RYDE ROWING CLUB at MILFORD-ON-SEA REGATTA, 29th APRIL 2023.

RYDE ROWING CLUB at MILFORD-ON-SEA REGATTA, 29th APRIL 2023.

Ryde Rowing Club competed in the first Hants & Dorset Championship Regatta of the season on Saturday (29th April 2023) at Milford-on-Sea and organised by Lymington Rowing Club and it was a very successful day for the Wightlink sponsored Club.

First afloat for the Club was the J16 Coxed Quad consisting of Joe Bird, Isaac Gibson, Charlie Watts, Lars Groothuis and Harry Watts coxing and this was racing debut for Joe Bird and the young, eleven-year-old cox, Harry Watts. The crew performed really well to finish a very close 2nd finishing just a canvas behind the winners.

Next afloat was the clubs mixed J14 Coxed Quad in a composite crew with Southsea consisting of Ryde’s Mai MacKay, Lottie Roland and Joe Bird with a Southsea Junior and coxed by the experienced Joel Smith. This was the first race for Mai and Lottie, and they did really well to finish in 3rd place.

They were followed afloat by the Clubs Ladies Coastal Junior Pair of Chloe Hughes & Stella Baisley who were leading at the turn, but a mix-up allowed Poole to get ahead – but they still finished in a very credible 2nd place.

The Clubs Coastal Junior Coxed Four of Matt Chalmers, Bradley Whiting, Will Hunt and Paddy Kearney with Mai MacKay coxing will be slightly disappointed with their 3rd place in the final - but Will and Paddy then went on to convincingly win the Men’s Coastal Junior Pairs event.

Finally, there was a fine performance by the young Mens’ Novice Four of Dan Sanderson, Isaac Gibson, Charlie Watts, Lars Groothuis with Joe Bird coxing who, after finishing second in their heat to gain a place in the final, which they won with comparative ease after a fine racing turn by cox Joe Bird.

Steve Bull.

Ryde Rowing Club.