RYDE R. C. REGATTA, Saturday, 20th May 2023.
/RYDE R. C. REGATTA, Saturday, 20th May 2023.
Ryde Rowing Club will host the fourth Hants & Dorset Amateur Rowing Association Championship Regatta of the season this Saturday (20th May) with Shanklin's Championship Regatta taking place the following day (Sunday, 21st May).
This year’s Regatta marks the 44th Anniversary of a Hants and Dorset ARA Championships Regatta being held off Appley Beach, at Ryde. 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 of 95 crews and scullers – slightly up on last year. 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 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, Senior and Junior Ladies Pairs and Ladies Senior, Junior, and Novice sculling events. There is also Masters - formally known as Veteran - Fours event for mixed 40+ and Ladies and one for master’s 50 crews. The Regatta is scheduled to start at 10.15am – due to the tides - with a race every 10 to 15 minutes and the prize giving by the Club President at the Clubhouse, in Appley Park, at around 3.00pm.
In addition to TLM Laser as main sponsors the Regatta has received further support from a number of local businesses –Harwoods, the Appley Manor Hotel, Ward House Mortgages & Life, DIGS Michael Jenner, Neaves Rowing Fittings, Spinlock, Ryde Harriers, Tommey Clark Landscaping and Isle Scaffold Ltd., Further support comes from Wightlink, I.W. Ferries - who are the Clubs main sponsors – and Steve Cook, Club President, Matt and Jo Smith, Club Vice Presidents as well as the Clubs’ 100+ Club.
The Club is also grateful for the help of Ryde Inshore Rescue and Seaview Yacht Club, 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 2023
