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Where have all the Div 1s Gone?
Posted: Wed Jan 26, 2022 2:39 pm
by Dee
Div 1s are usually in a hurry to get their entries in, but this year they are noticeably slower. There are only 3 div 1s currently open for entries and none of them are about to become full!
I'm hoping this is just a delay in paddlers entering and not an overall decrease in numbers. Anecdotal evidence anyone?
Please do not leave it until the last minute to enter - organisers need some idea of numbers to plan. Added to which you will get hit with late fees!
Re: Where have all the Div 1s Gone?
Posted: Sat Jan 29, 2022 7:25 am
by Steve Holmes
Natural drop off over 2 years, extra Covid drop off, either due to lethargy of training for so long with no races, or inability to train under numerous lockdowns, movement to other sports that got competitions going a lot sooner (not a criticism, just an observation). Add to that the fact that exam years are still worried about exams being cancelled so any mock exam in the build up to GCSEs and A Levels could count, alongside a tripling of the number of such exams. Less promotions from div 2 over the last couple of years.
Hopefully the increased numbers attending races at div 2 and 3 will feed through…
Re: Where have all the Div 1s Gone?
Posted: Mon Jan 31, 2022 7:26 pm
by JimW
Maybe waiting until they are told they can apply for their bibs?
Re: Where have all the Div 1s Gone?
Posted: Mon Jan 31, 2022 8:28 pm
by Dee
JimW wrote: ↑Mon Jan 31, 2022 7:26 pm
Maybe waiting until they are told they can apply for their bibs?
Did cross my mind, but it’s never stopped Div 1s in the past!
Re: Where have all the Div 1s Gone?
Posted: Mon Jan 31, 2022 8:38 pm
by Mike Mitchell
81 Entrys to date for Symonds Yat. So the Div 2/3s are getting there's in.
The event has a 130 limit.
Re: Where have all the Div 1s Gone?
Posted: Sat Feb 05, 2022 4:50 pm
by djberriman
Natural ebb and flow of the sport, when they are fully booked people book early, when there is less demand people leave it until the last minute, we've also discouraged advanced booking to some extent with spread 'open for entry' dates, plus covid effect, people possibly less likely to plan far in advance.
But to confirm you don't need your bib until race day, you can enter without having it to hand.
Re: Where have all the Div 1s Gone?
Posted: Sat Feb 05, 2022 5:06 pm
by Dee
There seems to be a lot of ebbing rather than flowing!
We are now only four weeks before the LV Div 1 and numbers are still well down (later div 1 races are even worse so it's not just an LV effect). Late fees will kick in 2 weeks before the race so I'm not sure that this is people just leaving it until the last minute now.
Really pleased to see the 2/3 numbers though, hopefully these will give the sport a boost