POOLE REGATTA, Saturday, 10th July, 2021.

POOLE REGATTA, Saturday, 10th July, 2021.

It was a slightly frustrating day for the Wightlink Sponsored Ryde Rowing Club at the 2nd Hants & Dorset ARA Regatta at Poole on Saturday (10th July, 2021) as although they came home with one win they experienced a series of 2nd places – in what, however, was a great set of results for the Club.

All Covid-19 precautions were undertaken by the event and the clubs and individuals in attendance.

The win came from Coastal Junior Sculler Joel Smith who comfortably one his event to gain promotion next year to Senior Sculling Status.

Ryde had a strong contingent of single scullers – Mike Ewing finishing 2nd in the Men’s Senior Sculls and Emily Faithfull finishing in second place in her event the Ladies Coastal Junior Sculls. In the Men’s Novice Sculls the Club had three Scullers competing – Austin Smith winning his heat to qualify for the Final where he finished 4th. The other scullers in this event – Tye Cameron and Ben Sanderson both finished 4th in their respective heats just failing to make the final – and Dan Sanderson also finished in 4th place in the final of the Boys J16 Single Sculls event.

The Clubs Men’s Senior Four of Tom Hammond, Matt Allsopp, Mike Ewing and Alex Miller coxed by Jo Gapper will be slightly disappointed with their 2nd place in their final against their old rivals from BTC following last week’s win.

The Clubs Junior-Senior crew of Ben Sanderson, Austin Smith, Joel Smith and Tye Cameron coxed by Emily Faithfull raced well in their first outing of the season to lead at the turn but their lack of race practice let them down on the return leg and they also finished in 2nd place.

Ryde’s two young Men’s Novice Crews both competed well – the A Crew of Paddy Kearney, Frankie Leftley, David Baer and Harry Jones coxed by Emily Faithfull finishing 2nd in their heat to qualify for the final where they finished in a very creditable 3rd place. The B Crew of Dan Sanderson, Elliott O’Sullivan, Yogi Ashworth and Tom Kerver coxed by Camon Adams finished 4th in their heat failing to make the final.

A J16 Boys Coxed Four of Yogi Ashworth, Elliott O’Sullivan, Bradley Whiting and Dan Sanderson and coxed by Camon Adams also competed finishing 5th in their Final but showing a significant improvement on the previous week’s performance.

Finally the Club boated a Ladies Novice Crew for the first time this season consisting of Beth Walpole, Stella Baisley, Niamh Murphy and Julie Clark - on loan from Newport for the Season - and coxed by Jo Gabber who raced very impressively to finish 2nd in their heat to qualify for their final where they finished in an impressive 2nd place.

Steve Bull. Ryde R. C.