What do finish line judges, the timer and the boat controller do?
Guideline- Canada
- Canoe Kayak Canada
- Sprint
- Officiating
- Ages 16+
- 2026
- Officials
- Referees
- Starters
- Chief Finish Line Judge: a Competition Committee member who positions the judges, supplies "judges slips", observes the complete order of finish, collects and compares the slips with their own order, then gives the verified order of finish to the Chief Official (who forwards it to the scorekeeper). If times are recorded, they attach the timer's printout.
- Finish Line Judges: at least two judges plus the Chief Finish Line Judge are needed. Judges bring their own binoculars. Each completes a judges slip immediately after each race. The finish is judged from the moment the bow of the boat reaches the finish line, sighting the finish wire with the designated finish post on the opposite side. If you cannot read the boat number, keep watching until you can identify it. If judges differ, the Chief Finish Line Judge decides the official placement.
- Note on the slip: anything that might affect the decision, for example no official club jersey, no PFD when required, wrong or obstructed back or boat numbers, a competitor who may not be the person listed, a boat finishing out of its lane, or a competitor not in the boat when the bow crosses the line.
- Timer: knows how to operate the equipment, computes and records correct times, and passes them to the Chief Finish Line Judge. If the system fails, the timer must start it manually, which needs continuous contact with the Starter by headset or radio (a stopwatch is started on the Starter's "go" signal). When the Starter calls "one minute to start", other radio communication and public address announcements cease until the start is complete. Two timing devices should be available.
- Boat Controller: measures and weighs boats when called up under the Competition Rules, and notifies the Chief Official of any boat that does not meet the specifications.
Source: Canoe Kayak Canada Officials Manual (rev. March 2023), sections 13.2 to 13.6, 16.1; CKC Sprint Competition Rules 2024-2026.
Added 25 Oct 2026