Alex Robertson and Harry Miselbach :

Five Shanklin Sandown Rowing club crews head to Dorset

Our thanks to Alex for this latest report from Shanklin Sandown Rowing Club.


Following up his recent win at the Southampton Head, and fresh from top ten position at the national indoor rowing championships, Harry Miselbach carried on his winning form with an outstanding scull to secure the Novice Coastal sculls event. Most impressively, Harry’s time was the quickest of all coastal scullers in the event.

Alex Robertson, finalist in two categories in the IOW Sports awards, won the Men’s Open river sculls event in a closely fought race. Despite steering difficulties in the last 200 metres, Alex clawed his way back through the field to storm the line in winning form.

Further wins
Such were the quality of Shanklin racing crews; just thirteen seconds separated the Senior Pair, Junior Four and Novice Ladies crews of three further wins.

The ever – improving Novice ladies crew of Juliette Wrixon, Hannah Cusworth, Amber Delandro, Rebecca Nigh (Stroke) and Garry Walters (Cox) had an excellent row but found themselves in a very close race, with some aggressive steering from other crews denying them opportunities to close the necessary gaps. Having to be content with third place on this occasion, the girls were nevertheless pleased with their performance.

Coping well with Senior status
Current Hants and Dorset Junior Pairs champions, Alex Robertson and Joe Murray are coping well with the adjustment to Senior status. They enjoyed a sharp, clean row and demonstrated solid technique in another very close race. Finishing just three seconds behind resident senior champions Lymington, they can now take stock of the work to be done as they plan their challenge this season.

Competing in the Junior Fours event, Joe Robertson, Henry Gove, Harry Hopper, Matt Miselbach (Stroke) with Garry Walters (Cox) starred in another agonisingly close race, coming through the line in breath taking form, but found themselves judged one second behind the host clubs crew.

Performances to date bode well for the forthcoming season. Shanklin crews are busy now preparing for the final Head race next month in Southampton, before the regatta season starts in May.

Image: Winners, Alex Robertson and Harry Miselbach