Intrepid
travellers keen to win the 2014 River Canal Rescue Cruising Challenge trophy
(recognising the most enterprising non-continuous journey) can log journeys
undertaken since the last Inland Waterway Association Festival rather than wait
until the usual ‘beginning of year’ qualifying period.
RCR
and the IWA have given entrants more time to log journeys to encourage greater
exploration of the UK waterway system, particularly useful as participants
receive additional points if they visit lesser-used waterways and reach distant
end-of-navigations and inland tidal sections.
In
a further change, anyone attending the Festival and submitting their log in
person, with or without boat, is eligible to enter. In the past, only those turning up with their
craft could apply.
River
Canal Rescue Managing Director, Stephanie Horton, comments: “In previous years
the timescales have been limited, making the more inaccessible parts of the
system difficult to visit. By extending
the qualifying period from one Festival to another we’re providing entrants
with greater flexibility when it comes to route planning, plus we’re opening
the competition up to a wider audience.”
The
only restriction for the RCR Cruising Challenge Trophy is that no section of
canal or river may be counted more than once in the same direction in the same
calendar month. Entrants are required to
supply a full cruising log at the 2014 IWA Festival, showing miles and locks,
which must be supported with evidence (photographic or otherwise) of reaching
key destinations during the cruise.
Judges will consider the log presentation and the overall cruise
content, rather than the longest journey.
The
qualifying period for the other two RCR-sponsored trophies; the Robert Aickman
Challenge (most enterprising journey) and AP Herbert (longest journey) remains
around eight weeks before the summer Festival and boat travel to the event is
required when submitting logs. RCR will
continue to give away a year’s free gold, silver and bronze memberships to the
three trophy winners.
To
find out more visit www.rivercanalrescue.co.uk or contact Paul Chilvers, IWA
Festival Awards Officer on 07774 164413.
