Eton Dorney: Dorney Lake, Court Lane, off Lake End Road, Dorney, Windsor, Berkshire, SL4 6FJ
Advice for training sessions:
You need to make sure you have set your Sat Nav to Dorney Lake or Eton Dorney Lake Boathouse.
If you use SL4 6QP, that is Dorney Court next door.
Do not head for Eton Wick or Boveney, there is no access.
Although Eton College open the site when there is enough call, they do make a small charge for the provision of facilities including safety and managing the site. We will pass this on via SPOND
If you come off the M4 motorway at Junction 7, you head north, take the first left at the roundabout and go west to the next roundabout with a large Sainsburys.
Turn left (South) on Lake End Road (B3026) and go over the motorway.
At the bend turn right to Dorney Court along Court Lane. Go past the Court to the entrance to the Eton Dorney Lake ahead of you.
Drive in and at the barriers (which should be open, but if not buzz or follow any instructions), go through and keep left.
You will find yourself on the Main Access Road driving south parallel to the lake.
Keep heading down, you will see the boathouse ahead of you.
We find each session there are different parking arrangements, but it is most likely you will park nose to tail along this road on the right.
If you are coming part way through the session you may find you can drive down a bit and find a gap.
Once you have parked, continue to walk down the road.
We expect the trailer will be in the car park to the left of the boat house as you face it, marked as Main Car Park in the map above. This Main Car Park is behind some trees
The coaches may be on the water so look for a trailer with a few boats on with the registration number HWG or just a heap of RGS sports bags.
Do give yourself a bit of time to walk down, the lake is 2km long so if you were half way down you may want 10 or 15 min to walk.
At the end of the session, the boys will need to de-rig and pack the boats.
Parents can stay on site or walk/run around the lake. Sometimes there is a coffee van on site, sometimes the café can be open and if all else fails, the Sainsburys up the road has a Starbucks.
Dogs can come, but must be on a lead.
Previous Race Directions
Isis Sculls, City of Oxford Rowing Club, Meadow Lane, Oxford, OX4 4BL
Parking
Parking at the club will be for trailers and blue badge holders only, all other parking will be at Redbridge Park and Ride OX1 4XG (MAP HERE), about a 15min walk from the club and costs £2-£4 for the day.
Please do not park on any of the surrounding roads as these are all permitted. Of course you can drop and then go and park.
Please bring…
Bring a change of kit and a towel.
Water and food, especially if you are doubling up think about re-fuelling.
Suitable clothes, layers and ever hopeful sun cream and hats.
This is a time trial so the whole division boats and queues up to go down the course as quickly as they can (there are some bits where you have to regulate your speed).
The boys should wear All in Ones or RGS T-Shirt, shorts & or leggings. Bring layers as you will row to the start, wait, row the course, wait and row back. Bring water and a snack or two for the boat. Anyone who needs an inhaler, make sure you have it with you and inform Olly on the day. And do bring a change of clothes & a towel.
Competitor Instructions & Course Map
Please read this (note it says 2023, if it changes I’ll let you know) they are HERE
Division 1 - 10:00am, arrive 8:00am
Division 2 - 11:45am, arrive 9:45am
Division 3 - 2:15pm, arrive 12:15pm
Bedford 4s & Small Boats Heads
On race day everyone to arrive at the boats in Bedford by 10:15am. This will need to be by “parent transport”.
Location of Boats:
The trailer is most likely to be on The Embarkment, Bedford next to Russell Park and opposite the Longholme (boating) lake. Please drop the boys and then find somewhere to park.
Parking information
Weather permitting, parking may be available on Longholme Island.
Other parking is available just north of the free end of the embankment, in the roads around Russell Park.
Additionally, here is a link to Bedford Borough Council’s car parks. There are plenty within walking distance of the river. https://www.bedford.gov.uk/parking-roads-and-travel/parking-bedford-borough/council-car-parks
Please look at the maps below but note we are NOT at the Rowing Club.
This is a Time Trial, a race 1950m downstream. We are doing divisions 3, 4, 5 & 6. The race for Division 3 starts at 12:15am and we expect the boys will boat about 11:45am. The time between 10:15 and 11:45am will be busy, three boats need to be rigged and the boys need to be briefed. Please do not be late.
We will boat ready for each division near the finish and so the boys will see the course as they row to the start.
This is the event website: https://bedfordrowing.co.uk/eventdates/oct24/
What to bring
Suitable layers, hats, warm clothing, changes of clothes, towel, food and water. All, especially coxes, expect you may want to change between races if you get splashed. It will be cold and sunny with a gentle breeze.
Make sure the boys a good breakfast e.g. porridge and considering the last race is at 4:30pm bring more food for lunch and tea e.g. pasta, flapjacks. It will be busy and there probably won’t be time for the boys to go off. Whenever you last race is, your son will need help to derig and pack the last boats. We may need a few tall parents too to help too.
Parents you will be able to walk or cycle the course.
Competitor Instructions
It’s a good idea to look at the map of the event. Please get the boys to look at this before the event. Get them to find it on Google Maps and orientate themselves. It will help boys to know where the finish is or how far along the course they are.