DUO OF ROWING EVENTS TAKING PLACE ON THE ISLAND THIS WEEKEND

Ryde Rowing Club will host the third Hants & Dorset Amateur Rowing Association Championship Regatta of the season this Saturday (8th June) with Shanklin’s Championship Regatta taking place the following day (9th June).  This year’s Regatta marks the 47th Anniversary of the 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 1-off change of venue in recognition of the Club’s centenary. But such was the success of the event that these 2 Island Rowing Clubs and the Association agreed that the Island should host 2 Championship Regattas 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 – 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 larger entry than in 2022 – of 99 Crews and Scullers – but is likely to exceed 100 when late entries are considered. The Regatta will require a packed Programme of 18 races to be completed in just over 4 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 Women there are Senior, Junior and Novice coxed 4, Junior & Senior Ladies Pairs and Ladies Senior and Novice sculling events. There is also a Masters – formally known as Veteran – 4 event for mixed 40+  and 50+ Men and Women. The Regatta is scheduled to start at 10:30 with a race every 10 to 15 minutes and the prize giving will take place at the Clubhouse, in Appley Park, at around 16:00. TLM Laser are the main sponsors of the Regatta which has received further support from several local businesses – Harwoods, the Appley Manor Hotel, Ward House Mortgages & Life, DIGS Michael Jenner, Carpets Direct, Neaves Rowing Fittings, Goodleaf Tree Climbing, Ryde Harriers, the Ryde R. C. 100+ Club and Tommy Clark – Tree work and Park Lane Scaffolding. Further support comes from Wightlink, I.W. Ferries – who are the Clubs main sponsors – and Steve Cook, Club Vice President & Trustee and Matt & Jo Smith. The Club is also grateful for the help of Ryde Inshore Rescue, who provide safety cover and Wight Event First Aid & Training, 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.