The Wednesday Night Time Trial is the thread that ties LCRK together. A large number of regulars turn up each week rain, hail or shine to take on the clock and each other. There's plenty of talk before and after the paddling but on the water it's eyes forward.

Wednesday nights are a great opportunity to meet experienced paddlers and improve your fitness and skills. Please read the following so that you are aware of your responsibilities on and off the water.

Above: TT's are held year round. Photo: John Harrison (PNSW Image of the Year 2021-22)

Newcomers and prospective members

The information on our membership page will provide additional context to the content below.

Location

The Wednesday Night Paddle takes place on the Lane Cove River, starting at the Chatswood Athletic Field on the corner of Epping and Mowbray Roads, Lane Cove West. There is ample parking for cars and access to the course from a pontoon.

Please do not park close to the amenities building unless you have equipment required for the running of the time trial. Park in the designated car park area.

Schedule

• First Wednesday of the month: Singles Cup - Start on your allocated Singles Cup Handicap to score points for the Crudslime Cup (12km), Sugarloaf Cup (9km) or Coffee Cup (6km). Read here for more detail on how the 'Singles Cup' works.
• Second Wednesday of the month: Doubles Cup - Try a double and start on your allocated Doubles Cup Handicap to score Doubles cup points. Read here for more detail on how the 'Doubles Cup' work.
• Third Wednesday of the month: Reverse Course - Head downstream from the start using your Non-cup Start Time
• Fourth & Fifth Wednesdays of the month: Standard Timetrial using your Non-cup Start Time

Time Trials are on every Wednesday of the year usually with the following exceptions:

• The Christmas break is for the two weeks from 20th December to 2nd January
• The Christmas Party/BBQ is held on the Wednesday before 20th December.
• The HCC BBQ is on the first Wednesday after the HCC, for members to share their HCC experience. This is usually the last week of October.
• There are occasional cancellations for safety reasons due to bushfire, flooding, lightning, pandemics etc.

Time Trial Procedure

• Register for the time trial by recording your number and name against your handicap start time. Your first handicap start time will be given to you by a committee member following discussion. Thereafter, handicaps and recommended start times are generated automatically by The Handicapper).
• Non-members must pre-arrange participation by contacting a committee member or emailing the committee in advance of the time trial. Registrations of non-members will not be accepted after 6:10pm on the Wednesday night.
• Every paddler must display a reflective number or letter board on their boat identifying them to the timekeepers. Fully paid-up members are allocated a permanent number and number board. Visitors or first-timers will receive a letter board which they use for that night only.
• There are 3 measured distances available; a 6km distance for beginners or those in slower craft, a 9km intermediate course, and 12 km for regular experienced paddlers. The 12km distance takes between 50 minutes (~14 km/h) and 80 minutes (~9km/h). Paddlers should stick with the 6km and 9km courses until they can complete 12km in under 80 minutes.
• Once on the water at the pontoon, paddlers go downstream 200m (keeping to the Right Hand Side of the river, away from the racing-line) to the start line, which is under the Epping Rd Bridge, then turn around and face upstream and await their start. You should be on the water at least 5 minute before your start.
• Paddlers start in their handicap groups at the following intervals

• When the paddler's handicap start time is called, paddlers line up behind the start, are accounted for by the timekeepers, before being started at the appropriate time.
• An illuminated timing board shows you your time at the start and finish, and the results are also posted on the LCRK website each week.

Costs

The following are the participation costs for the Wednesday night time trials.

Juniors (Paddlers <18yo)

LCRK club facilities are currently not suitable to support Junior Paddlers. Involvement of Juniors in the club is restricted to direct relatives/guardians of existing members, who directly supervise the junior themselves.

Juniors without paddling experience
Juniors interested in paddling at the club but with no paddling experience are encouraged (as are adults) to first gain experience in a more suitable environment (see Membership page)

Juniors with paddling experience
Experienced juniors are welcome to paddle in our time trials provided they satisfy the following:

• May only paddle at LCRK via prior arrangement. See Contact LCRK page
• Must be a PNSW Member and a Member of a PNSW affiliated Club (otherwise Single Event Membership must be paid).
• Must wear a properly fitted life jacket
• must initially be accompanied on the water by a parent/guardian who is knowledgeable of the LCRK TT course, time trial procedure and etiquette
• Once familiar with the course, TT procedure and etiquette Juniors may paddle the time trial at the discretion of the club and with permission of their parent/guardian
• Note it is unlikely any new visiting juniors will be accommodated in the dark

Suitable Craft

Virtually any paddle craft can be used in the time trial. Popular boats include sea kayaks, multisports, K1s, TK1s, Flashes, Ocean Racing skis. Most paddlers supply their own kayaks, however the club has various boats available for members to borrow, including several suitable for novice members to try out. Refer to our Club Boats & Boat Hire page.

Timekeeping

All members are expected to take part in timekeeping duties when requested, usually twice per year

Safety and Regulations

Kayaking is a potentially dangerous sport (especially after dark) and all paddlers must be familiar with and comply with all the applicable safety requirements, including Lifejacket (PFD) and lighting requirements, when taking part in the Wednesday Night Time Trial.

• If you do not complete the course for any reason you must return to the start line and make the timekeepers aware of your presence so they can mark off your number. This is necessary to avoid instigating a search procedure.
• Paddlers passing the 6km turn buoy after 7.30pm on their downstream leg, must turn back to the start to avoid unnecessary search procedures being commenced.

Etiquette

All Members and visitors are subject to the Paddle Australia Code of Behaviour which can be found here. Please familiarise yourself with this document.

All paddlers are reminded that LCRK Time Trials are not races. Our Time trials are run for individuals to improve fitness and boat handing skills, and to reach personal goals. They are conducted in a supportive and encouraging environment, and are inclusive of paddlers of all skill levels. Behaviour that might be acceptable in a ‘race’ is not acceptable in our time trials. All paddlers must be accommodated by each other on the water with respect and etiquette to ensure they have a good experience and want to come back.

• Kayak with bow in front at each turn has right of way.
• Keep to the right of the channel at all times. Veer right to avoid an oncoming kayak.
• When overtaking on a corner, go wide and to the outside of the slower kayak. Give a boat length clearance before cutting in. The boat in front has right of way. Do not call a warning to the boat in front as this can lead to confusion. The onus is on the passing boat to pass safely and courteously.
• Be aware of fisherpeople and stay away from their lines.
• Do not call your number at the finish line unless requested to do so by the timekeepers.

Time trial courses

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• The 12km course follows the river upstream to Fullers Bridge, turning anticlockwise around the right hand pylon, then downstream past the pontoon all the way to the last red (port) marker pylon before the Figtree bridge. Paddlers turn anticlockwise around this marker and return upstream to the finish line under the Epping Rd Bridge.
• The reverse 12km is the exact reverse of the above - downstream to Fig Tree Bridge, upstream to Fullers Bridge and finish line, finishing downstream under Epping Bridge.
• The 9km course is similar to the 12km course, except that instead of going all the way to Figtree Bridge, paddlers turn anticlockwise around the first red floating buoy on the right just past the narrows at Sugarloaf Pt.
• The reverse 9km is the exact reverse of the above - downstream to the 9km turn, upstream to Fullers Bridge and finish line, finishing downstream under Epping Bridge.
• The 6km course is similar to the 12km course, except that instead of going all the way to Figtree Bridge, paddlers turn anticlockwise around the first red floating buoy downstream of the footbridge, before returning upstream to the finish line at Epping Rd.
• The reverse 6km course is a little different - downstream to the red buoy under Burns Bay Rd at Linley Pt (check the map!) then back over the finish line, finishing upstream at the Epping Bridge,

See the course videos referenced above to get more of an idea..

River Map

We hope you enjoy being part of the Lane Cove River Kayakers experience on the beautiful Lane Cove River!