HDARA 2018 Fixture List.

Those of you who attended the H&D ARA Autumn Council Meeting at Itchen Rowing Club on the 19th October will be aware that we had a dfficult time trying to establish a fixture list for 2018 - for a number of reasons - including a conflict between CARA and the H&DARA regarding the date of Southsea Regatta - and a CARA request to keep the Henley Royal Regatta Weekend free; a request from Coalporters/Great Coal Row and British Rowing with regards to the British Offshore Championships - to keep the dates of these events clear of any H&D ARA fixtures; an issue for Bournemouth Regatta with regards to date and a lack of support from the local authority; confirmation from Swanage Town Council of the requested date and the "front end loaded" nature of the dates requests received.

After some debate and compromises and a few clarifying calls to the CARA Council meeting which was taking place at the same time the meeting eventually agreed on a provisional 2018 Fixture List - subject to some caveats and confirmations as follows:-

1) The Christchurch Head of the Stour will either be on Sunday, 4th March or Sunday 18th March - the Head of the Adur - a CARA event which may be of interest to H&D Clubs is believed to be being held over the weekend of Saturday 3rd/Sunday 4th March. Confirmation is being sought - but final date of the Stour s Christchurch's call.

2) Lymington/Milford-on-Sea Regatta to take place on Saturday, 19th March - which clashes with the Great Coal Row - if a two day event as last year. Coalporters to confirm extent of Great Coal row - Lymington to look at alternative dates - but final date is Lymington's call.

3) Swanage - Saturday 23rd June, subject to confirmation from Swanage Town Council. Clashes with IW Festival - but this probably only effects the IW Clubs.

4) Bournemouth. Saturday, 4th August - and will probably take place at Hamworthy Park, Poole - same venue/course as Poole Regatta. Bournemouth to confirm.

5) At CARA's request the Southsea Regatta takes place on Saturday, 21st July - avoiding a clash with the Henley Royal Regatta Finals weekend of 7th/8th July - which was the Clubs other available date.

This avoids a clash with the British Rowing Offshore Championships scheduled to take place over the weekend of 18th/19th August at Sandbanks, Poole - although this date may be required to accommodate any re-rows following cancellation. 

This is far from ideal and clarifications and confirmations are still required as specified - but is the best the meeting could come up with.

A provisional fixture list, in pdf format can be downloaded from the H&D ARA web site - and these fixtures have been added to the H&D ARA Calender on the home page of the web site at www.hdara.co.uk