The last Hants and Dorset Championship Regatta of this much curtailed season took place at Newport, on the River Medina over the weekend (of Saturday, 21st August/Sunday 22nd August) with the Fours Regatta taking place on the Saturday and the Junior and Small Boats Regatta on the Sunday.
This was the only one of the three Island H&D ARA Championship Regattas to take place – Shanklin falling foul of Covid and Ryde suffering a cancellation because of the ongoing activity by Southern Water in Appley Park. Wightlink sponsored Ryde Rowing Club were well represented on both days.
Novice Four A Crew
On the Saturday the Club’s Novice Four A Crew of Paddy Kearney, Callum Hynd, Harry Jones, and Frankie Leftley and coxed by Camon Adams comfortably won their heat, but could only manage third place in the final which would have been a disappointment for them.
Novice Crews
Both the Novice B Crew of Gulley Rhogan, Will Hall, Elliott O’Sullivan and Tom Kerver with Mai MacKay coxing and the C Crew of Yogi Ashworth, Bradley Whiting, Seb McKeown and Dan Sanderson with Otis Ripley coxing finished second in their respective heats failing to make the final.
Men’s Junior Senior Four
The Men’s Junior Senior Four of Ben Sanderson, Joel and Austin Smith – both recently recovered from Covid – and with Dale Buckett making a welcome return to competitive rowing with the Club following a Henley Royal regatta outing with his river Club – and with Niamh Murphy coxing – rowed well to finish in second place in their final after a restart.
Ladies Senior Four
The Ladies Senior Four of Ayesha Russell, Lisa Murphy, Catherine Oatley and Emily Faithfull with Mick Jenner coxing also rowed well, but were narrowly defeated in their heat finishing in second place and failing to make the final.
Ladies Junior Four
The Ladies Junior Four of Beth Walpole, Julie Clark – on loan for the season from Newport – Niamh Murphy and Ella Nichols with Camon Adams coxing rowed well, but could only finish third in their heat in what was their first competitive outing since promotion to this status.
Ladies Novice Scullers
The Club had more success on the Sunday in the small boat events – with the Ladies Novice Sculler – Ella Nichols winning her heat and the final before going on to race in the Ladies Senior Pairs final with Emily Faithfull which they also won in a very close contest.
The Club’s second Ladies Novice Sculler – Niamh Murphy – finished third in her heat.
Men’s Novice Sculls
In the Men’s Novice Sculls there was disappointment for all four of the Ryde Scullers – Austin Smith, Ben Sanderson, Harry Jones and Paddy Kearney who could all only manage second in their respective heats all failing to make the final.
Coastal Junior Scullers
There was a better performance for the Club’s Coastal Junior Sculler – Joel Smith – who comfortably won his heat, but could only manage second in the final and Senior Sculler Dale Buckett – who had not raced in a scull for two years could only finish second in his heat and a Coastal Junior Pair of Ben Sanderson and Callum Hynd finished third in their heat.
Boy’s J16 Coxed Four
In the J16 event the Club’s Boy’s J16 Coxed Four of Elliott O’Sullivan, Bradley Whiting, Frankie Leftley and Dan Sanderson with Camon Adams (pictured near top) coxing once again won their final reasonably comfortably.
This was a particularly impressive performance from Dan Sanderson as he had only just won his J16 Single Sculls heat – and had to compete in the final directly afterwards where it was hardly surprising, he finished in third place.
News shared by Steve ion behalf of Ryde Rowing Club. Ed
