In 2019, the South Eastern Coastal Rowing Forum (SECRF) made changes to how clubs would compete for the Nelson Cup. In place of a single event, the competition took place over a series of already existent events in the Summer with the aim of increasing participation at these events, thus meeting one of the fundamental aims of SECRF. Five clubs offered their races or regattas as a host event which lead to a successful series in which 11 clubs participated.
Following a review of the competition, further changes have been made and SECRF hereby gives notice of the competition arrangements for the coming year.
The Nelson Cup will be awarded based on results from races in the current coastal rowing calendar between December 2019 and the end of September 2020.
Clubs will be invited to offer to host a race in the series at the annual SECRF meeting, usually in November. Priority will be given to clubs who were not permitted to host an event the previous year. If hosting a round, a club agrees to submit the results to the results co-ordinator (Sue Alder) via email and provide a trophy / prize for the awards evening such as a small un-assigned trophy, a bottle of Proseco, chocolates, a wooden spoon for the End of Series Awards provisionally set for the 19th September 2020 at South Woodham Ferrers Yacht Club.
This year the competition has so far confirmed the inclusion of the following events; Norwich Carrow Cup, Round Canvey Race, Burnham-on-Crouch Quay Day, Southend Pier Race, and a newly proposed event – the M2M race – Marconi Sailing Club to Maldon. We are awaiting confirmation from Brightlingsea Regatta , the Crouch Shield at North Fambridge and Wrabness Race at Manningtree.
All coastal rowing clubs currently invited to the SECRF will be automatically pre- registered for the competition. The rationale for this is to establish a consistent points system based upon the number of clubs which enter the races across the season, some of which may arrive as latecomers to the series, thus obviating the need for late registrations.
Clubs are under no obligation to participate and may of course indicate that they do not wish to be included in the competition.
Points will be awarded on the basis of 1st place = 0 points, 2nd place = 1 point etc. Clubs not competing in an event will be awarded points based upon the number of clubs registered for the Nelson Cup series +1 point.
At the end of the series of races, clubs may discard their worst result which may be an event they did not attend.
The competition is between clubs. Clubs may enter more than one boat but only a club’s highest ranking boat which will be awarded points for the Nelson Cup.
Prizes will be awarded for First, Second and Third Places in the series.
All racing will take place under the host event’s rules.
A handicapping system will be used based upon but not necessarily identical to the most recent iteration of the Great River Race handicaps.
There is no entry fee for clubs to be included in the Nelson Cup in addition to those already applied for entry to the host event.
Please note that, although there is very short notice, the race committee has decided to include the forthcoming Carrow Cup race on the 7th December 2019.
The list of clubs which we are pre-registering are as follows:
Benfleet Yacht Club Coastal Rowing
Blackwater Rowers at Stone
Blakeney Coastal Rowing Association
Brightlingsea Coastal Rowing Club
Brightlingsea UCSC Rowing Club
Burnham-on-Crouch Coastal Rowing Club
Kings Lynn Coastal Rowing Club
Lower Thames Rowing Club
Maldon Gig Rowing Club
Marconi Rowing Club
Mersea Island Rowing Club
North Fambridge Rowing Club
Queenborough Rowing Club
Rowhedge Coastal Rowing Club
South Woodham Ferrers Yacht Club – Rowing
Stour Sailing Club – Rowing
Wivenhoe Corsairs
Wivgigs Rowing Club
Woodbridge Rowing Club
See the full rules:
https://harkersyardrowers.teamapp.com/documents/732197-the-nelson-cup-2019-20
