Thanks to Steve for this update from Ryde Rowing Club. Ed
Having been crowned the Hants & Dorset ARA Men’s Junior Senior Fours Champions for 2014 the previous week, the Ryde crew of Stephen Johnson, Adam Edwards, Ollie Gove and James Cleary with Chloe Weaver of BTC coxing maintained their impressive and dominating performance at Itchen Regatta on Saturday (5th July) to win an eighth consecutive race this season – their dominance of the event putting the season’s remaining fixtures at risk as their opposition consider their options.
In spite of some other strong performances this was the Wightlink sponsored club’s only victory at the Regatta – although their Ladies Junior Pair of Jodie Cocker and Steph Kissick finished first in their final only to be disqualified for a wayward course.
Frustration for other crews
There was frustration for the three Men’s Novice crews – the “A” crew of Will Ford, Callum Lockhart, James Smith and Sam Brading; the “B” Crew of – Joe Groves, Jacob Redstone, Steven Soal and Ben Toms and the “C” crew of Joel Smith, Matt Jeacock, Tom Kearney and Dom Douglas – all coxed by Austin Smith – who were all defeated in their respective heats – although with an average age of just 16 for this squad they do present a bright future for the Club.
Ben Toms, Tom Kearney, Dom Douglas and Jacon Redstone also competed in a J16 Four – once again going out in the heat – the same fate befalling the three J16 Single Scullers – of Steven Soal, Joe Groves and Joel Smith – although they were unlucky with the draw which pitched all three of them against the strongest opposition. Matt Jeacock raced in a composite crew with Shanklin in the Four and made the final.
Senior Sculler Mick Jenner – who also competed in a composite Masters four with BTC – finished second in his final and Novice Sculler Andy Hicks was unlucky to have a dead-heat in his race – forcing a re-row – where he narrowly missed out to the eventual winner. Ryde’s second Novice Sculler – Dale Buckett had an encouraging scull but was also defeated in his heat.
