These rules apply to the Gallagher Great Race, the Bryan Gould Cup and Secondary School races. The rules of racing of the New Zealand Rowing Association (NZRA) shall apply except as modified below:
1. UMPIRE - The conduct of the race is under the sole control of the umpire who shall endeavour to ensure both crews have an equal opportunity to win the race. The decisions of the umpire will be final and not subject to appeal.
2. START RACE STATION – The start race station selection applies from the race start and continues until crews enter the finish zone (Claudelands Bridge). The race station refers to the position of each crew - described as the east station (true right of river or crews stroke side), west station (true left of the river or crews bow side) or mid station (between east and west Stations). The race station relates to the respective position of the crews across the river and not a side of the river determined by a notional mid-point in the river.
3. START ZONE - Two buoys will be situated in the river separating the east, west and mid stations. The mid station must start between the two buoys. The east and west stations must start on the outside of the buoys. All crews must travel through the buoys according to their start race station selection.
4. FINISH RACE STATION - The order in which crews pass under Claudelands Bridge will determine their finish zone stations. The first boat to enter the finish zone must take the mid station. The second boat to enter the finish zone must take the east station (true right of river or crew stroke side). The third boat to enter the finish zone must take the west station (true left of the river or crew bow side). The second Umpire will communicate with each crew as it approaches the Claudelands Bridge as to which finish race station it must take.
5. FINISH ZONE - The finish zone is the section of river between Claudelands Bridge and the finish line. The finish zone is divided by a buoy line on both the east and west stations. Crews must travel either east, west or in the middle of these buoy lines dependant on the order with which they pass under the Claudelands Bridge as stated in 3 above.
6. STATION SELECTION - The results of the Indoor Row competition prior to the Great Race will determine which crew gets first, second and third choice of start race station. The crew winning the Indoor Row shall elect either the east, west or mid station and so on.
7. START - The crews shall start on their respective race station and across the river as and where directed by the umpire. The umpire will raise a red flag, align the boats by their bow balls as best the umpire can determine, call the crews to attention and then start the race by the call of “ROW” (or sound an audible alarm) while simultaneously lowering the red flag. This may involve a rolling start as directed by the umpire.
8. FALSE START - If a false start occurs, the umpire will stop the race. The re-start will be as and where directed by the umpire.
9. ACCIDENTS - If either crew suffers from an untoward accident (including an equipment failure or breakage or interference from any outside agency) to such an extent that the umpire considers it would unfairly influence the result of the race, the umpire may declare a “no race” and direct a re-start either from the original start line or any other part of the river that the umpire considers appropriate.
10. PROPER COURSE - Except where the course is marked with buoys, a boat’s proper course is determined by its crew providing that it allows ample water for other boats to steer their proper course on their station. For the avoidance of doubt:
a. A leading crew with clear water may determine its own course.
b. A catching crew is entitled to row through on its station and the leading crew shall make way without impeding the catching crew.
c. Where the crews are alongside each other to any degree, each crew is to ensure that the other crew can continue to row on its existing course without interference.
d. The boats must pass through the central span of each bridge.
e. Where any part of the course is marked with buoys, the proper course for each boat past the buoys will be as directed by the umpire.
f. The umpire shall be at all times the sole and final judge of a boat’s proper course. The umpire may warn a crew that it is off its proper course or about to foul the other crew and may direct the steering of the offending crew or crews. The crews are to heed the umpire’s warnings and comply immediately with the umpire’s directions.
11. FINISH LINE- The finish line is a line perpendicular across the river from the upstream end of the Hamilton Rowing Club building. The race controller is the sole judge of the finish line and shall determine a close finish and notify the umpire accordingly.
12. FOUL
a. In the event that one crew unfairly impedes the other crew from rowing its proper course, or if there is contact between the boats (or their oars), or if a crew fails to comply with the umpire’s directions, the umpire may stop the race by raising a red flag, declare a “no race” and order a re-start from where the umpire considers appropriate.
b. In the event of a foul which does not impede or obstruct the opposition crew, the umpire may impose a three second time penalty on the offending crew. This will be clearly announced at the time to the offending crew preferably by: (1) raising the white flag and calling out the name of the offending crew; then (2) announcing, “three second penalty” and [the nature of the foul]
c. In the event of a serious and deliberate foul, instead of declaring a “no race” and directing a re-start, the umpire may disqualify the offending crew whether or not the umpire has received a protest from the crew offended against.
13. FORWARD MOMENTUM – Crews are at all times to be to be moving forwards in relation to the river bank. Any crew in breach of this rule for the purpose of influencing finish stations (or any other reason) will incur a foul and a 3 second penalty in accordance with 12b.
