Getting to GOM, Parking, Trailers, etc…

Getting to the Start at WNRC, your SatNav should direct you to West Norfolk Rowing Club/Denver Sluice via A10.  There is a clear brown Tourist Information sign marked “Denver Complex”. This is the route that all competitors should take please.

Please do not be tempted to use a small local road on the west bank (Ten Mile Bank/Church Road/Engine Road/Ten Mile Bank) as this is a true “Fen” road – it is used by mainly farm machinery and locals, it has severe undulations which can cause serious damage to cars, for the main part single track and at one point there is a low bridge which is also on a slight bend which would struggle to get a trailer under safely. Mainly though, this really is a local’s road and lots of race traffic is not good for neighbourly relations – your cooperation in this would be very much appreciated.

1. Key points

For Isle of Ely Rowing Club, rowing the Great Ouse Marathon is the easy bit!

The hard bit is managing our very limited parking and arranging for our volunteers to be available where and when they are needed. It will greatly help both you and us if you can

  • Provide a non-rowing support driver who can bring your car / trailer from the start to the finish whilst you are rowing the race.
  • Let us know your boat transport arrangements in advance on this form.
  • Be aware of the arrangements in this note.

2. Information in sections below

3 Managing arrivals

4 Minibus from Isle of Ely RC to West Norfolk RC

5 Managing departures

6 Directions to start

7 Directions to finish

8 Plans of car parking

3. Managing arrivals

Because of very limited parking, we request competitors and supporters car-share as much as possible.

3a If you are travelling on race day, please go directly to West Norfolk RC (WNRC).

The start is in a rural area, with narrow, winding roads. It is important that we organise parking so that we don’t disrupt the local community. Please do not park on the road.

Got your boat on your car roof? If you have roof-topped, your boat, you will directed to a wooden gate which is the entrance to WNRC’s site. You will need to offload your boat here and you will then be directed to take your vehicle to other car parks as directed by marshals. It will be very apparent that it is not possible to leave vehicles by this gate.

There are 3 car parks for competitors at WNRC:

1 trailer park

2 short term parking

3 long term parking

Trailer park – Take your trailer to this main car park where you will be required to un-hitch, move the trailer into place and leave it here. Trailers must be removed by 4:00pm

Short term parking – this is provided for non-rowing supporters who will be following their crew to Ely; and be leaving when their crew has started. If you have a trailer, we ask if possible that a non-rowing supporter takes your trailer to Ely at this time. This car park will close at 2:00pm.

Long term parking – this is provided for cars which will be left and collected after the race; but please note:

  • This car park will be locked at 6:00pm, so please collect your vehicle before then.
  • IoERC has a limited capacity to provide a minibus service from IoERC to WNRC after the race, but this will be restricted to drivers who need to collect a vehicle to transport boats. We cannot provide transport for whole crews / squads / supporters. Please see link and info at 4 below.

3b If you are travelling on Saturday, you have the option of leaving your boat(s) overnight at WNRC or IoERC.

Boats left at WNRC – this has the advantage of taking your boat(s) directly to the start, but there is no overnight security. There is some CCTV coverage (managed by Environment Agency), and a raising / lowering bar on the vehicle access which should be locked overnight, but would not prevent persons entering round the gate.Please note that access on Saturday will only be available between 11.30am and 3pm.

Please note that access at Ely on Saturday will only be available until 3.45pm.

Please let us know your plans on the form here

4. Minibus from Isle of Ely RC to West Norfolk RC

We have arranged a minibus to take competitors from Ely to Denver. The minibus will only run at 13.00 and 14.30 and each trip will have 16 seats available. This is aimed more at competitors who are single scullers etc. The cost is £6.90. If you wish to book a place on the minibus it must be pre-booked (via the form here) and pre-paid. Please do not send whole crews back this way, we reserve the right to refund you and give your place to another person. If we are over-subscribed we will let you know and ask you to make your own travel arrangements. Once we know the draw we will tell you the time of your minibus ride. You must pay for the minibus by 2 September. Bank details are below and please be sure to use the Ref to help our treasurer!

Account name: Isle of Ely Rowing Club
Sort code: 40-16-08
Account number: 14420810
Ref: GOM Minibus

5. Managing departures

The approach to the IoERC is down Kiln Lane, which is a private road, with a heavy steel gate at the top. There are speed humps, and the lane is popular with dog walkers etc, so please restrict speed to 10mph.

The lane is narrow, and we will need to have 2-way traffic (empty trailers coming in, loaded trailers going out), so please do not park on the road or verges.

5a Parking at IoERC

Again, parking is very limited at IoERC. There are 3 parking areas:

1 trailer parking around Cooke’s factory

2 rooftop loading area

3 EA depot car park

Trailer parking around Cooke’s factory – This is on concrete roads around the factory. In order to accommodate the anticipated number of trailers, it is essential that drivers follow marshals’ instructions on where to park and how to align trailers.

There is a de-rigging area for trailered boats inside the adjacent factory yard. Please be courteous to other clubs, and don’t take more space than you need!

Rooftop loading area – a tarmacked car park adjacent to the factory. This will be signposted, and marshals will be available to direct.

EA depot car park – is available for general car parking. Marshals will direct you.

This car park will be locked at 3pm promptly by EA. We have no discretion on this, so please ensure that your car is removed by this time.

In addition – there is limited parking on unmade roadside at the very top of Kiln Lane (between the public highway and the steel gate at the top of the hill). This is used by the general public (dog-walkers, fishermen etc). We will not be directing people specifically to this area, BUT we will be closing the steel gate at the top of the hill at 4pm, so if you wish to go to dinner in Ely before setting off for home, trailers could be left here outside the gate until you are ready to leave.

5b collecting trailers and vehicles from the start

We hope that as many clubs as possible will have non-rowing supporters to bring vehicles and trailers from the start to the finish while you row.

IoERC has a limited capacity to provide a minibus service from IoERC to WNRC after the race. Please see 4. Above for details.

Because of the time for a round trip, there is a limit to how many runs we can make.  We aim to run the Minibus at 1pm and 2.30pm; with a view to getting trailers back to Ely, loaded and clear of the IoERC site by 4pm when we will be locking up. The trailer park at WNRC will close at 4pm.

Please indicate if you want to book a seat on the Minibus Service on the form here

6. Directions to Start

Satnav use PE38 0EQ.

What3words: tiles.elevator.direction

Directions (from A10):

• Turn off A10 signposted Denver (also brown tourist signs to “Denver Complex” and “Denver Mill”)

• In Denver, turn down beside the Bell Inn – signposted Denver Sluice.

• The sluice is about 2.5 miles from here (see photo below).

Denver Sluice

• Go over the sluice and follow road round to the left. The trailer park and race reception is on your left.

We wish to thank our friends at West Norfolk Rowing Club (WNRC) for providing their facilities at the start. Please take a look at their website which shows the location.

7. Directions to finish

IoERC is in a large, rural post code area. If you key our post code into a satnav, you will end up in a housing estate over 1km from the club!

Type “Isle of Ely Rowing Club” into google maps to see where we are.

what3words: wove.harmlessly.clenching

7a by road from the start

  • From WNRC, drive back over Denver Sluice (or from long term car park turn right) and head to Denver village
  • At Denver, pass the Bell Inn on your right and turn right at the road junction.
  • Follow this road until junction with the A10. Turn right onto A10 and follow for Littleport.
  • At the roundabout take the second exit for Littleport and Queen Adelaide.
  • Turn right at the junction at the end of this road, onto Prickwillow Road (B1382) and over Queen Adelaide Bridge (race finish).
  • Drive through Queen Adelaide to mini roundabout
  • Turn left at mini roundabout
  • After about ½ mile, turn left into Kiln Lane7b by road from Ely
  • Leave Ely on Prickwillow Road (B1382 to Queen Adelaide and Prickwillow)
  • Straight on at mini roundabout
  • 200yds after mini roundabout, turn right into Kiln Lane (see photo below).

7b by road from Ely

  • Leave Ely on Prickwillow Road (B1382 to Queen Adelaide and Prickwillow)
  • Straight on at mini roundabout
  • 200yds after mini roundabout, turn right into Kiln Lane (see photo below).

8. Parking plans

Parking at Start (WNRC)

WNRC GOM start

Parking at Finish – Kiln Lane

Kiln Lane GOM layout 1

Parking at finish (IoERC)

Kiln Lane GOM layout 2