RYDE R. C. REGATTA, Saturday, 4th June, 2022.

Ryde Rowing Club will host the third Hants & Dorset Amateur Rowing Association Championship Regatta of the season this Saturday (4th June) with Shanklin's Championship Regatta taking place the following day (Sunday, 5th June).

This year’s Regatta marks the 45th Anniversary of a Hants and Dorset ARA Championships Regatta being held off Appley Beach, at Ryde although due to the Pandemic and the work 0n the collapsed Sewer in and around Appley Park by Southern Water – this will be the first Ryde Regatta for three years – the last being in 2019.  The first was held in June 1977 – as part of the Clubs Centenary Celebrations and following the successful introduction of a Hants & Dorset Championship Regatta organized jointly by Shanklin and Ryde Rowing Clubs which was first held at Yaverland, near Sandown in 1972. The joint organizing committee and the Hants & Dorset ARA agreed to stage the 1977 Regatta at Ryde in what was expected to be a one off change of venue in recognition of the Clubs centenary. But such was the success of the event that these two Island Rowing Clubs and the Association agreed that the Island should host two Championship Regatta’s each year – one at Ryde and one at Shanklin – and so the Isle of Wight Rowing Weekend was established with both Clubs staging their own Regatta’s since 1978 – which have both proved to be very popular – which in part led to the introduction on the 3rd H&D ARA Regatta on the Island run by Newport Rowing Club.  

The Ryde Regatta has    received a slightly smaller entry than in 2019 – of 91 Crews and Scullers – probably due to the clash with the Queens Platinum Jubilee Celebrations the same weekend and ongoing concerns regarding Covid-19 - but is likely to exceed 100 when late entries are taken into account. The Regatta will require a packed Programme of 19 races to be completed in just over four and a half hours over an 1820m course from Appley Beach, near to the Ryde R. C. Headquarters in Appley Park - towards Ryde Pier and return after a buoy turn. Races are taking place for Senior, Junior/Senior, and Junior and Novice men in coxed fours, Senior and junior men in coxless pairs, and Senior, Junior and Novice Men in Single Sculls. For Ladies there is Senior, Junior and Novice coxed fours, Junior Senior and Ladies Pairs and Ladies Senior, Junior and Novice sculling events. There is also Masters - formally known as Veteran - Fours event for mixed 40+ and the last race of the day – raced back from the turns will be a J16 Coxed Fours event. The Regatta is scheduled to start at 12:30pm with a race every 10 to 15 minutes and the prize giving will take place at the Clubhouse, in Appley Park, at around 6.00pm.

TLM Laser are the main sponsors of the Regatta which has received further support from a number of local businesses – Harwoods, the Appley Manor Hotel, Ward House Mortgages & Life, DIGS Michael Jenner, Classic Image, Neaves Rowing Fittings, Goodleaf Tree Climbing, the Griffin and Horse & Groom Public Houses, Spinlock, Ryde Harriers, the Ryde R. C. 100+ Club and Tommy Clark – Tree work, Landscaping, Fencing – and Scaffolding. Further support comes from Wightlink, I.W. Ferries - who are the Clubs main sponsors – and Steve Cook, Club Vice President & Trustee.   

The Club is also grateful for the help of Ryde Inshore Rescue who provide safety cover and Invictus Medical services who provide the first aid cover. The Club also acknowledges the support and cooperation of Ryde Police and the Isle of Wight County Council as well as the Ryde Town Council.

Some very close racing is expected and the general public are most welcome to view this free event - the best vantage point being from the sea wall by the Canoe Lake.

Steve Bull. RRC Regatta Secretary, May, 2022.