Wightlink-sponsored Ryde Rowing Club competed at the BTC Regatta at Western Shore, Southampton, on Saturday and produced some reasonable and encouraging performances.
The best performance came from Men’s Novice Sculler Dale Buckett (pictured left), who had been threatening a win for some weeks and duly delivered in a close race against strong opposition and after a re-row which saw Ryde’s other Novice Sculler Stephen Johnson disqualified after an incident at the turn.
There was a good performance from the Men’s Coastal Junior Pair of Will Ford and James Smith who led their final for much of the race but could not maintain their momentum dropping back to 3rd at the finish.
The boys J16 Coxed Four of Ben Toms, Austin Smith, Jacob Redstone and Joel Smith – coxed by Newport’s Emiley Oatley – produced a very good performance to finish in 2nd place in another closely fought contest. This was especially impressive as 13 year old coxswain Austin had to step up and row in the crew to cover for an absent crew member.
The same crew with Austin back in the Coxswain seat – and Tom Kearney added in his place – had a disappointing row in the Men’s Novice Fours finishing 5th in the final with a similar result in the mixed race for the crew of James Smith, Kate Whitehurst, Stephen Johnson and Southampton’s Kelly Lane, will Will Ford coxing.
Featured photograph Bow to Stern: Ben Toms, Austin Smith, Jacob Redstone and Joel Smith – and cox Emiley Oatley
