu for details as they become available or email [email protected] with any specific questions.

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.

Volunteers

• BUCS Regatta is reliant on a huge number of volunteers to make it run and we particularly need volunteers for stakeboats and intermediate timing.
• It’s a great opportunity for students to support the event, to meet new people, to play a part in the running of the event, and to see first hand their crews and rivals on the start line, and along the course.
• We're looking for students from all Universities to sign up, to help support the regatta. No previous experience is necessary. 

QUESTIONS

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