22 February 2024
Rule #5 now updated, as follows:
“All competitors must display their race number to the front, at all times, and ensure it is recorded at every checkpoint en route, by showing it, upon arrival, to the timekeeper. The medical form on the reverse of the number must be completed including emergency contact name and telephone number.”
Rule #8 now updated, as follows:
“All competitors must carry a whistle, and a survival blanket (140cm x 200cm minimum size), at all times.”
Rule #11 now updated, as follows:
“All competitors must carry the provided maps, at all times, in order to pin-point their location should their crew or our transport (in the case of Unsupporteds) need to collect them upon retirement.”
6 November 2023
GUCR 2024 pre-registration on SiEntries closed at the stroke of midnight 31 October 2023 – the draw and allocation of all places is now complete. The provisional entry list can be found here; there is no waiting list. Pre-registration to enter the GUCR 2025 draw for places opens 06:00 19 September 2024 and closes 31st October 2024 – all diary dates for the 2025 season will be announced in early January 2024.
21 October 2023
So far 182 applicants are successfully pre-registered for GUCR 2024 on SiEntries; applications will close at midnight on Monday 31 October. The lottery draw will take place from 7pm Friday 3 November at The Tap & Spile canalside pub in Birmingham. Please let me know if you plan to attend. Later in the evening the outcome of the assigned 180 places will be announced via email to all applicants, displayed on the canalrace.org.uk News section and posted on the usual social media platforms. Once the draw is concluded, there will be no waiting list for places. Best of luck! Keith
21 September 2023
Entries are now open on SiEntries for all three 2024 canal races. Those intending to pre-register for the GUCR draw, as well as Canalslam-hopefuls, should review the notes below posted on 2nd September.
02 September 2023
Entries for the 2024 Canalslam races open from Thursday 21 September at 06:00 on SiEntries. Each race can be entered as a one-off, but competitors completing all three receive a special award.
The option to enter more than one race, or all three for the Canalslam will be shown on SiEntries. In the hope of reducing daft questions later, the questionnaire there can only be answered if you have read all the pre-race information i.e. pre-entry notes, terms and conditions, information and rules.
Entries for the Warwickshire Ring and Liverpool to Leeds will be confirmed immediately i.e. completed as soon as payment is made on SiEntries; subject to correct questionnaire answers!
GUCR pre-registrations will take no payment, and the deadline for pre-registration is end of 31 October. Most places will be allocated by names being drawn from a hat in early November. All applicants will be notified of the result soon afterwards. Those successful will be invited back to SiEntries by email within a few days in order to make payment and confirm their place.
There are additional questions to be answered for the GUCR so we can record those intending to complete the Canalslam, and also to identify those persons that were unsuccessful in last year’s draw; who will receive an extra ticket in the hat.
To significantly improve chances of success at the GUCR draw, we encourage choosing the Supported (with own crew) category. Due to the high demand for an Unsupported (tended by organisers) place, versus the very limited places available.
At the GUCR draw evening in November (after the pre-registration window closes), 180 names will be allocated GUCR places from the applications received, as follows:
* each year some places are reserved for those that have made a significant contribution to the GUCR over its 31 year history, as well as to help rebalance the entry list in the organiser’s eyes, should it be needed.
N.B. all GUCR entry pre-registration data, including questionnaire answers, supported/unsupported choice, and intention to go for the Canalslam, are editable by each applicant up until the end of 31 October 2023.