Steve Bull from Ryde Rowing Club shares this report from the Ryde and Shanklin Regattas, Sunday 22nd May, 2016. Ed
Ryde Rowing Club hosted the second Hants & Dorset ARA Championship Regatta of the season on Saturday (21st May) from Appley Beach, Ryde, near their Appley park Clubhouse.
With late entries included, there were ninety-one crews and scullers competing from thirteen different Clubs including all three IW Clubs and two crews from Shoreham Rowing Club – who do not normally compete in the Hants & Dorset ARA events.
A packed programme
Although entries for the regatta, sponsored by Carisbrooke Shipping, was slightly down on last year, it still required a packed programme of twenty races crammed into the four and a half hours of available water, as the crews and scullers raced over the 1900m course in Coxed Fours, Coxless Pairs, Double Sculls and Single Sculls for both men and women, in various statuses, in conditions that proved to be better than the forecast which had been a concern for the organizers.
The home Club, sponsored by Wightlink IW Ferries, had the largest entry of any Club and a successful day producing a strong set of results which included two wins and gave them second place for the aggregate shield. One of these wins came from the Club’s Novice Sculler – Dale Buckett – his second win at this status – which promotes him to Coastal Junior status – where he also competed finishing in second place. Ryde second Novice Sculler – Joel Smith finished third behind Dale in the Novice Sculls event.
Ladies Novice Fours
The Club’s second win came in the Ladies Novice Fours event where the “B” Crew of Kristy Newman, Lisa Murphy, Ayesha Russell and Catherine Murphy with Mick Jenner coxing secured a comfortable win – with the Club’s “A” crew of Abi Locke, Julie Cole, Emily Pike and Kate Whitehurst with Karen Crook coxing finishing in third place.
There was a second place for the Club’s Junior Senior Four of James Smith, Will Ford, Henry Gove and Joe Evans-Murry, coxed by Mike Jenner and the young Men’s Novice Four crew of Dom Douglas, Jacob Redstone, Ben Toms, Joe Groves and Cox Austin Smith.
The Men’s Senior Crew of Joe Evans-Murry, Henry Gove, Stephen Johnson and Adam Edwards, coxed by Becky Nigh finished in third place as did the Men’s Junior Pair of Will Ford and James Smith.
Senior Sculler Joe Evans-Murry finished in fourth as did the Men’s Junior Four of Joel Smith, Henry Gove, Will Ford and James Smith.
The Men’s Senior Pair of Stephen Johnson and Adam Edwards finished in fourth place with veteran Sculler Nick Pike finishing 6th in the Men’s Senior Sculls event.
The Club would like to thank Ryde Town Council, the IW Council, Ryde Inshore Rescue and all the event sponsors for all their help and support.
Shanklin Regatta
The following day – Sunday, 22nd May most of the Ryde squad competed again at Shanklin’s Hants & Dorset Championship Regatta – and produced some more fine performances – the highlight coming from Joel Smith, Ryde’s young Novice sculler who romped home in his event to give Ryde their second Novice Sculls win of the weekend.
The Men’s Junior Pair of Will Ford and James Smith lost out on a win by the smallest of margins, finishing in second place as did Senior Sculler Joe Evans-Murry and there were also second places for the Men’s Junior Four of Joel Smith, Henry Gove, Will Ford and James Smith coxed by Mick Jenner and for the Ladies Novice Four of Abi Locke, Julie Cole, Karen Crook and Kate Whitehurst, coxed by Allan Evans.
Ladies Junior Four
The newly promoted Ladies Junior Four of Kristy Newman, Lisa Murphy, Ayesha Russell and Catherine Murphy with Mick Jenner coxing finished in an encouraging fourth place as did the Men’s Novice Four of Dom Douglas, Jacob Redstone, Ben Toms, Joel Smith and Cox Austin Smith, the Men’s senior Four of Joe Evans-Murry, Henry Gove, Stephen Johnson and Adam Edwards, coxed by Becky Nigh and Men’s Junior Sculler Dale Buckett.
The Senior Pair of Stephen Johnson and Adam Edwards had a difficult row finishing in fourth place.
Images: © Graham Reading Photography
