The Fairbairn Cup

Fairbairn Cup Races 2025 - Rules and Regulations GENERAL 1. The race shall remain under the control of Jesus College Boat Club. 2. The races shall be rowed on the ninth Thursday and ninth Friday of the Michaelmas term. The Novice VIIIs row on Thursday, and the Senior College and Invitational VIIIs and IVs on Friday. ENTRIES AND ELIGIBILITY 3. The races are open to Open and Women's VIIIs, and Open and Women's coxed IVs. Crews may row in any design of boat (no separate categories for shell and clinker). Each crew member should have completed at least eight practice outings, and the coxswain must have steered the appropriate course in its entirety, prior to race day. A representative of every novice crew must have attended the Clare Novices Regatta meeting. 4. College Divisions: Only resident bona fide student members of the Universities of Cambridge, Oxford or Durham may row or steer in the College Divisions (i.e. in statu pupillari, a matriculated member of a College reading for a recognised degree and meeting residence requirements). Anglia Ruskin degree students, and the Clinical Medical and Veterinary Schools, are deemed equivalent to a College. Current CUBC trialists (and Oxford/Durham equivalents) may not row or steer in College divisions - University boats may race for time only. Composite crews are permitted, but for time only. 5. Invitational Divisions: Crews containing members who do not meet the College eligibility criteria may enter the appropriate Invitational Divisions. 6. Status: A 'Novice' crew is one in which no rower has rowed, and no coxswain has coxed, prior to September of the current year. College 1st Lent and May VIII colours may not row in crews below their 2nd VIII. 7. Entries: No college may enter more than four Open and four Women's Novice crews. Entries are capped at 250 boats (50 per Open/Women's novice VIII division, 55 per Open/Women's senior VIII, 40 in the senior IV division). In the event of oversubscription, priority is: Cambridge College crews, Oxford College crews, Cambridge alumni, Oxford alumni, then Invitation crews. The Fairbairns Secretary determines the start order based on the previous year's finishing order, then new entrants alphabetically and by status. SAFETY 8. It is the responsibility of each crew to comply with the British Rowing Water Safety Guidelines, with particular regard to heel restraints, bow balls and coxes' life-jackets. A crew deemed not to meet the required safety standards will not be allowed to race. 9. Cancellation: The final decision to cancel racing rests with the JCBC Fairbairns Secretary after consultation with the organising committee and advice from the CUCBC Chairman. 10. Liability: JCBC does not accept fault or liability for accidents not directly resulting from negligence by the event organisers. 11. Bank Parties: A limit of four people per bank party; all members must have a functional bell. THE RACE 12. Proceeding to the Start: All crews must proceed directly to the Start Marshalling Area. Crews may warm up but must clear the river by 8:30am. The first ten crews in each division must be in the Start Marshalling Area 30 minutes before the published start; all other crews 20 minutes before. Crews must follow the circulation pattern and obey the instructions of Race Marshals at all times. 13. The Start: A crew's rolling start begins at the flagpole on top of Goldie Boat House, with the call "Attention, Go." Race timing begins as the bow ball passes the flagpole outside Jesus College Boat House. 14. Overtaking: No crew may attempt to overtake before Bumps Top Finish (the post immediately downstream of Chesterton Footbridge). Any boat being overtaken shall give way in good time, causing minimal obstruction. Deliberate or avoidable impedance attracts a penalty. 15. The Finish: Senior College and Invitational VIIIs finish at the Little Bridge; Novice VIIIs at the Railings on the Long Reach; IVs at the Red Grind Post. Timing is to the nearest second; crews within 1.00 second are deemed to have tied. 16. Finish Marshalling: After the finish, crews reduce speed but continue rowing until instructed to stop and spin by a marshal, then marshal on the towpath side. Crews await permission to row back to their boathouse after all crews have finished. Crews in the last division must carry lights. PENALTIES 17. Penalties (at the discretion of the Fairbairns Secretary): repeated failure to obey a marshal - 2s per offence; late arrival at Start Marshalling - 5s; late boating - 5s; warm-up paddle after 8:30am - race for time only; bank party of 5+ - 5s; overtaking before Top Finish - disqualification; deliberate impedance - race for time only; failure to continue rowing after the finish - 5s; rowing home without permission - race for time only. Any offence affecting the safety of competitors or others results in disqualification. 18. Disputes and Appeals: A single representative of each affected crew may state their case to the Fairbairns Secretary within four hours of the published division start time. The final decision rests with the Fairbairns Secretary. OTHER 19-22. JCBC may alter these rules at any time with reasonable notice. The Coxes' Notes form an additional, enforceable part of these rules. Enquiries: jcbc-fbsecretary@jcsu.jesus.cam.ac.uk.

Fairbairns can be a fairly tricky course to steer, particularly as there are corners you are not likely to have tackled at race pace before. It is recommended that you talk to senior coxes at your club for advice on your race plan and cornering. Unfortunately, over the years, we have had to introduce some tough rules and regulations to ensure the smooth and safe running of the races. The following is some information and advice that you may find useful and hopefully will allow you to avoid incurring penalties. Before racing, you should consult the Rules and Regulations. BEFORE BOATING Before your crew can be allowed to race, under CUCBC and British Rowing safety regulations, you must check that: • You are wearing a serviced and in-date lifejacket. • Your boat has a bow ball. • Heel restraint and shoe quick-release cords are properly attached at all seats. • All hatches are closed and properly sealed, or flotation bags are fitted. You will need to collect your race numbers from Jesus College Boathouse at least 45 minutes before your division's published start time. Three race numbers will be issued per crew - one for your back, one for bow's racing kit and another for bow's pre-race outer kit. Race numbers on yourself and bow must be visible to the Marshals at all times. We recommend that your crew warm up on land, either on ergometers or running/jogging, as there is not enough room on the river for every crew to go for a warm-up paddle. If you do go for a pre-paddle, you must be off the water by 8:30am in order for marshalling to start. There will be penalties for crews that fail to do so. Make sure your crew has enough outer clothing to stay warm whilst waiting in the Start and Finish Marshalling Area and a plastic bag to keep it dry during the race. Novice crews must be accompanied by a bank party at all times, but the maximum size for any bank party is four. START MARSHALLING The first 10 crews must be within the Start Marshalling Area 30 minutes before the division's published start time, and all other crews 20 minutes before the start time. Latecomers will receive a 5-second time penalty if they cause delay to the start of the division. Make sure you boat on time! Crews will assemble, pulled into the bank, upstream of Goldie Boathouse with the first half of the division pointing downstream on the Fort St George side and the second half pointing upstream on the boathouse side. Once the first 10 crews have started racing, the remaining crews on the Fort St George side will move up to the start, allowing the second half of the division to row to Jesus Lock and spin. THE START At the start, crews will be under the control of the Starter. You will be asked to move up to the start (outside Goldie Boathouse) and raise your hand. Signal to the Starter when you are straight and ready to go by lowering your hand. After a suitable gap (around 30-second intervals between crews), the starter will call "Attention, Go." You will then perform a rolling start; a sprint start is not required or advised. Timing begins at the Jesus College Boathouse flagpole. Please start moving on the "Go" to minimise delays to other crews. Stay to the middle of the river and away from moored boats. OVERTAKING We try to minimise the need for crews to overtake on the course by altering the gap between starting crews. For safety, there is no overtaking before Bumps Top Finish (post just downstream of Chesterton Footbridge) - crews disobeying this rule will be disqualified. If you have to overtake or find yourself being overtaken (after Top Finish), try to minimise disruption to the other crew. The slower crew should give way to the faster crew, steering out of their path. You should only overtake when it is safe to do so! CRASHING OUT This does happen from time to time but try not to! If you do crash, you need to clear the river as quickly as possible - another crew could be very close behind you. Remind your crew that they must remain responsive to your commands and stay with the boat should they end up in the water. Clearing the river should be your first priority. FINISH A crew will be deemed to have finished racing when the bow ball crosses the finish line: • Novice VIIIs: The railings on the Long Reach. • Senior College and Invitational VIIIs: Little Bridge downstream of the Motorway Bridge. • Senior College and Invitational IVs: Red Grind Post (upstream post opposite the Plough). As you cross the finish line, you will hear a horn. You must keep rowing even after crossing the finish line. All crews should keep rowing at light pressure until explicitly instructed to stop, spin, and pull in by a finish marshal. All crews must spin beyond Grassy Corner. ROWING HOME You will only be permitted to return to your boathouse once the entire division has finished racing. Jesus College Boat Club crews will be allowed to return first in order to facilitate marshalling of later divisions. Obey normal navigation rules when rowing home. All results will be published online and at Jesus College Boathouse at the end of the day's racing. THE CORNERS (advice for newcomers) Elizabeth Way (the Road Bridge): Near the start; line up correctly to take the tightest line under the bridge. Chesterton corner: A tight corner; turn in early (maximum rudder) and use your rowers to help you round. Ditton Corner: Approach on the right-hand side and turn in fairly late. Grassy Corner: Probably the tightest on the course. Approach close to the left bank, don't turn in too early, and be prepared for the double apex. First Post Corner: Very similar to Ditton Corner. There is no substitute for viewing (or coxing) the corners in person before racing. Good luck and have fun! John Jessop, Fairbairns Secretary 2025

Event Safety Plan - The Fairbairn Cup 2025 Fairbairn Secretary: John Jessop (jcbc-fbsecretary@jcsu.jesus.cam.ac.uk). Safety Advisor: Jonathan Conder (JCBC Boatman). DATES AND TIMES Thursday 4th December 2025 - 09:15 Men's Novice VIIIs; 11:30 Women's Novice VIIIs; 14:00 Men's/Women's Novice VIIIs (Lower Boats). Novice course: Jesus College Boathouse to The Railings (on the Reach). Friday 5th December 2025 - 09:30 Men's Senior VIIIs; 12:00 Women's Senior VIIIs; 14:15 Senior IVs. Senior VIIIs course: Jesus College Boathouse to the Little Bridge (just past the A14 Bridge). Senior IVs course: Jesus College Boathouse to The Plough, Fen Ditton. To avoid overcrowding at the finish, there is a maximum of 50 novice crews and 55 crews per men's and women's category (incl. invitational). Crews are set off with a minimum 30-second gap. The organisers reserve the right to reduce entries and shorten the course depending on weather. All crews must obey the instructions of the race marshals; failure to do so may result in disqualification. Please notify the organisers of any medical conditions (such as diabetes or epilepsy) that could affect a crew member's ability to row safely. FIRST AID Two cyclist response teams are booked from 8:30am to 4:30pm, stationed between the P&E and the Finish marshalling point, in radio contact with the Fairbairn Secretary and Senior Marshals, able to respond to any first-aid requirement along the whole course. MARSHALLING AT THE START Crews boat from their boathouses and marshal between Goldie Boathouse and Jesus Lock with an anticlockwise circulation: crews in the lower half of the division line up on the northward side and those in the upper half on the southern side. All crews are instructed by marshals (members of JCBC). MARSHALLING ALONG THE COURSE JCBC provides static marshals positioned at corners and narrow sections, plus Senior Umpires (experienced members) cycling along the course. Senior Umpires and key static marshals carry radios and are in constant contact with Control at Jesus Boathouse, the Start and Finish timers, and the first aiders. Marshals are positioned at: the Start, Emma Footbridge, under the Flyover, opposite the Combined Boathouses, Riverside Bridge, Stourbridge Common, Green Dragon Bridge, opposite the P&E, the Chesterton towpath divide, the Railway Bridge, halfway down the Reach, Ditton Corner, opposite the Plough, Grassy Corner, the Gut, First Post Corner, the A14 Road Bridge, and the Finish Line, with three mobile marshals on bikes. MARSHALLING AT THE FINISH All crews must wait for racing to finish before returning to their boathouse. Crews clear the finish line without stopping and proceed to the Baits Bite lock spin zone, keeping to the right-hand side of the river. After spinning, crews park on the towpath side, overlapping parked boats (doubling and tripling up expected). Jesus crews pull in nearest the finish line so they can return first to marshal the next division. Competitors should carry warm clothing or foil blankets. IN THE CASE OF AN EMERGENCY Qualified first aiders provide first response. If an incident occurs during racing, the crews behind the affected crew are stopped and no further crews are set off. For a major incident, ring 999 and provide the nearest access location (postcodes are listed in the plan, e.g. Green Dragon CB4 1NZ, The Plough CB5 8SX). Marshals should also use what3words for an accurate location. SAFETY EQUIPMENT Throw lines for marshals; safety blankets at the finish line; first aid kits at Start and Finish; radio communications for Marshals, Umpires, the Fairbairn Secretary and first aid. All coxes must have buoyancy aids/life jackets and all boats a bow ball - checked by Start Marshals; any crew without will not be permitted to race. CANCELLATION OR SUSPENSION The organisers will cancel or suspend the event if it is deemed unsafe, taking into account severe or adverse weather, poor forecast, high water levels or stream, an immovable obstruction (e.g. fallen tree), or a significant failure of communications. The Fairbairn Secretary, with the Boatman, JCBC President and Senior Umpires, will decide at their discretion, relayed by radio to the marshals and crews. Reviewed by John Jessop and Jonathan Conder, 21/10/2025.