Vesta Veterans Head, 2008
26th Vesta International Veterans' Head Of The River Race For Eights
Sunday, 16 March, 2008
A message regarding the cancellation
It was with huge regret that the race organisers called off the 2008 Vets Head. The conditions along parts of the course were considered just too dangerous to allow for safe marshalling and racing. The PLA and the RNLI had indicated to race control that, in particular, the conditions from Barnes Bridge to around Chiswick Pier were unpleasant and the chief umpire, with advice from senior marshalls and experienced Tideway hands, saw no option but to call for the race not to run. The NNW wind was rising, with strong gusts, and there was little cause to hope for an improvement, so even a delay was not considered enough.
The race orgnisers understand the huge disappointment this difficult decision has caused. It is the decision that no race committee wants to make. We greatly appreciate the support that our race receives from our friends around the country and around the world. Some of our entrants have travelled long distances at considerable expense, we especially commiserate with these crews.
Obviously the issue of refunds has already been raised. We are afraid that no refunds can be given. We have to spend significant sums in advance of the race; much of the income has already been spent. With the number of major head race cancellations in recent years, event insurance is either prohibitively expensive or impossible to secure.
We will take what surplus we might make from this year's event to underwrite the costs of next year's event. The entry fee for the 2009 event will reflect these amounts.
BigBlade were on Chiswick Pier.
Any questions: contact Chris Harrison, the entries secretary: email, telephone on 07973 369106 (evenings only) or Skype to username unsliced.
Previous Years' Results
2007 pictures are available from Big Blade.
The Small Print
To ensure that the Vets Head is not subject to VAT the organisers are obliged by VAT regulations to include the following statement in promotional material for the event - "The Vets Head is organised by Vesta Rowing Club, a Community Amateur Sports Club, that applies any surplus on the event to further the sport of rowing."