Ryde Rowing Club hosted the 2nd 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 Clubsand two crews from Shoreham Rowing Club – who do not normally compete in the Hants & Dorset ARA events.

Although entries for the regatta, sponsored by Carisbrooke Shipping, was slightly down on last year it still required a packed program 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 2nd place for the aggregate shield. One of these wins came from the Clubs Novice Sculler – Dale Buckett – his 2nd win at this status - which promotes him to Coastal Junior status – where he also competed finishing in 2nd place. Ryde 2nd Novice Sculler – Joel Smith finished third behind Dale in the Novice Sculls event.

The Clubs 2nd 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 Clubs “A” crew of Abi Locke, Julie Cole, Emily Pike and Kate Whitehurst with Karen Crook coxing finishing in 3rd place.

There was a 2nd place for the Club’s Junior Senior Four of James Smith, Will Ford, Henry Gove and Joe Evans-Murry, coxed by Mike Jennerand 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 3rd place as did the Men’s Junior Pair of Will Ford and James Smith.

Senior Sculler Joe Evans-Murry finished in 4th 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 4th 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.

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 hi-light 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 2nd place as did Senior Sculler Joe Evans-Murry and there were also 2nd 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.

The newly promoted Ladies Junior Four of Kristy Newman, Lisa Murphy, Ayesha Russell and Catherine Murphy with Mick Jenner coxing finished in an encouraging 4th 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 4th place.