WILDWATER RACING COMMITTEE CONSTITUTION

 

The Wildwater Racing Committee is a technical committee of the Irish Canoe Union and is responsible for the organisation, development and administration of Wildwater Canoe/Kayak Racing in Ireland.

 

The Committee consists of a Chairperson, Secretary, Treasurer and two committee members.  All officers are elected at the Annual General Meeting of the Wildwater Committee by those who have raced in a wildwater race in the preceding three calendar years (to include the current year) and are also members of the ICU.  All attendees who are ICU members are entitled to vote on any other motions at the AGM

 

The duties of the members shall be as follows:-

 

Chairperson:-

 

The Chairperson shall be responsible for:-

 

  • Chairing all committee meetings.
  • Ensuring that meetings are held as necessary.
  • Implementing policy and ensuring action is taken on committee decisions.
  • Representing the committee at ICU Council meetings.
  • Preparation of yearly Government Grant Application in liaison with the Treasurer.
  • Representing committee views.

 

Secretary:- 

 

The Secretary shall be responsible for:-

 

  • Calling meetings and dealing with correspondence is conjunction with the chairperson.
  • Arranging venue, date and time of meetings and notifying all committee members.
  • Notifying all clubs of the date, venue and the time of wildwater AGM /EGM (21 days notice must be given).
  • Taking minutes of all meetings and circulation to committee members.
  • Notifying clubs of changes in Wildwater Canoe/Kayak Rules and Regulations.

 

Treasurer:-  

 

The Treasurer shall be responsible for:-

 

  • All monies paid to the Wildwater Committee.
  • The Collection of levies for all ranking and non-ranking events.
  • Preparing a Balance Sheet for the Wildwater AGM and the ICU AGM.
  • Preparation of yearly Government Grant Application in liaison with the Chairperson.
  • General financial affairs of the Committee.

The Collective Committee shall be responsible for:-

 

  • Production of fixture list each year for Wildwater racing
  • The organisation of coaching and training sessions for junior and senior squads.
  • Selection of international teams or the establishment for a selection Committee to do same.
  • Promoting the sport of Wildwater Canoe/Kayak Racing.

 

Aims of the Wildwater Racing Committee

 

1.      To spread Wildwater racing throughout Ireland by encouraging and organising ranking and non-ranking races.

 

2.      To encourage a broad base of wildwater paddlers in Ireland through the development of introductory training courses and specialised training weekends in wildwater racing.

 

3.      To promote and improve the standard of Irish paddlers through International competition at home and abroad.

 

4.       To improve our International image by promoting good Irish International wildwater competition and by sending good standard teams abroad.

 

5.      To foster the development of suitable craft and equipment for wildwater

 

WILDWATER RACING COMPETITION

 

1.         Ranking Points

 

            1.1       Competitors in all classes are awarded points as follows:                      

                        First Place                    101 points

                        Second Place                99 points

                        Third Place                   98 points

                        Fourth                           97 points

                        and so down.

           

1.2      The best 60% of ranking race results (to the closest integer) out of the total number of ranking races held in each season will be taken into account for the individual championship points. In the event of a tie both paddlers will be declared joint National Champions.

 

1.3       In order to become a national champion, a paddler must achieve a full national ranking (compete in at least 60% of ranking events).

 

1.4       That Junior Men’s WWR kayak, Junior Women’s WWR kayak, Junior C boat national champions be declared.

 

           

       

2.         Promotions and Demotion 

              

2.1      A paddler may appeal to the Committee, in writing if he or she wishes to be promoted or demoted.  The Application should include an outline of the reasons behind the request.  A fee will be charged 10 euro for seniors and 5 euro for juniors, which will be returned in the event of his successful appeal.

 

2.2       Those eligible for U18 (junior) are those under the age of 18 on the 1st Jan of the wildwater racing year.

                 

3.         Divisions

 

3.1       For K1/C1 and C2   I.C.F. specifications will be used (see section 7 ICF rules)

 

3.2              Under classed boats and open singles are eligible in all classes

 

3.3       The following divisions must be offered at ranking races:           

                       

  •  
    •  
      •  
        • Men’s Wild Water Kayak Div 1,
        • Men’s Wild Water Kayak Div 2,
        • Junior Men’s Wild Water Kayak
        • Junior Women’s Wild Water Kayak
        • Women’s Wild Water Kayak
        • C1 Class
        • C2 Class

 

4.         Prizes

 

The organisers must undertake to award a minimum of two prizes of good quality per division provided there are greater than 5 in any one division.  If there are less than 5 competitors only one prize may be awarded.     

           

5.         Competitors

 

5.1              Only members of the I.C.U. or members of I.C.F. affiliated unions may participate in I.C.U. wildwater events.

 

5.2              Paddlers may race for only one club in any one season.

 

5.3       Failure to comply with points 5.1 and 5.2 above will mean loss of points to the individual and the club.

 

 

 

6.         Numbers

 

6.1              Numbers should be firmly fixed to the Canoe/Kayak or bib.

 

6.2              Numbers should be clearly seen.

 

6.3              Competitors must use their correct racing number.

 

6.4              All other numbers must be removed.

 

7.         Safety

 

7.1       ICU/ ICF safety rules apply (see section 18/26 ICF wildwater rules for details)

 

8.         Racing Rules

 

8.1              ICF wildwater racing rules apply for sprint/classic races, which are available from ICF homepage or wildwater racing secretary

 

8.2              Protests with regard to domestic races may be made to the organisers in writing not later than 30 minutes after the announcement of the results.  Failure to comply with this condition will invalidate the protest.

 

Where the protest is made against the race organisers or published results the protest must be made in writing and be received by the wildwater racing secretary within 21 days of the race, accompanied by a fee of 10 euro, which is returnable if the protest is upheld.

 

8.3       Should any paddler(s) anticipate the start, they shall be recalled and the said paddler(s) warned.  Should any paddler(s) anticipate the start a second time they will receive a 1-minute time penalty from the starter. 

 

8.4       All boats will be held at the start and the finish line will be clearly marked, and with an audible sound such as a whistle blown.

 

8.5       The start order will be determined by the results of the previous race i.e. reverse order of the results of the previous race. In the event of a tie in the previous race the result from the immediately preceding ranking race shall be used.

 

9.         The Race Organisers

 

9.1       Race notices giving details such as name, address and phone no. of organiser, date, course, organising club, start and finish locations, time of entries, briefing and starts, classes, distances, entry fees, description of course and sketch map of same with accessible points by road etc. should reach all affiliated club secretaries or website at least 14 days before the event.

 

10.       Race Results

 

10.1     Results must be circulated all clubs who participated or placed on website not later than 14 days  after the event.

 

10.2     Race results should be recorded on the official Wildwater racing committee file.

           
RULES FOR SELECTION, ORGANISATION AND BEHAVIOUR OF IRISH WILDWATER TEAMS

 

1.         Selection

 

1.1       The Wildwater Racing Committee shall be responsible for the selection of teams to represent Ireland at International wildwater events.

 

1.2       Irish team selection can only be made for I.C.U. Wildwater Racing Committee approved International events or events awarded International status by the I.C.F. Wildwater Racing Committee.

 

1.3       All financial assistance by host organisers to the I.C.U. shall be paid only to the selected team for the event.

 

1.4       Teams shall be selected on ability only and there will be no discrimination to the basis of club, colour or creed.

 

1.5       A competitor may earn the right to wear an Irish racing kit, Irish team blazer or tracksuit on having been selected and having represented Ireland on one occasion.

 

1.6       In certain events it may be desirable to send a large team; these may be selected to represent the I.C.U., thereby receiving a proportion of any expense money made available.

 

1.7       Upon selection, all members of the team shall be available for training schedules proposed by the Wildwater Racing Committee of the I.C.U.

 

1.8       A team manager shall be appointed and may be given financial assistance.

 

1.9       An experienced member of the team shall be appointed captain.

 

1.10     Selection policy to be identified by end of November of each year.

 

2.         Team Manager

 

2.1              The manager shall be responsible for arranging all travel for the selected team.

 

2.2       The manager shall arrange to their satisfaction that the selected teams are adequately and comfortably accommodated in a manner that will ensure their fitness to race.

 

2.2              The manager shall ensure that the teams shall arrive at the venue in time for studying and/or practising the course.

 

2.4       The manager shall ensure that all the equipment is available for practising and in good order on the day of the competition.

 

2.5       The manager shall support the team to the best of his/her ability throughout the event.

 

2.6              The manager shall be responsible for team discipline.

 

2.7       After each trip the team manager must submit a detailed report to the Wildwater Racing Committee for Irish competitors.

 

2.8       A full list of results from all National and International events where Irish competitors partake must be forwarded to the secretary.

 

3.         The Team

 

3.1       The team shall race in a fair manner and they shall behave and dress in a proper manner as befits representatives of their country.

 

3.2      The team shall behave in such a manner as to ensure their maximum fitness to compete.

 

3.3      All members of the (including team manager, coach etc.) will sign and abide by the code of conduct which was agreed by the committee.