Jock River Race Moved to Sunday, April 7
This week’s snow fall has forced the annual Jock River Race to move from Sat., April 6 to Sun., April 7. The race was originally scheduled for April 20, but was moved up two weeks because of the early spring.
Race registration must be done online at jockriverrace.com. Race-day registrations at the park will not be permitted.
The race put-in is located where Munster Road meets the Jock River. You may park your vehicle on the side of the road. You will need to go through a removed fence section when bringing your boat to the water. The put in at the water can be quite busy during the race, so please be mindful of others and make room by paddling to an available spot on the river when possible. Racers should aim to be on the water at least 15 minutes before their planned start.
The race is scheduled to start at 12:00pm. Every minute a wave of 4 or 5 boats will leave the start line. The order of boats and waves is not predefined, as such that boat number 1 does not have to be the first boat at the starting line. When you are ready, make your way to the starting line and wait for instructions. The stern paddler can hold on to the starting rope while waiting for the start signal.
The finish line is an imaginary line formed by two buoys placed on either side of the river at Jock River Park.
A shuttle will be available to transport racers back to the race start line location if necessary.
An awards ceremony will be held at 2:30pm or earlier depending on the last race finish. Medals will be given to those present at the ceremony or mailed out on request to racers who cannot attend the ceremony.
The route
The start area for this 12.5 km (7.8 mile) section of the Jock River is on the Munster Rd. about 2 km south of the Franktown Rd.
A few minutes downstream there is a shallow rapid followed shortly by an easy chute of fast water. Open fields and the occasional farmhouse mark the next few kms before several sharp bends signal the beginning of the “Richmond Fen”, an interesting and rather eerie wetland. The first appearance of the railway marks the end of the fen, and the river widens considerably.
Shortly after passing the Trans-Canada Pipeline a long class I rapid awakens your adrenaline. The church spires of Richmond now come into view, followed by another long set of class I rapids which require some maneuvering to avoid rocks. From the end of these rapids the orange buoy marking the finish line at the Jock River Park is a welcome sight.
All paddlers including canoes, kayaks, SUPs, voyageur boats and others are welcome to race. Whether you’re a seasoned marathoner or just want to try it out this race is for you. Racing experience is not required, simply a desire to join a fun event and to get an early put-in on the water.
The Jock River Race saw its beginning in 1971 as a whitewater race on the lower Jock River. Starting the first year with modest participation, the race quickly grew into one of the more popular races in the province of Ontario. In the year 2000, the race had moved to its current location on the calmer waters of the upper Jock.
In recent years, the number of entries has hovered around 130 canoes and kayaks with over 200 paddlers taking part! The majority of entries fall into the recreational boat category with a few competitive racing C1s and C2s known to start their season off on the Jock River. Also included are Parent/Child and Family categories to encourage participation of younger racers to help the sport grow within the next generation of paddlers.
The Jock River Race was formerly sponsored by the Township of Goulbourn until its amalgamation with Ottawa in 2000, and by the City until 2003. Since 2003, the race has been organized by local enthusiasts and supported by the generosity of local businesses.
