Ryde Rowing Club Regatta. Saturday 8th June 2024.

Ryde Regatta. Saturday, 8th June 2024.

It was Ryde’s turn to host a Hants & Dorset Championship ARA Regatta on Saturday (8th June 2024). The Regatta, held over a 1980m course from Appley Beach, near their Appley Park Clubhouse – out towards Ryde Pier where Crews and scullers completed a buoy turn before returning to Appley Beach. The Regatta had received an entry, including late entries, of 113 Crew & Scullers – 8 more than last year. There was racing for Men’s Senior, Junior Senior, Junior and Novice Fours; Men’s Senior and Junior Coxless Pairs and Senior, Junior and Novice Single Sculls as well as master’s 40 and 50 Fours. For Women there was racing for Senior, Junior and Novice Coxed Fours; Senior and Junior Coxless Pais and Senior and Novice Single Sculls as well as Women’s Master 40 Fours. The Regatta started a few minutes late due to the tides and needed a full programme of eighteen events to complete the programme which was managed with time to spare. Conditions were a little awkward although always rowable – with just one capsize. Twelve Clubs competed including the three Island Clubs.

The Ryde Crews performed pretty well with a string of second places achieved.

First was the Men’s Junior Senior Fours of Ben Sanderson, Will Hall, Charlie Watts, Paddy Kearney, stroke, and Mai Read, Cox – who finished 2nd.

The Men’s Junior Fours of Lars Groothuis, Joe Roberts, Isaac Gibson, Charlie Watts, stroke and, Harry Watts, cox, will be slightly disappointed with their 4th place.

Men’s Novice Fours of Joe Bird, Fin Diffey, Yogi Ashworth, Ben Rowbotham, Stroke and Ruby Read, Cox again finished 2nd in their final - the same fate that befell the Ryde Women’s Novice Four of Maggie Sanderson, Alexis Owen, Emily Kellerman, Mai Read, stroke, and Ruby Read, Cox.

The Men’s Senior Pairs crew of Paddy Kearney & Will Hall, Stroke finished 5th in their Final and the Men’s Junior Pair. A – Crew of Charlie Watts & Joe Roberts (Stroke) were once again - 2nd in their Final with the B Junior Pair of Dan Sanderson and Matthew Groothuis, stroke, finishing in 5th place.

The Men’s Junior Sculler - Ben Sanderson - finished 3rd in his final with the B Suller - Will Hall finishing in 4th place.

The Women’s Novice Sculler – Lottie Pettitt – unfortunately Capsized before start and the Men’s Novice A Sculler – Paddy Kearney finished 5th, the B Sculler – Lars Groothuis finishing 7th and the C Sculler – Alfie Scott finishing in 9th place.