Holidays, lack of completion and restricted entries led to a depleted team from the Wightlink-sponsored Ryde Rowing Club at the two day Newport Regatta over the weekend.
On the Saturday in the fours Regatta, with no Men’s Junior Senior competition, the Club only had two Men’s Novice Fours racing although both performed well achieving their best results of the season to date.
The “A” crew of Will Ford, James Smith, Callum Lockhart and Ed Newnham with Micky Jenner Coxing produced a good performance to win their heat and take their place in the final where they finished 3rd.
The young Ryde “B” crew, average age just 15, of Joe Groves, Jacob Redstone, Ben Toms and Matt Jeacock with Austin Smith coxing finished 2nd in their heat behind the eventual winners from BTC.
On the Sunday – Ryde’s had three Boys J16 Single Scullers competing – Joe Groves, Joel Smith and Steven Soal – although unfortunate draws and the strength of the opposition led to them all failing to make the final – and a Boys J16 quad of Dom Douglas, Jacob Redstone, Tom Kearney and Ben Toms – with Paddy Kearney coxing suffered a similar fate.
Ryde’s Austin Smith stepped in to help out Christchurch Rowing Club who were one short for their J14 Boys quad and they narrowly missed out on a place in the final.
The Club was also pleased to be able to help out their friends from Newport providing safety cover throughout the weekend and to assist several mainland clubs to compete on the Island by loaning boats and equipment and helping to reduce their travel burden.
