Ryde Rowing Club Annual General Meeting Thursday 24 November 2016 Secretary’s Report 2016

Further to the Clubs Annual General Meeting on the 24th November please see the Club Hon. Secretaries Annual Report - 

Ryde Rowing Club Annual General Meeting Thursday 24 November 2016

Secretary’s Report 2016

On behalf of RRC I thank you all for attending this evening.

I begin this year by extending very special thanks to Dave Redstone for his unstinting efforts on behalf of the Club in securing sponsorship & funding that has enabled the purchase of a new minibus that is the envy of the South Coast. The amount of time & commitment he has given to this project cannot be underestimated, for which we are all extremely grateful

Thanks as always go Steve Bull for yet again organising the regatta. I generally say this is one of the most successful regattas on the South Coast but this year will change the script ......  it is THE most successful on the South Coast. As always Steve continues to quietly and very unassumingly work on behalf of the club in continually applying for sponsorship & grants, being the font of all knowledge & keeping the committee so well informed.  He does this alongside his demanding commitments to Hants & Dorset ARA & again  we are very grateful.

Generally left till last but not this year!  My thanks are also extended to all the Committee who work so hard on your behalf

Thanks go to Steph & Josie, members of the bar committee and all those who volunteer to staff the bar.  The revenue from functions is becoming an increasingly vital funding stream.  As is the revenue generated by the regatta & once again I extend thanks to Josie & her catering crew. Thanks also to the numerous volunteers who are always ready to help when called upon.

Special thanks this year goes to Ian & Marion who since its inception have organised the 100 CLUB. They intend to take a well earned retirement at the end of the year so on your behalf I should like to thank them for their commitment over the years that has enabled the Club to contribute to various charitable requests & to purchasecountless pieces of equipment.

The Club’s Dinner & Awards Evening was again held at Yelfs Hotel. Thanks goes to Chris Groves for organising such a successful night.  Unfortunately representatives from Wightlink & Carisbrooke Shipping were unable to attend.  We were however pleased to entertain a representative from Solicitors, Churchers Bolitho & Way in appreciation of the company & their staffsupporting the Minibus appeal by holding a very successful cake sale from their Union St. premises. I understand they may be willing to do the same next year for which we will be very grateful.

Now for our achievements on the water

2016 will be recorded as a very successful year for Ryde Rowing Club with several notable performances. We won events in pre-season Head Races and Hants & Dorset Regatta’s; winning with Men’s Senior Fours, Men’s Novice Fours, Ladies Novice Fours, Men’s Coastal Junior Sculls, Men’s Novice Sculls and Masters

Also winning the Hants & Dorset ARA Men’s Novice Sculls Championships and a share in the Ladies Novice Fours Championship. This takes the total of Hants & Dorset ARA Championships won by the club, since the inaugural event in 1962, to forty-one. A commendable achievement.

Two crews were selected to represent the Hants & Dorset ARA in the Championships events at the South Coast Championship Regatta at Hearne Bay; the Men’s & Ladies Coastal Junior Fours.  The Club has now been selected to represent the Association on thirty-six occasions and has won seventeen South Coast Championships. 

Ryde crews this year competed in a total seventeen events, twelve on the mainland, with two cancelled due to the weather plus an indoor competition. In all the events the Club had an average entry of four coxed fours, two coxless pairs and three single sculls.

I extend congratulations to the all the successful crews & maybe commiseration to those who perhaps were not as successful as they should have liked but give encouragement for the 2017 season.

The amount of training & level of commitment the crews and their coaches put in, often when they have so many additional commitments, should be commended  

Our small but non the less enthusiastic, adaptive section continues to enjoy the Club facilities on Friday evenings

In closing I extend sincere thanks to Carisbrooke Shipping for their sponsorship of the regatta. Unfortunately this is their final year of doing so on your behalf I thank them for their invaluable support over the years which have been so very much appreciated. Thanks are also extended to our main sponsors Wightlink whose support is so vital in maintaining to the Club’s ability to continue & successfully compete on the mainland.  .

And last but by no means least thanks to all the rowers, their coaches (not forgetting their cheer leading families) for their continued commitment to the sport of rowing.

Carole Hewison

Hon Secretary

November 2016