BTC Spring Head. Saturday, 21st February 2026.

BTC Spring Head. Saturday, 21st February 2026.

Crews and Scullers from the Wightlink Sponsored Ryde Rowing Club competed in the BTC Rowing Club Spring HEAD of the River Race on Saturday 21st February over a five 5000m course on the River Itchen, Southampton, held over two divisions.

The Club had two Novice Coastal Scullers in Division one with Charlie Watts finishing 2nd in his section in a time of 20.31mins and Isaac Gibson finishing in 4th place in a time of 23:28 mins.

In the second Division the Club had a Women’s eight competing in a Hants & Dorset ARA event for the first time in preparation for an entry they have made in the Women’s Eights Head of the River Race on the Tideway in March 2026. This is the largest Women’s Rowing event in the world  and is the only race in the UK where novices can compete in the same race as Olympic champions and as such attracts a wide range of rowers from clubs and universities. This will be the first time a Ryde Crew has been entered for this event. The Ryde crew for the BTC Head race was - Abi Locke, Lisa Murphy, Eva Gordon, Abi Bird, Alexis Owen, Fiona Owen, Emily Kellerman, Stella Baisley and Ruby Read, coxing and they completed the BTC Head course in a time of 20.22 and finished in 5th place.

Also, in the 2nd Division the Club also had an Open River Coxed Four competing consisting of  Paddy Kearney, Joe Roberst, Will Hall, Charlie Watts with Mai Read coxing – who won their event in a Time. 17.51min.

They Club also had two single scullers competing in the second division -  a River Novice Sculler – Lars Groothuis –  who finished in 6th place in a time of 23.26mins and Max Locke competing in a J16 Coastal scull, against limited opposition, who won his section in a time of 23.39mins.