NEWPORT REGATTA - FOURS REGATTA, Saturday, 21st August 2021 JUNIOR & SMALL BOATS REGATTA – Sunday, 22nd August 2021.
/NEWPORT REGATTA - FOURS REGATTA, Saturday, 21st August 2021 JUNIOR & SMALL BOATS REGATTA – Sunday, 22nd August 2021.
The last Hants & Dorset Championship Regatta of this much curtailed season took place at Newport, on the River Medina over the weekend (of Saturday, 21st August/Sunday 22nd August) with the fours Regatta taking place on the Saturday and the Junior and Small Boats Regatta on the Sunday. This was the only one of the three Island H&DARA Championship Regatta’s to take place - Shanklin falling foul of Covid and Ryde suffering a cancellation because of the ongoing activity by Southern Water in Appley Park.
Wightlink sponsored Ryde Rowing Club were well represented on both days.
On the Saturday the Clubs Novice Four A Crew of Paddy Kearney, Callum Hynd, Harry Jones, and Frankie Leftley and coxed by Camon Adams comfortably won their heat but could only manage 3rd place in the final which would have been a disappointment for them. Both the Novice B Crew of Gulley Rhogan, Will Hall, Elliott O’Sullivan and Tom Kerver with Mai MacKay coxing and the C Crew of Yogi Ashworth, Bradley Whiting, Seb McKeown and Dan Sanderson with Otis Ripley coxing finished 2nd in their respective heats failing to make the final.
The Men’s Junior Senior Four of Ben Sanderson, Joel and Austin Smith - both recently recovered from Covid - and with Dale Buckett making a welcome return to competitive rowing with the Club following a Henley Royal regatta outing with his river Club - and with Niamh Murphy coxing - rowed well to finish in 2nd place in their final after a restart.
The ladies Senior Four of Ayesha Russell, Lisa Murphy, Catherine Oatley and Emily Faithfull with Mick Jenner coxing also rowed well but were narrowly defeated in their heat finishing in 2nd place and failing to make the final.
The Ladies Junior Four – off Beth Walpole, Julie Clark – on loan for the season from Newport - Niamh Murphy & Ella Nichols with Camon Adams coxing rowed well but could only finish 3rd in their heat in what was their first competitive outing since promotion to this status.
The Club had more success on the Sunday in the small boat events – with the Ladies Novice Sculler – Ella Nichols winning her heat and the final before going on to race in the Ladies Senior Pairs final with Emily Faithfull which they also won in a very close contest. The Club's second Ladies Novice Sculler - Niamh Murphy – finished 3rd in her heat.
In the Men’s Novice Sculls there was disappointment for all four of the Ryde Scullers – Austin Smith, Ben Sanderson, Harry Jones and Paddy Kearney who could all only manage 2nd in their respective heats all failing to make the final. There was a better performance for the Clubs Coastal Junior Sculler – Joel Smith – who comfortably won his heat but could only manage 2nd in the final and Senior Sculler Dale Buckett – who had not raced in a scull for two years could only finish 2nd in his heat and a Coastal Junior Pair of Ben Sanderson and Callum Hynd finished 3rd in their heat.
In the J16 event the Clubs Boys J16 Coxed Four of Elliott O’Sullivan, Bradley Whiting, Frankie Leftley and Dan Sanderson with Camon Adams coxing once again won their final reasonably comfortably. This was a particularly impressive performance from Dan Sanderson as he had only just won his J16 Single Sculls heat – and had to compete in the final directly afterwards where it was hardly surprising, he finished in 3rd place.
