There’s a new event in town…. Race To The Castle! 40km Down River Race on the River Trent. One Way. The longest downriver race is the UK. 2 modalities: Race or Adventure paddle. Inflatable Stand Up Paddleboards / ISUPS only!
Race to the castle is a paddle board event, that celebrates the strength, strategy and courage a paddler makes when they commit to an ultra distance paddling challenge. This is the first annual R2TC (Race To The Castle) and we think it’s going to be the start of something special. 40km of downriver paddling through the lush, rolling countryside of The Trent Valley between Nottingham and Newark!
You’ll be joining like-minded folks who want to endurance paddle, to test themselves, to battle the elements, who want to race to the castle and then share and trade stories with you. These people will become your new friends. We’re hoping you’ll join us every year. Same weekend, but the conditions will vary. Will it be a sunny? Will the wind be behind us? What will the flow rate be? Headwind? The love-hate relationship with the checkpoint portages and the surprise and drama of the final sprint finish.
We know you’ve already won. You did that when you hit the signup button. When you made your training plan and went out on the water throughout winter. We know you also won when you joined the start line under the iconic Suspension Bridge. The “Actual Event” is your glory lap. The celebration of the commitment you made to yourself. ANDDDD it is a race so get going and BRING HOME THE CROWN.
Ps: You don’t have to race, you get all the above without the pressure of a race in our Adventure Category.
The start line: Wilford Suspension Bridge, Nottingham
Headline Stats:
Date: Saturday 27th April 2024 Location: River Trent Start: Suspension Bridge, River Trent End: Newark Castle, River Trent Distance: 40km Portages: 5
Categories
Both Female & Male
Adventure Category – Any ISUP
Race Under 12.6 ISUP
Race 12.6 – under 14ft ISUP
Race 14ft ISUP & Tandems
Route map
Please press play on the below map and watch the route play along. You can zoom in, out, press pause etc. We have highlighted all hazards along the route and all paddler logistics points. Please familiarise yourself with the route and these hazard.
On event day we will update you with any additional hazards, points, updates and changes.
Locks & Portages
Along the route of Race To The Castle, you will need to prepare for the “Great Portages”
We have 5 locks you will need to navigate across, all with their own unique characteristics. We have prepared the following guide for you.
Our crew will be manning the locks, to show you where you need to exit and re-enter, to cheer you in, give you words of wisdom, encouragement, welfare check ins, first aid points and they are also a great place for your support crew to meet you, feed you and help with your portage strategy.
The section of the River Trent that our event takes place, is fully navigable. These locks are for boaters to go up and down river. This, along with Mother Nature, means water heights at the lock points can vary. At some locations, you need plan to exit the River using a lock ladder.
You will then “portage” and walk, no running with your board to the downriver side and re – enter the water. If you would like your own support crew to help you at the portages/locks that is fine by us. All paddlers must portage all locks. Going through the locks is not permitted.
The finish line: Newark Castle!
Mandatory Kit List
This will be checked on registration, Gunthorpe CP and at the end (not because we are dictators and rules for rules sake….but because if sh*t goes down, we want you to have access to some basic stuff that will help you) You can of course add more items, that suits your needs and strategy.
Emergency Kit
The following 4 items below MUST be carried on your person, in your PFD pocket or bum bag.
* Fully charged mobile phone, with access to the internet and in a dry bag. You will have the Race Director, Deputy and Head of participants welfare telephone number pre programmed in your phone. You will have joined the event day WhatsApp group and have notifications on loud. This information will also be on a sticker that you have attached to your board. Your event tracker is via the webscorer app that you will have downloaded, opted in on that will be running in the background on your phone.
* Foil Blanket – The Marathon style one.
* Sugary snack & spare hydration.
* Cash / Bank card.
2. Equipment
* Inflatable Board, fin, paddle, leash, personal flotation device (PFD). Your PFD must be body worn. Not an inflatable waist pfd.
3. Clothing
* Suitable clothing that is reactive to the weather.
* Footwear must be worn at the locks. No barefoot portaging/walking.
* Consider sun protection, rain, cold temperature.
* Full change of clothing available at the end of the race. We will transport this for you.
* Access to change / spares during the event (spares on board?)
The organizer: Cassie Salter and her husband Mark.
After party & Awards
Calling all crew, supporters and participants, you are all invited to the R2TC 24 after party. This is included in your entry fee for you and your supporters.
Venue: Welbeck Hall, same place as registration.
Time: 6pm – Midnight
Dress Code: What ever you like. Official R2TC Merch encouraged (coming soon), but if you want to go black tie and ball gown please do.
Music: DJ Dave hired and is ready to play all your favourite anthems and classics.
Award Ceremony
Awards: Top 3 from all categories awarded Kings and Queens of the River and Recognition Award for paddlers, volunteers and supporters.
Food
There will be an option to add food at a later date and will be communicated via email to everyone all.
Cost
Okay, whats it going to cost me to take part in R2TC24. Do I need to sell a kidney, donate my first born or shake down the money tree?
R2TC24 is £50pp
This includes your entry, safety, wellbeing zones, tracking, timings, board logistics, insurance, permits after party and your finishers medal.
(Things to you need extra dollar for. Train fare back to Nottingham, food at the after-party car parking)
All money raised from this community event goes to support our Wellbeing On Water 2024 Initiative. The WOW Project (Wellbeing On Water) provides access to paddle boarding for adults who need support with their mental health and well-being.
We appreciate that circumstances can change after paddlers have registered, we have the following refund policy to support you. If you cancel:
Before 27th March 2024: Full refund OR transfer of place to the following year.
After 27th March 2024: No refund.
Requests must be submitted via email to racetothecastle@supfitness.co.uk. All refunds may be subject t administration and booking fee charges.
In the unlikely event that we need to cancel the event:
Before 27th March 2024: If the event organisers have to cancel the event, refunds will be discretionary once expenses already incurred have been paid.
After 27th March 2024: In the event the race is cancelled due to extreme weather, fire, or for some other unforeseeable event outside of our control, we cannot offer refunds.
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