14 Shanklin Sandown and Ryde Rowing Club’s juniors travelled to the National Watersports Centre in Nottingham on Saturday (26th April) to represent the Wessex region at the Junior Inter Regional Regatta.
Shanklin’s J14 double of Josh Batchelor and Digby Ridgewell had an excellent row in the time trial raced over 1000m, setting the 5th best time.
In the final, this time racing side by side over the longer 1500m course, the boys had another excellent row and were in contention up until the last 300m, eventually finishing just outside the medals in 4th. This was still a remarkable achievement for this young crew.
Shanklin’s Connie Batley-Smith also produced an excellent result, winning the B final of the J15 Girls Single Sculls. This again was a superb achievement by Connie as she was rowing up an age group.
The recently formed Shanklin double of Rose Collier and Annabelle Steward had their best row to date, finishing 5th in the B final, and there was a credible 5th-place finish in the B final for the boy’s composite coxed four of Max Locke, Cameron Darcy, both of Ryde RC, with Isaac King and Fin Diffey of Shanklin and coxed by Harry Watts, also of Ryde.
Ryde’s Alexis Owen paired up with Molly-Cartwright Tickle from Bournemouth Collegiate School, and Ryde’s Charlie Watts competed in the J16 Boys Single Sculls. Both crews finished a credible 5th position in the B Final amongst some very tough competition.
Shanklin’s Lottie Pettitt and Ryde’s Eva Gordon were part of a composite Wessex eight that finished 2nd in the C final, another good result considering the crew only got together for the event on the day.
Island youngsters now look forward to the Island regattas and the Ball Cup South Regatta at Dorney Lake in 2 weeks’ time.
