Ryde Rowing Club competed in the first Hants & Dorset Championship Regattas to be held on the Island this season last weekend – the Newport Fours Regatta held on Saturday 6th May and the Small Boats and Junior Regatta on Sunday, 7th May.
The racing was over a straight 1500m course – without the usual Racing turn – on the river Medina starting near the Vestas building and finishing at the Newport R. C. Clubhouse.
The Fours Regatta on the Saturday proved to be a frustrating one for the Wightlink sponsored Ryde Club.
Coastal Juniors: B Crew
The Coastal Junior B Crew of Dan Sanderson, Isaac Gibson, Charlie Watts, Lars Groothius coxed by Joe Bird – racing for the first time at this status after gaining promotion the previous week at Lymington following their win in the Men’s Novice Fours – were unfortunate to draw the current Championship leader from Southampton in their heat but acquitted themselves really well.
Coastal Juniors: A Crew
The Coastal Junior A Crew of Bradley Whiting, Ben Sanderson, Will Hall and Paddy Kearney coxed by Mai Mackay comfortably won their heat to face the Southampton Crew in the final where they lost by the narrowest of margins – just two feet – in the best race of the day.
Small Boats and Junior Regatta
Things improved for the Ryde Club in the Small Boats and Junior Regatta on the Sunday.
Both the Men’s Coastal Junior Pairs crew – the A Crew of Paddy Kearney and Will Hall and the B Crew of Dan Sanderson and Matthew Groothius failed to make the final
Novice Scullers
The Club had four Novice Scullers competing with three of them – Ben Sanderson, Paddy Kearney and Will Hall winning their heats to progress through to the semi-final – with only Dan Sanderson missing out – although unfortunately all three failed to make the final.
Ben Sanderson in the Men’s Coastal Sculls finished second in his Final.
Women’s Novice Sculls
Stella Baisley racing in the Women’s Novice Sculls won her heat finishing third in the final – but went on to race in the Women’s Junior Pair with Chloe Hughes where they avenged their narrow defeat at Lymington the previous week to comfortably secure their first win and Hants and Dorset point.
J16 Coxed Quads
In the J16 Coxed Quads a composite crew between Ryde and Southsea consisting of Lottie Rowland and Mai Mackay of Ryde with Tom Stone and Wil Wreford from Southsea and coxed by Joel Smith finished third in the Final – all the more impressive as this was a J14 Crew rowing-up.
The race was won in fine style by the Ryde Club’s J16 Boys Quad of Joe Bird, Isaac Gibson, Charlie Watts, Lars Groothius and coxed by young Harry Watts – his first win for the Club – and a first win for “Darrell” the Club’s Newest boat – just two weeks after she was launched.
Article edit
10.35am 10th May 2023 – Will Hunt corrected to Will Hall and Dan Sanderson corrected to Ben Sanderson
News shared by Steve on behalf of Ryde Rowing Club. Ed
Image: Ryde’s Winning J16 Quad. Joe Bird. Lars Groothius. Isaac Gibson. Harry Watts. Cox. Charlie Watts with OTW flash
