Category Modifications for 2022

On April 19th, 2022

Notice: Race Category Title Changes

“Junior” age category title will replace “Midget”: any existing reference to Midget will be replaced by Junior.

For clarity, the age to the applicable race category title will be added:

1. Squirt (U14)
2. Junior (U16)
3. Juvenile (U18)
4. Intermediate (U21)
5. Women’s Masters (41+)
6. Men’s Masters (46+)

New Race Categories for 2022

With the introduction of the Senior Women’s Long Course and Senior Men’s Short Course, The Royal St. John’s Regatta Committee would like to formally explain how the new race categories will be introduced to The Royal St. John’s Regatta Fixed Seat Rowing events.

To ensure the new race categories are implemented successfully, the June Holiday Race will provide an opportunity to trial the new race categories. Barring no insurmountable obstacles are identified during the June Holiday Races, The Royal St. John’s Regatta Committee will determine the final implementation plan for the new race categories for the remainder of the 2022 competitive season, however please note some important details below.

• In keeping with rule 3.10, any oarsperson, regular or spare, shall only be permitted to row with one (1) crew. To clarify, a crew is to register for one race category only.
• For the 2022 Racing Season, there will be no changes made to current qualification for the championship races.
  Please note that for 2022, rule 6.1 will be updated to include the specific race categories that qualify for the championship races.
  6.1 There will be a Men’s and Women’s Championship Race.
  
  The Men’s championship race will occur on the Long Course and will consist of Men’s Masters (46+), Senior, Intermediate (U21) and Juvenile (U18) categories. The Women’s championship race will occur on the Short Course and will consist of Women’s Master’s (41+), Senior, Intermediate (U21) and Juvenile (U18) categories.
• It is to be noted that for 2022 registration, crews that register for the Senior Women’s Long Course and Senior Men’s Short Course acknowledge they will not be eligible for a Championship Race.

Following the conclusion of the 2022 Fixed Seat Rowing Season, The Royal St. John’s Regatta Committee will conduct a post-mortem exercise to help determine next steps in growing the sport of Fixed Seat Rowing.

In addition to rule 5.5, beginning in the 2022 season, should there be a large uptake in registration for the Long Course (Men’s or Women’s), the following may be implemented to accommodate as many crews as possible on Regatta Day without elimination.

• Two additional race categories may be used for Regatta Day; Senior Men’s Open Short Course and Senior Women’s Open Short Course
  • A Time Trials finish time restriction of 14:00.00 minutes and over for men and women completing the Long Course would be used to determine which race category a crew will be scheduled for on Regatta Day.
    • If a crew exceeds a 13:59.99 minute Time Trials finish time on the Long Course, and if there is a need to minimize the number of crews in the category to accommodate the Regatta Day schedule, then they will be relegated to the respective Open Short Course category for Regatta Day, and will be placed in the heat corresponding to their respective Long Course times for Time Trials.

These two additional race categories (Senior Men’s Open Short Course and Senior Women’s Open Short Course) were included as there is not a means to determine how to rank these crews amongst the finish times of those crews who registered for the Women’s Short Course and Men’s Short Course for Time Trials.

The Royal St. John’s Regatta Committee is prioritizing the growth of fixed seat rowing. Trialing the long course time limits will provide another option for scheduling logistics to ensure the schedule can accommodate as many crews and race categories as possible. It is imperative fixed seat rowing evolves socially and culturally. The Royal St. John’s Regatta Committee is taking strides to ensure we are instilling meaningful and practical change and there is no better time to trial new concepts and ideas for future fixed seat rowers!

If you have questions or would like clarification, please reach out to the Captain of the Course via email