Wightlink-sponsored Ryde Rowing Club competed at the Itchen Imperial Rowing Club Regatta in Southampton on Saturday (27th July).
The 3-boat racing format of the Regatta on the River Itchen required heats and semi-finals in almost all the events.
The Men’s Senior Four of Mike Ewing, Nick Christopher, Max Murdock and Mark Chatwin – steered by a coxswain from Itchen Imperial – comfortably won their semi-final before facing the Hants & Dorset ARA Champions from BTC in the final, where they were narrowly defeated.
The Men’s Junior Four of Ben Sanderson, Tom Starkey, Tye Cameron and Austin Smith – with Dan Sanderson Coxing – lost by just a canvas to a Bournemouth crew to finish 2nd in their heat, narrowly failing to make it through to the semi-final.
The Men’s Novice Four A crew of Seb McKeown, David Baer, Harry Jones and Callum Hynd – coxed by Dan Sanderson – finished 2nd in their semi-final only to be disqualified for a course infringement.
However, the J16 Girls Four of Poppy Starkey, Freya Drage, Niamh Edwards and Emily Davis – coxed by Graham Reeve – raced exceptionally well to secure a win in their event. This was unfortunately held just before the Ladies Novice Final which they had qualified for by easily winning their semi-final, but the J16 result may have had an impact as they finished in 3rd place.
The Boys J16 Four of Gully Roghan, Seb McKeown, Charlie Walford and Callum Hynd – coxed by Austin Smith – lost in their final by just half a canvas to Poole in one of the closest races of the day.
In the semi-final of the Men’s Double Sculls, the Ryde crew of Tom Starkey and Ben Sanderson were narrowly defeated in their semi-final.
In the Men’s Novice Scull heat Austin Smith was narrowly defeated by a sculler from Itchen Imperial who impeded him at the start leading to a protest from the club. This was not upheld by the Umpires.
