ITCHEN IMPERIAL REGATTA. Saturday, 20th August, 2022.

It was another frustrating and slightly disappointing day for the Wightlink Sponsored Ryde Rowing Club’s crew and Scullers at the last Hants & Dorset Regatta of the season, staged at Itchen Imperial Rowing Club, Southampton, on the River Itchen. It was a long day with the three boat racing format meaning that most events had a heat and a final and some of the larger events had a semi-final as well with only the winners progressing to the next round.

The Men’s Double Scull of Paddy Kearney and Will Hunt won their heat fairly comfortably going on to finish 2nd in the final. Paddy and Will also competed in the Men’s coastal Pairs event as Ryde’s A Crew where they could only manage a second place in their heat. But the B Crew of Joel Smith and Elliott O’Sullivan had an excellent row in their heat which they won comfortably finishing 3rd in their final.

The Ladies Coastal Junior Pair of Niamh Murphy and Stella Baisley, who are only Novice Oars ladies, did well to finish 2nd in their heat. Niamh then went on to compete in the Ladies Novice Sculls finishing 3rd in her heat.

In the Men’s Novice Sculls the Ryde A Crew of Austin Smith will be disappointed with his 2nd place in the heat as will Ryde B of Ben Sanderson who won his heat but could only manage 3rd place in the semi-final.

Joel Smith racing in the Men’s Senior Sculls had a problem with his boat and unfortunately had to withdraw from the race.

The Boys J16 Sculling event saw the Ryde A Sculler, Dan Sanderson, finishing 2nd in his heat but the B Sculler, Bradley Whiting won his heat and finished a very creditable 2nd in his final.

The Men’s Coastal Four of Bradley Whiting, Paddy Kearney, Will Hall and Elliott O’Sullivan coxed by Mai McKay finished 2nd in their heat as did the Men’s Novice Four of Callum Hynd, Issac Gibson, Harry Jones and Dan Sanderson once again coxed by Mai McKay.  

Charlie Watts competed in a Men’s Novice Four composite Crew with Poole and they won their heat and finished 3rd in the final. It should also be noted that Charlie competed in the Ryde Clubs Novice Four the previous week at Worthing but his surname was incorrectly recorded as Williams when it should have been Watts.