CHAIRMAN'S LETTER

I am again taking the unusual step of addressing myself to all our customers in order to bring a number of matters directly to your attention, especially the one major change that the Committee has decided to make.

Format: This year we have changed the regatta's format simply because the entry continues to grow and we must find a way to contain it which will also allow us some opportunities for the future development of the event. The Committee has decided on pre-qualification for all the Saturday and Sunday events for which we receive more than 12 entries. We shall run processional races for these events during the morning as a preliminary to semi-finals and finals during the afternoon. Entries of 13 - 24 crews will be reduced to 12 semi-finalists while those of 25+ will be cut to 18 and drawn into 3 semi-finals from each of which the first two crews will make the final. Seeding for the semi-finals will be according to the finishing order in the processional races. This arrangement has the merit not only of cutting racing hours significantly, but will also produce full semi-finals and a finish order for every crew in each of these events. It will be fairer as we can be sure that the fastest crews reach the semi-finals.
There is no change to the format for Friday's racing programme.

Prize-giver: I am delighted to announce that Matthew Pinsent has accepted our invitation to present the trophies and medals on Regatta Saturday.

Sculling Boat Prizes: It should be understood that these prizes, while they have been made at the regatta, have never been made by the regatta. They have been donated by the Rowing Foundation on behalf of benefactors who have wished to provide them In Memoriam. Sadly, the funds for these prizes have now been exhausted.

Cycling: There was little or no improvement in behaviour over cycling alongside races which is still a major safety issue for us. The rules we have in place are quite clear: no more than one cycle per crew may follow each race. Club bibs must be worn. There should be no other cycling at all. These simple rules are still being flouted by both coaches and spectators alike. This has already caused accidents, some of which have involved spectators' small children. We have a "duty of care" to all. We have now reached the moment of decision on this matter which must be down to you. If we cannot achieve effective co-operation on this issue, the Committee will have to ban cycling entirely and resort to providing a coaches' minibus to follow each race instead. It must be your responsibility too, to ensure that your supporters are made aware of the rules.

Entries: Please note the changed instructions in the Regatta Circular requiring that all entries are made via the OARA system.

The National Water Sports Centre: The Committee is highly concerned by reports suggesting that Sport England are considering withdrawing financial support from the NWSC as it adopts a policy of "encouraging councils to pay more of the costs for facilities in their areas". As the local council has to find ways of finding £20m over the next two years and the NWSC has a yearly shortfall of £1.4m, the future of the Centre would appear bleak . The effect of its loss could be fundamental for the regattas which use it, including the NSR. We would be glad to receive comment from those with views.

I hope that you will understand the changes and sympathise with the concerns that have prompted this letter and that you will do everything you can to enable us all to enjoy a thoroughly successful and happy National Schools Regatta in 2006.

Peter Politzer.
Chairman, NSR.