Christchurch Head of the Stour, 5th March, 2023.

Wightlink sponsored Ryde Rowing Club travelled to Christchurch, in Dorset on Sunday (5th March) to compete in the first Hants & Dorset event of the season – the Head of the Stour hosted by Christchurch Rowing Club. The head race is a processional race over a 3000 metre course, in two divisions, with crews and scullers starting at approximately 10 second intervals in a variety of boat types and statuses for both men and women.

The outstanding Ryde performance of the day came from their Coastal Junior pair of Will Hall and Paddy Kearney who comfortably won their section.

The Club also had a Men’s Novice Four in division one consisting of Matthew and Lars Groothius, Isaac Gibson and Charlie Watts with Mia McKay coxing - who won their event – although there was very limited opposition and there was also two Coastal Novice single scullers – Bradley Whiting and Dan Sanderson who finished 5th and 6th in their section.

In division two the Club had a Men’s coastal Junior Four of Matt Chalmers, Bradley Whiting, Will Hall and Paddy Kearney with Mia McKay coxing once again who finished 3rd in their section and a Men Coastal Novice Four of Dan Sanderson, Isaac Gibson, Charlie Watts and Lars Groothius with Theo Williams, making his competitive debut for the Club, coxing. The crew performed well to finish 2nd in their section.