What events are having Time Trials and seeded finals?

Mens 1x, Womens 1x, Mens 2x, Womens 2x, and Mixed 2x.

Time Trials are essentially heats. They are an efficient way to bring large numbers of athletes to the next round, and then to be able to ‘seed’ them by speed into the next round (in our case, the finals).  Each of the events that have time trials could lead to different seeded finals:  Open Weight Restricted (lightweight), Open Novice, Open Para, and for lack of another adjective just plain Open (which includes everyone else).  It is possible for the same crew to enter more than one of these categories, for example a Womens 1x participant could enter both the Open Weight Restricted and the Open events and the time from their time trial time would be considered for seeding in both finals.

Are there benefits for a rower in this seeded finals system?

We anticipate that each crew’s race experience in the seeded final will potentially result in closer competition than normal and therefore increase the adrenalin and excitement.  Instead of a pair of crews battling head-to-head, we foresee 5-lanes-worth of crews battling it out, digging as deep as they can to cross the finish line in front.  In this system, no crew should “blow” the competition out of the water, and nor should any crew get “blown” out.  Importantly also, if you don’t have a great race in your Time Trial heat, that’s ok. Medals (1st/2nd/3rd) will be awarded for each age category based on your finals speed – no matter which final you race in. For example; Gold could come from Final A, Silver from Final C, and Bronze from Final D.  We await to see if a number of crews have ‘personal bests’ on the course due to the competition around them.

Are there drawbacks for a rower in this seeded finals system?

A rower can no longer row in two different crews within the same boat and gender class.  For example, in the past with different partners, an athlete could row in the Mens 2x C event as well as the Mens 2x D event.  It is not possible in this format as the two crews, even though different ages, could end up in the same final if their times are similar. 

A crew cannot gauge its lead on another same age crew that is not it the same seeded final.  This is common in head racing, but not so with sprints.  We hope that the head-to-head competition with other similar speed crews pushes everyone to their best possible time.

What is the start order for the Time Trials?

Crews registered in the Open category will be at the front of the pack, followed by the Open Weight Restricted category, then the Open Novice category.  The Open Para category rowers will finish off the pack.

Within each of the 4 categories, the crew order will be based on age, starting with the youngest crews. Crews will be sent off one at a time in alternating lanes every 30 seconds or so.

Detailed Procedures for Time Trials are provided in Appendix E of the Regatta Package

How does the Time Trial progress a crew to a seeded final?

Elapsed time for a crew will determine which seeded final they are in: “Final A” will be comprised of the fastest 5 boats regardless of age, “Final B” will be comprised of the next 5 fastest boats, and so on.

How are crews awarded for the seeded finals?

For the Open event, there are three types of awards: Age Categories (which is common in Masters regattas), and two Final finish order (which is common with seeded finals). 

1. As per norm in Masters racing, crews’ times will be compared against other crews that fall within the same age category to determine a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd placing.  Even though crews are not necessarily in the same seeded final as their age-mates, their times from the seeded fnal will rank them within their age category.  These age placing awards will be Canadian Championship Medals.  

Note: If fewer than 4 crews participate within an age category the following procedure will apply: (a) If only 1 crew within an age category - no medal (b) If only 2 crews within an age category - 1st place only (c) If only 3 crews within an age category - 1st and 2nd only.  There will be no handicapping necessary in this model.

2. Of course, finishing 1st is exciting! 1st place of each final will receive a different award to commemorate the achievement.
3. For Final A, a unique award for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd will be presented. 

For the Open Weight Restricted, Open Novice, and Open Para events, which often have lower subscription, awards will not be able to be given for each age category.  The regatta reserves the right to determine an alternate method of award based on entries.

RATIONALE for Time Trials

We have received a number of emails in support and against, here is what you need to know.

Why did we look at trialing time trials?

• Our #1 reason was we were looking for a creative way to include our most experienced competitors where their field of play is diminishing. #2 reason, following 2019 being our largest regatta, we found the race days were too long for volunteers and clubs traveling far and wanted to try a different way to cap entries other than just strictly restricting the number of entries per person/club.
• The age adjusted system allows on paper an opportunity to race and win but in the physical moment on the water, it's not the same race, regardless of the age group if the age groups are combined.
• There is such varrying ability in masters rowing, regardless of age. In a AA-D event, you can have a "C" category faster than a "A" category rower in boat speed and on paper. OR that "A" category racer has to win by 300m in boat speed to win the event when the age adjustments are calculated.
• We heard from able bodied rowers where they did not feel it was fair for para rowers to start before them, and that rationale was to provide the para rowers a race to the finish rather than race off the start.
• Originally we were just going to try with the singles, however, it came to our attention mother nature was not going to be on our side as we are to experience the lowest tides of the year, impacting the time we can race and have access to all the race lanes. We had to cut potentially upto 6 hours in the racing schedule. If you have ever run a regatta, that's not an easy feat and our Stephanie Payne has been stressing and losing sleep going back and forth looking ways to move events to keep the regatta moving.

What is the benefit?

• like boat speeds will be racing like boat speeds 
  • will provide a more competative environment as you are truly actually duking it out for 1st place, not just on paper.
  • from a safety perspective this is safer for all those participating including the umpires.
• the time trail we are running takes place of the heats and will be staged by age category.
• medals/awards, you will have an opportunity to be deemed champion of the race category as well as be awarded in your age category. Example. You might awarded 3rd in the W1x A Final, and also awarded 1st in your age category.

What we know to be potential issues?

• equipment limitations, this is likely going to be the largest issue clubs might encounter. We are working with the community to come up with a large enough boat pool to potentially address this issue. 
• multiple entries, we reviewed our data from our previous regattas with the potential of lost entires due to the limitation of multiple entries. That loss was not large enough to warrent not trialing the time trial events.