Thanks to Steve for this latest rowing update from Ryde. Ed
Following a disappointing season in 2015 there was an encouraging start for the Wightlink sponsored Ryde Rowing Club in their first competitive outing of 2016.
They were racing at Christchurch Rowing Club’s Head of the Stour, a timed event, staged in two divisions, over a two mile course on the River Stour and came away with three wins, two seconds and a fourth place.
First division rowers
Most of the Ryde crew raced in the first division where there was a particularly strong performance from the two Ladies Novice Coastal Fours – several of whom were competing in their first race.
In a strong field of 11 crews the “B” crew of Lisa Murphy, Catherine Murphy, Kristy Newnham and Ayesha Russell, with Coach Mick Jenner coxing finished first in a time of 13 minutes, 17 seconds narrowly beating the Club’s “A” crew of Kate Whitehurst, Julie Cole, Abi Locke and Karen Crook who were coxed by coach Allan Evans, who finished in second place with a time of 13 minutes 20 seconds.
A Men’s Novice four of Dom Douglas, Jacob Redstone, Ben Toms and Joe Groves, coxed by Dale Buckett also competed in this division finishing first with a time of 11 minutes 28 seconds – although they had limited opposition.
A Senior Pair of James Smith and Joe Evans-Murry suffered from a clash of blades with one of one of their opposition forcing them to stop briefly and possibly costing them a place. They finished fourth in a time of 13th minutes seven seconds. Joel Smith, competing in only his second Coastal Novice Sculling event did well to finish in second place in a time of 12 minutes 35 seconds.
In the second division, Joel Smith joined Ben Toms, Jacob Redstone and Joe Groves – with Dale Buckett coxing once again to compete in the Men’s Coastal Coxed fours where they finished first, in a time of 12 minutes 59 seconds, in another strong field of 11 crews.
