Secretary Report 2025

Welcome to this year’s AGM.

It’s been another successful year both on and off the water.

On the rowing front we have had some fantastic results. The Junior Seniors had 3 wins and have been promoted to senior status. Isaac Gibson had a Novice sculls win. Charlie Watts won the J16 sculls at the South Coast.

5 junior rowers represented Wessex at the junior inter regionals with some encouraging results. We had J16 wins at the Itchen Junior Regatta and other regattas this season.

We recently took part in the indoor rowing competition held at Shanklin Rowing Club with plenty of wins. Charlie Watts recorded the fastest time ever at this event.

Ruby Read came a very close second to winning the Hants and Dorset coxswain of the year.

But the highlight of the year must be the ladies Junior Fours becoming Hants and Dorset champions. Several crew members are relatively new to rowing. They are now at senior status and looking to progress further, having come a very close second at the South Coast Championships.

Our club regatta was held on a Sunday for the first time in many years. It was a successful day even though only fours races were run, due to the wind. People complemented us on the catering, which, as usual, was very good.

On the social front the club has run several fundraisers, such as bingo and quizzes. The fish and chip supper remains a well supported event, with monthly talks being varied and always interesting. The club continues to be hired out for functions such as parties and corporate events.

We have just had our annual awards night, which was attended by over 80 people. It was a fantastic evening.

Very sadly we have lost three longstanding members this year. Madge Brown, who was over 100, was an avid supporter of the fish and chip supper. Julia Bottrell was a Vice president. Her son, Ollie, rowed for our club and also won at Henley. Carole Hewison, who was club secretary for many years, passed away recently. She will be remembered for banging on a saucepan early in the morning to wake up the rowers that camped in Appley Park after our regatta! Our thoughts are with their families.

Looking forwards, we are in the process of decorating the interior of the Clubhouse. Various other improvements have been made.

In 2027 the club will celebrate it’s 150th Anniversary. Plans are being formed so please look out for news on this over the coming months.

I would like to thank all the supporters and volunteers at the club. Without their help the club would not be able to run. This might be committee members down to the cleaning of the club. Our main sponsor, Wightlink continues to provide us with free ferry travel to enable us to attend mainland regattas. I would like to thank Andy Toms of TML Laser who is the regatta’s main sponsor, and also Ryde Town Council for their support. We have received a grant from Wight aid for new sculling blades. A new pair/double has been purchased thanks to the generosity of club members.

I just want to end by thanking all the rowers, volunteers and sponsors that makes this club what it is.