Itchen Imperial R. C. Regatta. Saturday, 27th July, 2019.

Itchen Imperial R. C. Regatta. Saturday, 27th July, 2019.

Wightlink sponsored Ryde Rowing Club competed at the Itchen Imperial Rowing Club Regatta on Saturday (27th January) on the River Itchen, Southampton - the three boat racing format requiring heats and semi-finals in almost all the events.

The Men’s Senior Four of Mike Ewing, Nick Christopher, Max Murdock and Mark Chatwin steered by a coxswain from the home Club Itchen Imperial comfortably won their semi-final before facing the Hants & Dorset ARA Champions from BTC in the final where they were narrowly defeated.

The Men’s Junior Four of Ben Sanderson, Tom Starkey, Tye Cameron and Austin Smith with Dan Sanderson Coxing lost by just a canvas to a Bournemouth crew to finish 2nd in their heat narrowly failing to make it through to the semi-final.

The Men’s Novice Four of “A” crew of Seb McKeown, David Baer, Harry Jones and Callum Hynd coxed by Dan Sanderson finished 2nd in their Semi Final only to be disqualified for a course infringement.

However, the J16 Girls Four of Poppy Starkey, Freya Drage, Niamh Edwards and Emily Davis coxed by Graham Reeve raced exceptionally well to secure a win in their event which was unfortunately held just before the Ladies Novice Final which they had qualified for by easily winning their semi-final but where the J16 result may have had an impact as they finished in 3rd place. 

The boys J16 Four of Gully Roghan, Seb McKeown, Charlie Walford and Callum Hynd and coxed by Austin Smith lost in their final by just half a canvas to Poole in one of the closest races of the day.

In the semi-final of the men’s double sculls the Ryde crew of Tom Starkey and Ben Sanderson were narrowly defeated in their semi-final.

In the men’s Novice Scull heat Austin Smith was narrowly defeated by a Sculler from Itchen Imperial who impeded him at the start leading to a protest from the Club was not upheld by the Umpires.