Hampton Hare & Hounds

The HCC Hare & Hounds is a fun and friendly competition set over a series of races during the summer months. Any club member can take part, and spectators are welcomed, so just come along and join the fun. There’s usually a club get together after the race.

2024 Dates

Races will take place on the following evenings:

  • 8th May (18:00)
  • 5th June (18:30)
  • 26th June (18:00)
  • 17th July (18:00)
  • 14th August (18:00)
  • 4th September (18:00)
  • 25th September (18:00)

2024 Results

Click Here to see the most up to date results for the 2024 season (opens in a Google Doc)

About Hampton Hare and Hounds

It is a classic ‘hare & hounds’ set-up, with slower paddlers starting first and fastest paddlers going last, aiming that everyone finishes at a similar time. The course is 3.3 miles.

In previous years you had to complete a certain number of races in the same vessel in order to qualify for a prize. However, the rules have now changed so that members are encouraged to try different boats. From this year, you only need to compete once in a category in order to qualify, which gives competitors a chance to try out a whole range of skills!

Registration

Entry to the competition is free but only open to club members.

Please register half an hour before the race starts in order to be given your time. Initially, this will be based on your estimation of how long it will take you to complete the course. Subsequently, it will be based on your fastest finish time (provided you are in the same boat)..

There will be a safety briefing before the start of every race.

If you see another paddler in distress during your race, please assist them!

If you are not participating, consider volunteering as a timekeeper or start/finish assistant (to help people launch and get out at the end).

The course

Note: the map still shows the course passing to the left of the sailing club. Please keep right of the sailing club to avoid any kids jumping off the roof.

The start/finish line is the small tree on the river bank near the club pontoon.

  1. Paddle upstream, leaving the sailing club to the left (to avoid kids jumping off the roof)
  2. Leave Platts Eyot to your LEFT going past the LEH/Hampton School boat club
  3. Pass Aquarius Sailing club
  4. Turn in around the back of the first small island (Kingfisher Island) 
  5. Paddle up the back of the island, looking out for any fishermen on the first corner
  6. Head across the river with care and go downstream
  7. Keep downstream by the river bank, leaving Platts Eyot on your LEFT.
  8. Continue past the club, staying inshore of Garricks Ait.
  9. Continue to the little island (Swan Island) above Tagg’s island and turn back upstream and across the river to be within touching distance of the chalet boat with your paddle
  10. Head back upstream towards the club
  11. The finish line is by the bench in the car park (there used to be a tree here), the same as the start line. (up to 2019, the course continued around the sailing club but was shortened in 2020).

Historic results

Download the Historic results (MS Excel)