In a slightly different format to the lap races of most of the other PNSW Marathon Series races, the Bidgee Bash is a one-way, down river format on the Murrumbidgee River. There are courses for all Divisions, with 3 different starting locations.

The courses below should give times comparable to the standard divisions used at other races for 20, 15 and 5 kilometre distances. Unfortunately, this format does not readily support a 10 km equivalent course, so rather than shorten the distance (and reduce the enjoyment of a down river run) we've set the 10km Divisions to run on the 17km course.

The start time will be 11:00am for all divisions with the exceptions of Division 7 and Division 6, starting at 10:30am, Division 5 starting at 10:40am at Oura. All times are in local AEDT

Divisions 1-7 will race from Oura Beach, Oura, to Wagga Beach (26 Km all downstream)

Divisions 8-12 will race from Braehour Reserve, Braehour Road, Forest Hill, to Wagga Beach (17 Km all downstream)

Division 13 will race from Eunony Bridge Reserve, Wagga, to Wagga Beach (7.5 Km all downstream) 

For a sneak peak on what to expect, click on the link here, for footage of the 2024 Bidgee Bash.

26km Race: Starting at Oura (Sandy Beach).

Timing for this 26km down river race is similar to the time for a 20km lap race.

17km Race: Starting at Breahour Reserve.

Timing for this 18km down river race is similar to the time for a 15km lap race.

7.5km Race: Starting at Eunony Bridge Reserve.

Timing for this 7.5km down river race is similar to the time for a 5km single lap race.

Registration & Starts

On the day, please go directly to your start location and report to the race official who will mark you off and hand you your race number.  Please remember to hand your race number in at the end.

WBCC Race Officials will be at each start location 45 minutes before the start (9:45am at Oura and 10:15am at Braehour and Eunony).

The Race Starter at each location will give a series of 3 pre start verbal warnings to each Division/starting group.  These will be at the 3 minute, 2 minute and 1 minute mark. Follow the instructions of the marshal located upstream from the start who will get you in your start group and tell you when to start moving slowly in the current down to the starting buoy and into the Once satisfied with the line, the Race Starter will issue the instruction “Ready, Go”.  

Please remain to the right of any red/pink buoys that you see on the river. There will be some near Braehour to separate Oura paddlers from the start groups at Braehour.

Safety

The VRA and Wagga Bidgee Canoe Club members will be on hand to support the event. There will be 3 safety boats positioned on the course. One behind the last paddler, one at the finish line and one other located  between Braehour and Eunony, to provide assistance to paddlers if needed. All safety boats will be able to administer basic first aid and will have phone and radio coverage to coordinate a rescue if required. You may encounter an occasional small tinny fishing boat, so keep an eye out for their fishing lines.

The WBCC Race Officials at Braehour and Eunony will remain there until all paddlers and the sweep boats have passed that location. If you need to withdraw from the race for any reason, these 2 locations are good places to do that.  If you require other land based support, where possible go to the southern bank (left hand side) as vehicle access is much easier from there.

Lifejackets (PFD’s) must be worn by all paddlers at all times.

Any paddler in difficulty must be assisted by those in the vicinity, and any time taken to assist a paddler in difficulty will be considered through normal redress processes.

Passing

When a verbal warning is given to a boat about to be passed, that boat should not deviate from its course, and should allow the approaching boats to pass with safety. Boats should pass on the port (left) side unless there is no other option, and must give the slower boat adequate clearance so their progress is not hindered. Responsibility rests with the overtaking boat to do so in the safest possible manner.