Steve shares this latest report from Ryde Rowing Club. Ed
A large squad from Wightlink sponsored Ryde Rowing Club competed at the first Hants & Dorset ARA Championship Regatta of the season on Saturday (14th May) staged by the Southampton Coalporters Rowing Club on the River Itchen, Southampton.
Encouraging performances
The Club produced some encouraging performances at the regatta where the three boat racing format requiring heats and semi-finals before the final takes place in most events.
The Club’s newly formed Men’s Senior Four, of Joe Evans-Murry, Henry Gove, Ollie Gove and Adam Edwards and coxed by Becky Nigh, in their first race together did particularly well to fight their way through to the twice-round final where they finished in third place.
This performance being all the more impressive when you consider two of the crew – Joe and Henry – were racing above their status.
Henry also competed in the Men’s Junior Four along with Joel Smith – a Novice, Will Ford and James Smith with Mick Jenner coxing – but they lost out in the semi-final. However Will Ford and James Smith also competed in the Men’s Junior Pair taking third place in the final.
Strong performance from scullers
There was strong performance from the two Ryde Single Scullers – Joe Evans-Murry in the Seniors and Dale Buckett, racing above his status in the Men’s Junior – who both reached their respective final’s with Joe finishing in third place and Dale finishing second.
Both the Ladies Novice Fours – the “A” Crew of Abi Locke, Julie Cole, Karen Crook and Kate Whitehurst with Mick Jenner coxing – and the “B” Crew of Kristy Newman, Lisa Murphy, Ayesha Russell and Catherine Murphy with Allan Evans coxing – battled their way through to the semi-finals but both just failed to make the final.
A similar fate befell the Men’s Novice Four of Dom Douglas, Jacob Redstone, Ben Toms and Joel Smith with Austin Smith coxing.
Image: Ryde Rowing Club’s Men’s Senior Four waiting to start their final at Coalporters Regatta
