Minutes of Special Meeting held8pm Saturday 23July 2016

Reading Canoe Club – The Warren, Reading RG1 8EQ

Present: Stan Missen (Chair)

Roland Lawler, David Enoch, Graham Warland, Brian Chapman, Mick Nadal

  1. There was one item of business – Propose strategy to improve K2 racing for 2016/2017 season.
  2. The problems encountered in K2 classes particularly Div 2_2 during the 2015/2016 season were identified as:
  3. Several races had too few Div 2_2 K2 entries to make a quorate race meaning that the boats had to race in the next available race down, either Div 4_4, Div 5_5 or even with a combined Div 5_5/Div 6_6 race.
  4. This is highly undesirable as Div 2_2 then only race 8 miles. It disrupts the lower class race in a variety of unacceptable ways.
  5. It reduces points scored by the lower class K2s which would probably have been quorate, not only because they win, and gain 20/20 (and 19/19) in the race, but because their time triggers 110% cut off and 1 point per paddler plus indicating demotions that may not be appropriate.
  6. The problems detailed above have led to considerable concerns amongst race organisers, team leaders and individual paddlers which have been expressed via email, face to face, by phone and online media.
  7. The point was made that this problem also occurred when K1 races were not quorate.
  8. Discussion took place about solutions, with several alternatives considered.
  9. It was unanimously agreed to adopt the following strategiesat Regional Hasler Races starting on 1st September 2016 for the 2016/2017 season:
  10. Keep Div 2_2 K2 and introduce a Div 3_3 K2 class to race over 12 miles. All other K1 and K2 classes to remain unchanged. (The rationale was that Div 3_3 would attract lower ranked crews who may not otherwise enter as K2 or should Div 2_2 not be quorate, there would be a 12 mile K2 race to combine with.)
  11. Adjust the HRM system so that when an inquorate race or racesis/are combined with another, lower Division race in either K1 or K2, full points will be awarded to each class within the combinedrace.
  12. Adjust the HRM system so that when an inquorate raceis combined downwards with another, lower Division race, in either K1 or K2, the higher Division crews/paddlers are eliminated from the 110% calculations that trigger 1 point scores or indicated inappropriate demotions.
  1. It is recognised that at some races in smaller regions, there may still be combined races that are less than satisfactory, but it is impossible to avoid entirely.
  2. It is hoped that team leaders, organisers and Regional Marathon Advisors will encourage communication between clubs and paddlers to arrange entries to races beforehand, particularly in Div 2_2, that allow a quorate K2 race to take place, rather than just entering and hoping there will be sufficient entries.
  3. ACTION Mick to contact Wiki, circulate minutes to MRC, formulate wording for James to post on MRC website.
  4. Meeting ended 8.20pm