Marshalling for top-half boathouse side crews: St. Hugh's, St.. Anne's, Somerville?, Wadham, SEH, Pembroke, Corpus, St. John's, Jesus, Keble

Rowing-On: Boat with your bowball to the left, and proceed straight downstream on the boathouse/Green bank side, keeping to the bank. When you reach the Gut, navigate over to the towpath side carefully, and then stick to bowside (cox's right) as in normal river rules, through the Gut and down to Haystacks. Spin as normal, come back up on bowside as normal, and when you are called through the Gut to race, take the best racing line you can. After winding down, move as far as possible upstream to leave space for crews behind you, and spin when convenient. When the last racing crew is through the finish line, go downstream close to the Meadows bank, and straight in downstream into your boathouse.

Bumps warmup: Boat with your bowball to the left, and keep as close as possible to the strokeside (cox's left) bank as you go down to Timms. If you are in the bottom half of the division, move to the towpath, giving way to any cruisers exiting the Gut, and keep to the right in the bottom stretch, spinning at Haystacks and by the Falcon raft. If you are in the top half of the division, turn to bowside at Timms, taking care to keep clear of the Gut, and then continue your warmup going close to the towpath bank past OUBC. When ready to go to your bungline, turn to bowside again and proceed downstream, again keeping close to the boathouses/Green bank. When you reach the Gut, you start keeping to bowside (cox's right) and keep to normal river rules.

Near bunglines: Crews in the correct water (ie on their bowside) have priority over those near their strokeside bank. Give way if your crew is in the "wrong" place. If you can, spin bows to the towpath.

Bumps returning:

* IF YOU BUMP OUT BELOW YOUR BOATHOUSE then since unfortunately your boathouse is a long way upstream, you must follow the racing boats to the Head, spin to bowside and proceed straight in downstream, keeping close to the strokeside bank.

* IF YOU BUMP OUT ABOVE YOUR BOATHOUSE then again, proceed to the Head, spin to bowside and return to your boathouse sticking close to the Meadows (strokeside) bank.

STICK TO THE BANKS AND LEAVE THE MIDDLE CLEAR FOR CRUISERS

Marshalling for bottom-half boathouse side crews: Exeter, BNC, Oriel, Lincoln, The Queen's, Balliol, New, Worcester, Merton, LMH, Magdalen, Trinity, Christ Church

Bumps warmup: Boat with your bowball to the left, and keep as close as possible to the strokeside (cox's left) bank as you go down to Timms. If you are in the bottom half o the divison, move to the towpath at Timms, giving way to any cruisers exiting the Gut, and from now on, stick to the cox's right (bowside), spinning at Haystacks and beside Falcon raft. If you are in the top half of the division, turn to bowside at Timms, taking care to keep clear of the Gut, and then continue your warmup going close to the towpath bank past OUBC. When ready to go to your bungline, turn to bowside again and proceed downstream, again keeping close to the boathouses/Green bank. When you reach the Gut, you start keeping to bowside (cox's right) and keep to normal river rules.

Bumps returning:

* IF YOU BUMP OUT BELOW YOUR BOATHOUSE then follow the last racing crews back upstream, and provided that you have not delayed your row-back too long, you should be able to continue from the Green Bank straight back to your boathouse sticking to bowside. However, if you see lots of crews starting their warmup towards you, coxes please move along the racing line to the towpath bank, go to the Head, spin to bowside, and return to your boathouse sticking close to that bank (your strokeside). Do not cross in front of cruisers.
* IF YOU BUMP OUT ABOVE YOUR BOATHOUSE then proceed to the Head, spin to bowside and return to your boathouse sticking close to the Meadows (strokeside) bank.

STICK TO THE BANKS AND LEAVE THE MIDDLE CLEAR FOR CRUISERS

Marshalling for crews boating from OUBC: Univ, Linacre, St. Peter's, Merton, Wolfson, ? St. Benet Hall/Templeton

Rowing-On: Boat with your bowball to the right as normal, and move down the towpath side as normal, sticking close to the bank. When you reach the Gut, other crews will cross and join you on the towpath side, and then everyone sticks to bowside (cox's right) as in normal river rules, through the Gut and down to Haystacks. Spin as normal, come back up on bowside as normal, and when you are called through the Gut to race, take the best racing line you can. After winding down, move as far as possible upstream to leave space for crews behind you, and spin when convenient. When the last racing crew is through the finish line, move as early as you can to the towpath side as for normal outings, and return into the OUBC rafts downstream, sticking close to the towpath.

Bumps warmup: Boat with your bowball to the left, and keep as close as possible to the strokeside (cox's left) bank as you go up to the Head. Turn to bowside, and continue your warmup by going down close to the boathouses and Green bank. If you are in the bottom half of the division, move to the towpath, giving way to any cruisers leaving the Gut, and now stick to the cox's right (bowside) for the rest of your warmup. If you are in the top half of the division, turn to bowside at Timms, taking care to keep clear of the Gut, and then continue your warmup going close to the towpath bank past OUBC. When ready to go to your bungline, turn to bowside again and proceed downstream, again keeping close to the boathouses/Green bank. When you reach the Gut, you start keeping to bowside (cox's right) and keep to normal river rules.

Bumps returning:
* IF YOU BUMP OUT BELOW YOUR BOATHOUSE then follow the last racing boat upstream, cross early to the towpath side, and go into your raft upstream.
* IF YOU BUMP OUT ABOVE YOUR BOATHOUSE then proceed to the Head, spin to bowside, down near Timms, spin again, and come into your raft going upstream next to the towpath.

STICK TO THE BANKS AND LEAVE THE MIDDLE CLEAR FOR CRUISERS

Marshalling for crews boating from Timms/Long Bridges: St. Catz, Hertford, Mansfield, St. Anthony's, St. Hilda's

Rowing-On: Boat with your bowball to the right, and head straight into the Gut. [If any shells absolutely must be boated to the left, please spin immediately, giving way to any other craft]. From here everyone sticks to bowside (cox's right) as in normal river rules, through the Gut and down to Haystacks. Spin as normal, come back up on bowside as normal, and when you are called through the Gut to race, take the best racing line you can. After winding down, move as far as possible upstream to leave space for crews behind you, and spin when convenient. When the last racing crew is through the finish line, move as early as you can to the towpath side as for normal outings, and return into the rafts downstream, sticking close to the towpath.

Bumps warmup: NOTE: Long Bridges colleges may wish to arrange for one raft to boat top-half and one to boat bottom-half crews where possible..... If you are in the bottom half of the division, boat with your bowball to the right, go straight through the Gut, and stick to the cox's right (bowside) for the rest of your warmup, spinning at Haystacks and close to the Falcon raft as necessary. If you are in the top half of the division, boat with your bowball to the left, and start your warmup going close to the towpath bank past OUBC. Spin to bowside at the Head, down the boathouses and Green bank, and turn to bowside at Timms if you have time, away from the mouth of the Gut. When ready to go to your bungline, turn to bowside again and proceed downstream, again keeping close to the boathouses/Green bank. When you reach the Gut, you start keeping to bowside (cox's right) and keep to normal river rules.

Bumps returning:
* IF YOU BUMP OUT BELOW YOUR BOATHOUSE then follow the last racing boat upstream, and go straight into your raft upstream.
* IF YOU BUMP OUT ABOVE YOUR BOATHOUSE then proceed to the Head, spin to bowside, come down close to the boathouses and Green Bank, and spin close to the rafts before coming in upstream.

STICK TO THE BANKS AND LEAVE THE MIDDLE CLEAR FOR CRUISERS

Marshalling for crews boating from City and Falcon: Osler, Regent's Park, and Somerville

Rowing-On: You may boat with bowball to the left and cross straight over to the towpath (carefully), or to the right and spin next to Falcon's raft. DO NOT GO THROUGH THE GUT. On the bottom stretch, everyone sticks to bowside (cox's right) as in normal river rules, down to Haystacks. Spin as normal, come back up on bowside as normal, and when you are called through the Gut to race, take the best racing line you can. [If you are very early, you may do a lap, spinning at Haystacks and Falcon]. After winding down, move as far as possible upstream to leave space for crews behind you, and spin when convenient. When the last racing crew is through the finish line, move as early as you can to the towpath side as for normal outings, and return down the towpath side, through the Gut and back to your boathouse (there should be space to spin under Donnington Bridge if you want to go in upstream).

Bumps warmup: We advise that you do not go through the Gut but warm up just on the bottom stretch. If you do have a good reason to go upstream, go through the Gut sticking to bowside as normal, but as you reach Timms, move to the towpath bank and then stick to the strokeside on the top stretch, coming back down the boathouses and Green bank. When in the Gut again move to the cox's right and keep to this for the bottom stretch. Most crews though should warm up below the Gut, sticking to the cox's right (bowside) all the time, spinning at Haystacks and by the Falcon raft.

Bumps returning:
* IF YOU BUMP OUT BELOW YOUR BOATHOUSE then follow the last racing boat upstream, and go straight into your raft.
* IF YOU BUMP OUT ABOVE YOUR BOATHOUSE then proceed to the Head, spin to bowside, move back downstream to Timms always sticking to your strokeside, at the Gut move to bowside, and spin at Haystacks or under Donnington bridge to come back into your raft. The occasional crews who bump out right at Long Bridges may have space to spin at once when the last racing crew is past, and get straight through the Gut and back in. Beware - give way to cruisers and other eights if you have room to do this.

STICK TO THE BANKS AND LEAVE THE MIDDLE CLEAR FOR CRUISERS

MAIN BUMPS HANDOUT:

Safety: check lifejackets (on top of all other clothing), no buoyancy aids, bowball securely attached, heel restraints, EA licence plate. There will be no racing in the dark. Coach on the bank, or at least a representative.

Timing: you need to be at the river at least 1 hour before your race time, so on the first day, meet in the lodge 1.5 hours before. Rowers should not eat lunch less than 3 hours before racing. Check the cox and coach have accurate watches - the coach's should have seconds as well as minutes and hours. As the division 2 before yours comes past, the division just before yours will push off, and you can put your boat on the raft, blades drawn in. Psych up and warm up over the next 25 minutes. As the division preceeding yours goes past, crew get into the boat, and as the last racing crew goes past, push off and start your warmup. Ideally get to your bungline as the 5-minute gun goes, and at least be through the Gut by this point. As the 1-minute gun goes, you should be attached and ready. 60 seconds later the start gun goes.

Warmup rules: (BUMPS ONLY). Top half of the river (Head to Timms) is keep-left, ie onto strokeside. CRUISERS WILL TAKE THE MIDDLE WATER on the top stretch - make sure you leave space for them. Try to avoid dashing up to them and then stopping - they do not understand about practice starts.... See particular marshalling instructions for your boathouse. As you reach the Gut, move to bowside and then through the Gut and on the bottom stretch down to Haystacks, keep-right (to bowside) as for normal rowing. Beside the bunglines, you may have to move either way to avoid spinning crews, but if you have to move to your strokeside, give way to crews coming in the opposite direction, as they are in the correct place. See below for Rowing On.

Problems: If you have an equipment problem or clash of crew members or shells, please inform OURCs at the earliest opportunity, if necessary by talking to the nearest marshal. If there is reasonable cause the Senior Umpire may delay a division for your crew, but he will NOT do this if he is not told as early as possible about your problem. For breakages, pull in to the nearest boathouse to borrow tools etc.

Racing line: The best, where possible, is up the towpath side to the Gut, straight line as much as you can through the Gut and onto the Green bank, up two-thirds of the Green bank then cross to the towpath, up past OUBC to the Head. However, you may want to delay crossing to OUBC or go over early for strategical reasons. Crews for the next division on all rafts MUST NOT let their shells or blades impede crews racing past.

Bumps: In Eights, BOTH CREWS STOP RACING. The eight getting the bump should wind down as soon as they get it, and move out of the racing line. The eight being bumped should wind down after a couple more strokes, and move away, without stopping. Stay clear of all racing crews and only return to your boathouse after the last racing crew passes. Bumps with blades-on-blades are the most effective, and boat-on-boat hardest to get. Coxes should acknowledge with the hand furthest away from the crew chasing them, or with their left hand if in doubt. Hold it up and out clearly, straight arm, and keep it up for several strokes. Penalties may be awarded for late concessions, or for crews ignoring acknowledgements.

After racing: (BUMPS ONLY). See instructions for your boathouse. General rule is that if you are beyond your boathouse, you join the circulation pattern to return. If you bumped out before it, you can probably go straight in, but don't delay or it may be too late. Crews rowing sandwich immediately follow the circulation down to the Gut and continue down to their bungline. If you need a break, follow the circulation to the City raft and get out there to stretch your legs, or use an empty raft on the boathouse bank as you go past. See below for Rowing On.

Coxing: Penalty bumps or fines may be awarded to crews for dangerous coxing, either during or between divisions. The future status of coxes may also be altered as part of the penalty, at the discretion of the Captain of Coxes. All novice coxes must have a coach on the bank with them at all times. It is suggested that coxes inform coaches and stern pair of the current marshalling and racing rules and ensure that they are certain of what to do before they go on the water. Coaches please avoid telling your coxes to make dangerous or illegal manoeuvres. Coxes should also have an idea of who the last few crews in their division are, so that they can spot the last racing crew if they bump out.

Technical/Penalty bumps: Technical bumps are awarded against crews who do not start in accordance with the rules. They will normally be one bump but may be more if the crew attempted to race and was bumped, or if OURCs feel the crew never intended to start. Penalty bumps are awarded against crews for dangerous conduct or illegal interference.

Disputes: You must get your bank representative/coach to talk to OURCs either at the desk or via a marshal, as soon as possible. There is no time for the cox or rowers to go to OUBC. Only one representative per crew. Only if you feel that OURCs have broken the rules of racing in making their decision may you appeal, and this must be to the Senior Umpire within 10 minutes of the decision. This is best done by asking the OURCs desk to radio your request.

Rowing On: This section is for differences in marshalling for Rowing On, as opposed to bumps themselves. You may push off when the last racing crew of the previous division passes your raft. All crews boat with bowball downstream, (boathouse side to left, OUBC and Long Bridges to right), and go downstream sticking to the bank, moving to the bowside bank as you get to the Gut. Stay in a standard "keep-to-bowside" pattern for your warmup, down to Haystacks and back to the Gut, getting slowly into order by giving way to crews rowing higher in the division (you should have a starting order with you). Move steadily up to the Gut and when requested by the Marshal, row through, coming to full pressure as you straighten up onto the Green Bank. Take the racing line to the Head, and once through the finish line, move as far away from it as you can. Spin where convenient with care. When the last racing crew is through the line, boathouse side crews return sticking to strokeside, and towpath crews sticking to bowside. DO NOT USE THE MIDDLE OF THE RIVER - LEAVE IT CLEAR FOR CRUISERS. See handout for your boathouse to clarify.