Henley Mile

THE HENLEY MILE is a 1 mile endurance upstream River Thames swim, held over the Henley Royal Regatta course.

 2012 Open Water Swimming National Ranking Series Race 
This event is the third race of this exciting new initiative, which features seven races across England, Scotland and Wales, and includes lake, river and sea swims over various distances. To find out more about the UK’s first open water national ranking series and how you could take part, click here 2012 Open Water Swimming National Ranking Series

Your Henley Mile Event Information pack will be available to download here shortly

Event Details

Features
Due to be run for this first time in 2012 under its new name (last year run under the name Henley Challenge), the event will be once again be run after Henley Royal Regatta, and will mirror the original event in terms of entry categories, as detailed below.  As in 2011, this event will serve as a qualifier for the following year’s ‘Classic’.

The Environment Agency has once again secured a river closure, within the safety of the boomed course, for much of the day.  This will mean we can cater for greater numbers than the original event, as well as set off at a much more sociable hour of the day. So bring along your family and friends, do your swim, enjoy the stunning race surroundings and have a great day out.

Course
The event takes place in open water, on a boomed course, free from any boats and other river users. The course runs from Temple Island Meadows and finishes just past the Upper Thames Rowing Club.
Click on the course map to enlarge
Henley Mile Course Map

Categories
Open – Men & Women
Traditional – Men & Women (Speedos or swimsuits only)
Masters 45-54 – Men & Women (on the day of the race)
Masters 55 and above – Men & Women (on the day of the race)
Junior – Men & Women aged 14 to 18 (on the day of the race)
Sporting category – A single (non-competitive) category for both Men and Women

The Sporting category will start shortly after the main event, and you then have a choice of just enjoying the swim or aiming to achieve a Gold, Silver or Bronze standard based on your time. We will still need you to wear a timing chip and to adhere to all the other rules of the race, but other than that, you are free to go off at your own pace. Having said that, as with the race, you need to look at the conditions of entry and you still need to be a strong swimmer.

Eligibility
All swimmers should be confident of being able to swim at least 3kms in the pool, but please familiarise yourself with the notes on safety on our Event Information page.

Entries
The closing date for entries to this event is midnight on Sunday 31st June 2012, unless the entry limit is reached before this date.

On the day entries may be available for an additional charge, depending on whether the entry limit has been reached.  Check back here for details nearer the time or keep update with our Bi-monthly newsletter, Facebook page or follow us on Twitter.

 

Other Event Information

Location
The Henley Mile is hosted at the Temple Island Meadows, which is just ¾ mile from Henley town centre.

Click on the link below for directions to the venue
http://www.templeislandmeadows.com/about-transport.asp

Parking
Parking is available at the venue for £2

Facilities
Toilets and showers will be provided

Hot & cold drinks/ food will be available at the Food Court

Accommodation
Camping – Pitches for Glebe campsite are now bookable in advance at Henley Mile Campsite Bookings.
Advance booking prices are £10 per person per night. Campervans are £15.

 These “transient hotel” facilities will be situated in a prime river front location, just opposite Temple Island Meadows, for the duration of this event. 
Henley Swim is delighted to be able to offer a special 10% discount on any Saturdary and Sunday night advanced online bookings for this luxury accommodation option.
Please click on the link below to view the facilities of this unique concept, which blends the romance and thrill of camping with the luxury and service you would expect at a top boutique hotel.
Pop-up Hotel Information & Online Booking

 


Our Official Retail Partner Mailsports, a local Bourne End company which has traded as a Swim Specialist for over 30 years, will be present with an extensive range of swimwear, goggles, hats, towels and accessories, to cater for any needs you may have on the day.

They have enhanced their range to include both Wetsuits and Triathlon suits, and offer an unrivalled range of swimwear and accessories from established brands such as Maru, Speedo, Tyr, Blue Seventy, 2XU, Orca, Zoggs and Aquasphere.

For purchases of swimwear, wetsuits or accessories in advance of the event, please visit www.mailsports.co.uk

 


Post race massages will be provided by SB Sports Massage.
Sessions are £10 for 15 minutes, bookable in advance by emailing info@sbsportsmassage.co.uk

Wetsuit hire and Event memorabilia will be available on the day

Mementos
Medals are presented to the 1st, 2nd, 3rd for each category, men & women.
All competitors will receive a free t-shirt

Event History
The Henley Mile was first run, under the title Henley Swim Challenge, in July 2011, in response to the overwhelming demand for the original swim, which is now called “The Henley Classic”.   The event is run after Henley Royal Regatta, and mirrors the original event in terms of the swim location and entry categories.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it going to be crazy trying to get an entry, like the Henley Swim Classic?
We have far more spaces available for this event, so you should have a very good chance.

What safety measures have you got in place?
Suitable safety cover will be provided on the day, including canoes and appropriate first aid from a private medical provider.

Am I capable of swimming the course?
Probably is the answer, but you do need to be realistic about this. The course is run against the stream. This is normally very slight in July, but it is occasionally rather more than this. We will decide which direction to run the swim nearer the time, but tradition dictates that it is against the stream. You should be confident of being able to swim at least 3kms in the pool, but please familiarise yourself with the Event Information notes on safety.

Who do I speak to if I have specific circumstances or concerns?
If you have special circumstances such as a disability or have any concerns about your ability to complete this swim, we would much rather you contacted us at enquiries@henleyswim.com before entering.

Not sure which category to do?
If you have any doubts, or are in any way new to open water swimming we would strongly encourage you to enter the Sporting category with a wetsuit. The traditional category is only for experienced open water swimmers – if you do intend to enter this category we would expect you to have carried out a number of open water swims in just Speedos and be completely comfortable with the lack of buoyancy and temperature.

Can I swap one event for the other?
No unfortunately not. The Henley Classic and the Henley Mile are 2 different events operated on different commercial terms, so entries are not interchangeable. Please refer to the T&Cs for details.

How will I know what the latest news is on the swim?
Please check back regularly as we will be updating the site with all the latest news and gossip. You can also visit our Facebook Page and sign up to follow us on Twitter.

Can I arrange to have flip flops/towel, etc, taken to the finish line for after my swim?
Yes. For skin swimmers we allow flip flops, hoodie and towel – we advise these are put in a named carrier bag. For wetsuited swimmers we allow just marked flip flops. They are all put in large ‘communal’ lettered bags at the start and taken to the finish line, so all you need to do is remember which bag you put your kit in at the start. We can’t carry valuables, but there will be a car key deposit system on the day at registration.

Does a good performance in The Mile pre-qualify me for The Henley Classic?
Yes. The top 20 positions in each category (excluding the Sporting category) will automatically qualify you for the Henley Classic the following year, subject to the T&Cs and payment at that time. We feel this adds fairness to the lottery method that is being used for the first time in 2012.

Can I enter on the day?
This is a possibility for 2012, however, it will be dependant on whether the entry limit has been reached.  Check back here for details nearer the time or keep update with our Bi-monthly newsletter, Facebook page or follow us on Twitter.

Can I volunteer on the day?
We would be delighted to accommodate any offers of help on the day. This is an excellent way of seeing things up close, perhaps with a view to taking part next year? We will also be offering anyone who helps a goodie bag and the potential of a priority entry in the following year’s event, subject to the conditions of the swim at that time. Get in touch via the info tab at the top.

Is there transport to and from the start?
The great thing about this event is the location in relation to the start and finish.  This means a pleasant walk to the start and an equally appealing saunter back.  Any disabled swimmers will be offered transport, but we ask that you email us with details so we can arrange this for you in advance.

Will there be any other reasons for attending?
We plan to make this quite a special family-focussed event, with areas for camping and picnics, as well as an opportunity to come and see what’s new in the open water swimming world, so by all means bring your family and friends along to enjoy the occasion.