Ryde R. C. Annual General Meeting, Friday 24th November and Awards Night, Saturday, 25th November 2023.

AGM

Ryde Rowing Club held their Annual General Meeting at their Appley Park Clubhouse on Friday (24th November 2023). Following a report on the year by the Club Secretary Darrell Reeve and the Financial report by Financial Secretary Dave Redstone the annual election of Executive Officers, General Committee and the Bar Committee took place.

Steve Cook was re-elected Club President, Ben Sanderson was re-elected Club Captain with Paddy Kearney re-elected Vice/Rowing Captain. Dave Redstone was re-elected Financial Secretary and Darrell Reeve was re-elected Club Secretary with Chris Groves re-elected as the Assistant Secretary.

Members of the General Committee were then elected with – Stephanie Hickman, Josie Bull, Peter Gibson, and Miles Watts elected to serve until November 2025 joining Steve Bull, Jo Smith, Graham Reeve, and Jo Gibson who were already serving until November 2024. Finally, the Bar Committee was elected – with Steve Bull as Chairman, Josie Bull as Assistant Bar Manager, Chris Groves as Secretary and Paddy Kearney as a Bar Committee member – the role of Bar Manager being left vacant.

A small adjustment to the Clubs rates of subscription were then agreed.

Awards Night.

On the Saturday (25th November 2023) the Club held it Annual Presentation of Awards with over sixty-five members and guests in attendance at their Appley Park Clubhouse. After the Club Captain Ben Sanderson had welcomed everyone the Event organiser – Jo Gibson – thanked the Clubs main sponsors – Wightlink - and then presented a summary of the Clubs activities in 2023 hi-lighting the performance of the Clubs Men’s Coastal Junior Four who as well as finishing runners-up in the Hants & Dorset ARA Championship represented the Associations at the South Coast Rowing Championships in Folkestone where they finished 2nd. Other hi-light of the season were the performance of the Coastal Ladies Junior Pair who were also runners-up for their Hants & Dorset ARA Championships. Club crews were also runners-up in the Hants & Dorset Championships for the Men’s Coastal Junior Pairs, the Men’s Novice fours and the Men’s Novice sculls.

The Club Captain, Ben Sanderson and Vice-Captain Paddy Kearney then presented the Club Awards – with Traditional “First H&D ARA Rowing Win for Club” Spoons to – 

Dan Sanderson, Isaac Gibson, Charlie Watts, Lars Groothuis. Chloe Hughes and Matt Chalmers. The 1st Year Oars lady Award went to Lottie Roland and the 1st Year Oarsman to Joe Bird. The Coxswain’s Cup was awarded for the 2nd year in succession to Mia Mackay. The Oars lady of the Year Trophy was presented to Stella Baisley and the Oarsman of the year to Charlie Watts. The Coach’s Cup was awarded to Matt Chalmers. The Committee Cup was presented to Miles Watts with the Captains Cup going to Isaac Gibson and there was a special award, presented by the Clubs Cadet representative Isaac Gibson to young Harry Watts in his first season coxing for the Club.