How are the scores worked out?
Your speed (in m/s) over the whole four lengths is compared with National Championship record pace (in m/s) for that class of boat (which would have been raced over 2000m in still water). This means that if the record pace for a men’s eight is 8 m/s, and an ARC eight achieves a time over the measured distance we row on a Sunday that equals 6m/s, then they get a score of 75%.
So we’ll never get a score over 100% because we’re going round bends and upstream as well as down?
Probably – but it’s about getting a better score each week. And using these record times means there is a fairly even benchmark between men and women in different classes of boat.
Why can’t veterans be compared with veteran record scores?
The one group we can’t provide a record score to compare against is veterans because there are no records over 2000m. So unfortunately they have to be scored against the same open records as everyone else. But the same applies – it provides a target to beat each week.
Do you know the exact distance people are being scored over?
Yes – measuring by Google maps gives the distance. But this becomes less relevant because it's about having a consistent distance to work with each week.
What will happen with the rates?
Rates will gradually rise through the winter. It’s important to stick to the rate cap to get good feedback on where you are – if you’re getting in a hundred more strokes over the whole four lengths (say you’re rating 23 rather than 20) that’s then that will add up, and at some point we’ll do free rate so you might find your scores drop!
How are the scores calculated each week?
There is a spreadsheet set up with formulae into which we input start and finished times for each crew. This works everything out for us – unless we don’t have a laptop with us in which case we have to do it by hand and a calculator!
Is that what you’re doing when you hide round the corner?
The reason Dave Rhodes and I hide around the corner afterwards is we’re trying to get the scores done in time for everyone to get them before they leave. So I’m not meaning to be grumpy – we’re just getting the scores calculated!
Will the scores be put on the website?
We are talking to Matt about putting them on a closed section of the site so members can see them
Do I have to be scored?
No – not at all. Just let me or Dave know and you’ll be started at the front where you can race other people who aren’t being timed either.
