Unfortunately we have had to take the difficult decision to cancel next weekends Wallingford Winter head (Sunday 1st December).

The river is currently on red boards and likely to remain so until early next week; with more rain forecast next week it is highly likely the river will remain on red boards through into December. Currently the trailer park and the boat rigging areas are under water, and even if the water level drops, these areas will be unusable due to the water logging. With a river very likely to be on red boards, and a riverside at best waterlogged, it has become clear this week that the event is simply not viable. We could have held on for another few days to announce with “fingers crossed”, but the reality is we know this stretch of river, and in all probability the river will not be able to hold a 250+ boat event.

We hope that by making this decision early it gives you all the opportunity to re think plans for the weekend and, weather and conditions permitting, are able to find some water somewhere to enjoy a paddle. Full refunds will be processed via the BROE World Pay system in the coming days.

Thank you and apologies for the disappointment.

Please note that the timetable has been updated on the entries page here to provide a better distribution of events and enable more doubling up. Please take a look at the timetable here before entering

Entries open via British Rowing Online Entry (BROE) on Thursday 14th November at 20:00 and close when the event is fully subscribed or Thursday 21st November at 18:00, at the latest.

Entries are limited to a total of 260 crews.

Please see the Entries page for more information.

Following an informal email consultation with all clubs who entered a Wallingford run event in the last twelve months, the head will open on BROE in its usual format of acceptance rules. Many suggested options had as many loathers as lovers and were therefore rejected as unworkable.
eg. Option to disallow doubling up was loved by some but clubs travelling a greater distance wanted to double up to make their journey worthwhile. Ballot was also loved by some but other clubs said having some crews at the regatta and others not, would create impossible coaching problems. Therefore, for the head, we stay as we are. Decisions about the regatta will be made next year.
I will do as best I can, to accept as many crews as I can, as fairly as I can!
Many thanks, Rachael Haycock

Entries open via British Rowing Online Entry (BROE) on Sunday 11th November at 20:00 and close when the event is fully subscribed or Thursday 15th November at 18:00, at the latest.

Entries are limited to a total of 260 crews.

Please see the Entries page for more information.

Thank you to everyone for racing, spectating, buying bacon, helping out, picking up litter etc etc. Why not take a look at a few photos of the day, Thanks to @Ben_Rodford and @rowphoto for braving the conditions!

Ben Rodford

Rowing Photography

The 2016 draw is now available here.

Please note, due to a new height barrier at the riverside car park, trailers can only gain access from 06:00 on the day of the event; trailers cannot be dropped off in advance.

Both the entries and information pages have been updated for 2016, entries will open at 20:00 on Wednesday 16th November. Please note updates to:

Wallingford Head was originally an unofficial Christmas head race run at Wallingford Rowing Club…. [Read More]