Thanks to Steve for this update from Ryde Rowing Club. Ed
It was an inauspicious start to the Hants & Dorset Coastal season on Saturday (4th May) for Ryde Rowing Club who left the Island early to travel to Bournemouth for the first Championship Regatta only to arrive to find sea conditions rapidly deteriorating, resulting in cancellation before the scheduled start time and an early return to the Island.
Ryde Regatta
The Club is certainly hoping for better conditions this weekend when the Club will now host what will be the first Championship Regatta from Appley Beach on the Saturday (11th May) with Shanklin the following day.
At one hundred and four entries, these are up on last year – with a significant increase in the Novice Fours events – probably as a result of “Olympic” effect which has seen an increase in membership at most clubs – which has meant some events have been restricted.
Variety of classes
The Regatta will still require a packed Programme of 19 races to be completed in just over four and a half hours over an 1820m course from Appley Beach, near to the Ryde R. C. Headquarters in Appley Park – towards Ryde Pier and return after a buoy turn.
Races are taking place for Senior, Junior/Senior, Junior and Novice men in coxed fours, Senior and Junior men in coxless pairs, and Senior, Junior and Novice Men in Single Sculls. For Ladies there is Senior, Junior and Novice coxed fours and a Ladies Senior sculling event. There is also a Veteran Fours event, which can be mixed.
Sponsors of the event
The Regatta is scheduled to start at 10:45am with a race every 10 to 15 minutes and the prize giving by a representative of the Regattas main Sponsors – Carisbrooke Shipping – will take place at the Clubhouse, in Appley Park, at around 4.30pm.
In addition to Carisbrooke Shipping as main sponsors the Regatta has received further support from a number of local businesses – Harwoods, the Isle of Wight County Press, FBS Scaffold Ltd., Kevin Mole, the Appley Manor Hotel, Provincial Builders, Hayden Electrical, DIGS Michael Jenner, SJ Decorating, Classic Image and J. A. Dempsey.
Further support comes from Wightlink, I.W. Ferries – who are the Club’s main sponsors – Steve Cook, Club Vice President and the Clubs’ 150 Club as well as the Barclays Community Support scheme.
Safety cover
The Club is also grateful for the help of Ryde Inshore Rescue who provide safety cover and St. John Ambulance who provide first aid cover. The Club also acknowledges the support and cooperation of Ryde Police and the Isle of Wight County Council as well as the Ryde Town Council.
Ryde, the host Club have a large entry, with nine crews and scullers racing and following some good results in the pre-season Head races the Club has high hopes of some wins.
Some very close racing is expected and the general public are most welcome to view this free event – the best vantage point being from the sea wall by the Canoe Lake.
Image: Crews and Scullers prepare for the start of Ryde’s 2012 Regatta
