Young Ryde rowing club members at Itchen

Encouraging performances by young Ryde rowers

Steve Bull from Ryde Rowing Club shares this latest report. Ed


Wightlink sponsored Ryde Rowing Club took their Junior under 14 squad – nearly all of whom were competing on the mainland for the Club for the first time – to the Itchen Imperial Rowing Club Junior Sprint Regatta on Saturday (8th October) where they produced some encouraging performances.

J14 Coxed Quads
The Club had two crews competing in the J14 Coxed Quad event where the “A” crew of – Josh Lee, Tom Starkey, Tye Cameron, Ben Sanderson and Daniel Sanderson (Cox) – comfortably won their heat to claim a place in the final where they finished second although, unfortunately, the Race Officials were confused by the Crews “A” designation and applied an incorrect handicap at the start giving their opponents a three length advantage, which may well have affected the result of this close fought race.

The B Crew of – Freya Drage, Austin Smith, Lyle Winfield, Paddy Kearney and cox Eirann McClumpha – finished second in their heat just missing out on a place in the final.

J14 Double Sculls
All eight of the Club’s J14 Squad then competed in the J14 Double Sculls event with the “A” crew Josh Lee and Tom Starkey and the “B” crew of Tye Cameron and Ben Sanderson both winning their respective heats before going on to finish second and third in the Final respectively.

The “C” Crew of Freya Drage and Austin Smith and the “D” crew of Lyle Winfield and Paddy Kearney both finished second in their respective heats just missing out on the final.

J12 Coxed Quads
The Club’s J11 Coxed Quad of – Eirann McClumpha, Daniel Sanderson, Harry Jones and Ben Redstone and coxed by coach Joel Smith – had no competition so were forced to race in the older J12 event where they sculled well to finish in second place.

Sculls
Two of this crew – Harry Jones, Ben Redstone then competed in the J12 Double Sculls securing another second place.

The Club’s also had a J14 Single sculler competing, who secured yet another second place for the Club in his final.

Unfortunately the Club will not be competing at next weekend’s BTC River and Coastal Head of the River race, re-scheduled from earlier in the year after its cancellation due to the weather, as the events clashes with the Clubs Annual presentation Dinner.

Image: Ryde RC J14 Squad