Henley Eights & Fours. Saturday, 11th February 2023.

Ryde Rowing Club travelled to their first event of the Season on Saturday (11th February 2023) with two crews competing at the Henley Eights & Fours Head raced in two Divisions over a 3000-metre course that includes the world Henley Royal Regatta course with a “time trials” format.

A Coxed Four of Matt Chalmers, Ben Sanderson, Will Hall and Paddy Kearney with Joe Bird coxing – in his first event of this type - finished 4th out of seven in the Open Category in a time of 12 minutes 58 seconds – a very creditable performance since the crew is of Coastal Junior Status and were competing against mostly Senior Crews.

The Club also boated a young Coxless Quad of Dan Sanderson – who was steering, Isaac Gibson, Bradley Whiting, and Lars Groothuis. They finished 15th out of twenty-one in their particular boat type in a time of 14 minutes 01 seconds. Creditable again given that they were under 15’s competing against mostly under 18 crews.

The event was a great experience for the Clubs youngsters racing for the first time over the Henley Royal Regatta course.