The following is a copy of the committee report covering the 2024 season:
Just as a quick reminder – the objectives of the SRA are:
(a) To maintain the standard of sculling in skiff and kindred races.
(b) To promote the interests of skiff racing and kindred sports.
How we do this:
We provide a forum for all clubs to come together to discuss common topics or news from around our sport, to support each other by sharing practices and ideas. We are all volunteers.
- SRA Handbook – that includes rules of racing
- Umpires
- Website
- Administer the regatta programme
Looking at each of the items listed above
SRA Handbook – minor updates and clarifications were made during 2024. The latest version can be found on our website.
Umpires – last season three probationary umpires passed their exams with one being approved to become a full umpire. This year a further three people have passed the exam and we hope will be able to actively umpire this year as probationary umpires. This is fantastic news as over the last few years we have seen our number of umpires fall, however the sport cannot function without umpires so if anyone is interested in becoming one, please let us know. Please have a chat with any current umpires if you would like to know more.
Website – the SRA website was revamped – we would really like to hear your feedback about it – does it have the information you would expect, if not what is missing, did you find it easy to use – if not can you let us know why?
Regatta programme – collated and confirmed by SRA then shared to clubs and published on SRA website.
Other things that we do – Trailer, anchors, purchase of boat licences
2024 Season report:
Last season was sadly impacted by the weather conditions resulting in the river flowing to fast to safely run some events. Impacted events included the Simon Mepham Mxd doubles at the start of the season and at the end of the season both the SRA marathons and Wraysbury club regattas were cancelled.
However, looking at the number of entries overall for last season compared to others we still had a very healthy number.
| year | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2019 |
| Sprint entries | 643 | 570 | 518 | 30 | 662 |
| Processional entries | 99 | 186 | 194 | 67 | 257 |
| Total | 742 | 756 | 712 | 97 | 919 |
Most popular events from 2019:
- Mixed Novice Doubles (all years)
- Open novice singles and Open novice doubles
- Mixed intermediate doubles
Highlights – What has the SRA been up to in 2024
In 2023 the SRA hosted a workshop with representatives from across all the clubs, the aim being to gather insights around what people loved about the sport as well as where they felt things could be changed that might help grow the sport further. The SRA committee held a further all-day workshop last year to reflect and address further – specific guidance asked for was collated and shared back to clubs, additionally pointers added to the website. Examples – safety guidance, how to grow and sustain clubs – all these resources were sourced from British Rowing.
The SRA carefully considered all the points raised and circulated a response to all clubs on these points.
Martin Egginton has been doing a review of insurance cover, both in terms of what the SRA might need and also what clubs and regattas might need – this is a very complex area and still being looked at. (The review was triggered by both our insurance needing to be renewed and a question from clubs to see if we would be better served by either common policies or just understanding what each other has).
We constantly review and look at what is happening across our sport and keep reviewing our own events – Interclub racing and the SRA marathons. We still struggle with the interclub races.