Queenford Lake Events


THE blueseventy THE QUEENFORD LAKE EVENTS comprise a choice of two race events, as follows:-

The blueseventy QUEENFORD HALF MARATHON 5k Swim

 

 

The blueseventy QUEENFORD RELAYS 4 x 1000m Relay Swim &

optional 1000m Team Pursuit

 

Download the blueseventy Queenford Lake Events Information Pack for full details of this event

Event Details

Features 
This event will provide a fun, fast, furious and exciting end to our open water season, with lots and swimming, cheering, screaming and shouting. Set just outside Wallingford, this venue is the perfect setting for this event, so bring along your family and friends, do your swim, have a picnic and enjoy the stunning lake surroundings. There’s even a playground for the children; and the parking is free!

 

The QUEENFORD HALF MARATHON

This 5k individual lake swim will take part over 5 x triangular 1000m circuits of the lake.  It will be the last race in our Henley Swim Challenge Series, which also comprises the Henley Classic and Henley Mile events. What’s more, the top 10 positions from each category will qualify for a place in the 2014 Henley Classic.

Entry 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
  You will need to have some experience of open water swimming. Ideally, you should be able to swim at least 5km non stop (the equivalent of 200 lengths in a 25m pool).

Entry Fees
The entry fee for this event is £32.

Mementos
Prizes will be presented to the winners of each race category.
Every participant will receive a branded swimming cap.

The QUEENFORD RELAYS & TEAM PURSUIT

Relay Format
Teams of 4 will compete over the same 1000m course in a relay format. The first team to complete the 4km relay course will win their category, it’s as simple as that. And don’t worry if you are a swimmer down; we will have wild card swimmers able to team-up with you if needed. Alternatively, enter as a wild card swimmer and swim with other teams that we match you up with!

Team Pursuit
The Relay teams will then be able to take part in our “Team Pursuit”. In this instance, team members will start at the same time – with 30 seconds between each team – and swim the 1k course in track cycling pursuit format.
Team members will need to work out and practice how they draft; either at the hip or directly behind; how they communicate with each other, who goes off first and how long each stint at the front will be for? Please note you do not need to enter this beforehand, you will enter as the same team from the relays. Anyone entering the individual event will also be given the chance to team up with others to form a pursuit team.

Distance
Each swimmer swims 1000m and ‘hands over’ to the next team member inside a buoyed area. The ‘baton’ is a rubber wrist band, which does not float!

Team Entry Categories
Teams of 4 are invited to compete in the following categories in either men’s or women’s (or the mixed option):-
Open – men or women
Masters - men or women (aged 45+ on the day of the race)
Traditional – men or women (Speedo style swimsuit only)
Mixed – 2 men & 2 women (these can be open, masters or juniors)
Junior men or women (aged 14-18 on the day of the race)

 

Eligibility
You will need some experience of open water swimming. Ideally, you should be able to swim at least 2km non stop (the equivalent of 80 lengths in a 25m pool).

Entry Fees
The entry fee for this event is £25 per person (as part of a team of 4)

Mementos
Prizes will be presented to the winning teams in each category.
Every participant will receive a branded swimming cap.

Team Entry Process
Team Captains will be required to make the initial entry, stipulating the Team Name, after which the other team members will be able to make their entry individually up to a maximum of four.

The closing date for entries to this event is midnight on Sunday 1st September 2013, unless the entry limit is reached before this date.

Venue Facilities

Free parking is available at the venue
Toilets and showers are located close to the club house
Hot & cold drinks & snacks will be available at the venue
A children’s playground is located near main event area.

Event Facilities

Wetsuit Hire
Our event sponsor blueseventy will be providing wetsuit hire for this event. For full details of the Sprint wetsuit see our wetsuit hire page. They will also be present on the day to offer advice about how to put on and wear your wetsuit to ensure ultimate performance.

Swimshop logo

Our Official Retail Partner Swimshop will be present with a range of swimwear, goggles and accessories to cater for any needs you may have on the day.

SB Sports Massage
Post race massages will be provided by SB Sports Massage.
Sessions are £10 for 15 minutes, or £20 for 30 minutes.
These can be booked in advance of the event, or can be paid for with cash on the day.

A Physio will be in attendance, in case of any injury queries, with the option to kinesio tape pre or post swim – all included in the £10 fee.

To book in advance, please email info@sbsportsmassage.co.uk

Event memorabilia
Henley Swim hoodies and other event memorabilia will be available to purchase on the day.

Location & Course Details

Location

This event is held at Queenford Lakes Watersports Centre, situated between Wallingford and Oxford on the A4074. OX10 7PQ. This venue is perfect for open water swimming , with great quality water and good consistent depth all the way round.

Course
The event will take place over a buoyed triangular 1000m course.
Click on the course map to enlarge

Event Facilities

Wetsuit Hire
Our event sponsor blueseventy will be providing wetsuit hire for this event. For full details of the Sprint wetsuit see our wetsuit hire page. They will also be present on the day to offer advice about how to put on and wear your wetsuit to ensure ultimate performance.

Swimshop logo

Our Official Retail Partner Swimshop will be present with a range of swimwear, goggles and accessories to cater for any needs you may have on the day.

Event History

This event was first held in 2011, to provide a fun and exciting format, for a different open water swimming event.

Frequently Asked Questions

I hear that the winning team members from each category will gain an entry to the 2014 Henley Swim Classic – is this true?
Yes – each member from the winning team from each category will gain automatic qualification for the 2014 Henley Classic (subject to T&Cs and payment of course!).

Is there electronic timing?
Yes, electronic timing is used for each of the races featured at this event.

What if I don’t have a team?
Don’t worry – you can enter as a wild card and we hook you up with other wild cards to form a team! Email us to let us know you want to be hooked up with other individuals.

How do I enter my relay team on the entry system?
Simply organise yourself into a team and enter online through the normal entry process.

I hear you are doing a team pursuit event as well – is this true?
Yes. After the main event, we will offer swimmers the chance of a second and maybe even a third swim. Teams of 4 swimmers will start at the same time – with 30 seconds between each team. Team members will need to work out and practice how they draft; either at the hip or directly behind; how they communicate with each other, who goes off first and how long each stint at the front will be for. Please note you do not need to enter this beforehand, although you must email your team pursuit member details – but it’s only open to anyone who swam in the earlier relays or individual wave – and you can mix and match anyone into each pursuit team!

What are the rules for team pursuit?
Each 4 team members start in a line, side by side, at the same time. You can draft as you like with no minimum or maximum stays in any one position. The last team member to cross the line records the whole team’s time. If you drop a member or do not stay together, you will be eliminated with no time recorded. There will be 30 seconds between each team. Over-taking teams are required to go around the slower teams – there is no obligation for the slower team to move out the way. No contact is permitted between different teams.