1 st Redbourn Sedan Chair Race 2007 – Guidelines

Download PDF documents

Safety

All ‘riders' in the chair MUST wear a safety helmet with a chinstrap at all times. Teams will not be allowed to start the race if the rider is without adequate head protection and will be disqualified if seen without the helmet during the race. The wearing of knee and elbow pads is recommended.

The chair seat must be on a level with the carrying frame to ensure stability of the chair when being carried.

The chair MUST have some sort of finger block for protection under the main frame, so that when the chair is repositioned on the floor there is enough clearance between fingers and floor so that crushing does not take place.

Chairs considered to be unsafe at the time of judging will not be allowed to start the race, e.g. sharp protruding edges (internal or external), or particularly poor construction.

JUDGING GUIDELINES

Refer to the main sheet on Judging Guidelines when building your chair – but the following is also important - Please ensure that your chairs theme is easily recognisable, for example a sign stating your chosen theme that can be left in the judging area.

TEAM SIZE

The team should consist of a maximum of 7 participants. No leaders or supporters to be with the team during the race or this will lose your team points.

RIDER OUT OF CHAIR

All riders MUST remain in the chair for the duration of the race; if a rider comes out of the chair then the team may lose points.

SCORING OF THE CATEGORIES AND RACE

There are 5 categories – Most Unusual, Most Topical, Best Dressed Team, Best Finishing and Fastest.

For 1st place in a category 15 points

For 2nd place 12 points

For 3rd place 10 points

And down to 0.

No joint places will be awarded to the top 3 positions.

What is a Sedan Chair?

 

Historically - A Sedan chair is an enclosed windowed chair with an upholstered interior suitable for a single occupant, which was carried by two porters, one in front, one behind, using wooden rails that passed through metal brackets on the sides of the chair. These porters were known in London as "chairmen" and could be counted on to turn out in any public brawl. .

Sedan Chairs for the Race

As this is a competition and we aren't that mean, you can use up to six people to carry one person in the chair. The chairs take the form of a themed fancy dress and will be judged on several topics. The team has free choice of theme (with the scouting centenary in mind), but remember that points are awarded for the theme and how well the theme is implemented.

Most Unusual - The chair with the most unusual theme.

Most Topical - The theme judged most topical at the time - remember that this is judged on the chair and effort to show the theme.

Best Dressed Team - Team's costumes will be judged on design and co-ordination with the chair's theme.

Best Finishing - The chair that finishes in the best condition including its theme design.

Fastest – The quickest team across the finishing line.

Overall Winners

This is the team which collect's the most points from the race and the judging categories.

Race Conditions

To ensure that the competition remains enjoyable for everyone involved we have a few simple conditions for entry:

• The competition is open to all Beavers( they will carry a teddy rather than another beaver, for saftey), Cubs and Scouts (although no mixed sections ie, Beavers cannot join a Scout team).
• All people attending shall be invested members of the appropriate section.
• Every team must have a warranted leader present.
• Every group must have provision for their own first aid requirements.
  Building a Sedan Chair

All chairs need to meet the following criteria or they will not be allowed to take part in the race;

• Safety – Everyone must be safe, that includes the team carrying the chair and fellow competitors.
• Strength – the people carrying the chair need to be able to carry it safely!
• Stability - should be stable when carrying (Make sure the people that carry it are around the same sort of build and height).
• Weight - You have to carry it and a person (plus any decoration) for the distance of the race
  

The Frame

A typical design for a chair frame is a seat supported by two poles on either side running back to front and one running side to side – as shown below.

 

This allows 4 to 6 people to carry. One person each side, one or two at front and back. This combination gives good stability – but can be wide and less manoeuvrable though trees.

Try out design using quick lash ups before spending lots of time

Decorations

Keep it light in weight.
The person inside needs to be able to get in or out easily.