Thanks to Alex from Shanklin Sandown Rowing Club for this latest report. Ed
The first final of the day came for the Boy’s J16 Four. After the club won the event last week at Poole, a new look crew of Joe Robertson, Henry Gove, Jaimey Wain, Harry Hopper and cox Anja Bennett were hoping to make it two in a row. Despite a great start that saw them lead the first half of the race, the crew slipped behind Christchurch A and they couldn’t regain the lead they had held in the early stages.
In the Girl’s J16 Fours, Hannah Cusworth rowed in a Shanklin/Southsea/BTC composite crew. The crew rowed well, considering they had never rowed together to earn a second place prize!
Hannah also raced in her first ever Ladies Novice Sculls event. Hannah raced exceptionally well to take second place out of five in the final, an amazing row!
Good effort from Harry and Joe
In the Men’s Novice Sculls, both Harry Miselbach and Joe Murray won their heats earlier in the day. In the final, the conditions had become far more difficult, but despite this, both scullers entered the turns just one length down on the leader Joe Bull of Lymington.
On the return leg, Harry caught some bad water and unfortunately capsized. Joe tried hard to stay with the race leader, but started to slip back and eventually finish in third place after having to make some major steering adjustments.
Rowing in knee deep water
Joe then joined Alex Robertson in the Men’s Junior Pair. The race was the last event of the day, and the rapidly receeding water meant they were rowing in knee deep water. Despite attempting to signal this to the starters, the race was started.
In the difficult inside lane, the championship leaders struggled to find a rhythm, and found themselves trailing Southampton. The finished two lengths down on the Southampton pair, before they jumped out of their boat into knee deep water on the finish line, proof to everyone of the nature of the conditions!
Alex faired better in his Men’s Junior Sculls final, where despite a poor row from the H&D champion, he managed to fend off recent novice winner Alex Barnes of Lymington to take his eight win of the season.
Shocking result in Men’s Junior Fours
The club’s best and perhaps most shocking result however came in the Men’s Junior Fours. The event has been the most closely contested on the Hants and Dorset, with Poole and BTC in a winner takes all situation, with the winner of the event, winning the championship.
With two crews entered, the A crew of Joe Robertson, Henry Gove, Harry Hopper and Harry Miselbach and the B crew of Alex Robertson, Matt Miselbach, Sam Miselbach and Joe Murray, Shanklin were hoping to make the finals at best. The A crew had a poor row towards the turn, entering the turn in last place, and excellent turn however saw them move into a battle for third place, something they just missed out on.
The B boat had a good row in their heat, earning second place, beating championship leaders BTC. In the final, they improved on their heat performance, with a clean start they moved into the lead and quickly established themselves as real contenders. They were level with Poole into the buoy turns, but after a great turn, they lead both Poole and BTC on the return leg, to a cheering crowd the boys pushed on to extend their lead to two lengths.
Their win saved BTC’s championship hopes, as they trailed Poole in third place, and now forces a row off between the two crews for the Hants and Dorset championship. The result was both unexpected and outstanding for the club, showing the depth in quality the squad has, as they laid their mark on the most competitive event this season.
21st and 22nd win of the season
The regatta was the final Hants and Dorset regatta of the season and saw the club’s 21st and 22nd wins of the year, the club now waits for a month, before the South Coast Rowing Championships in Swanage in September.
Image: Mens Junior Four – Winners
