Ryde Rowing Club competed at the Southampton Rowing Club Head Race on Saturday in rough and blustery conditions on Saturday (25th March).
The Southampton Head Race is staged over a 5,000-metre course on the River Itchen, Southampton, in 2 divisions, for Coastal Coxed Fours and Quads and Coxless Pairs and doubles for both men and women.
The Wightlink-sponsored Club had a Men’s Coastal Junior Four and a Ladies’ Coastal Junior coxless pair racing in the 1st division and a Men’s Coastal Novice 4 and a Men’s coxless Coastal Junior Pair racing in the 2nd Division.
The Men’s Coastal Junior Four of Matt Chalmers, Alfie Scott – racing for the first time for the Club following his move from Shoreham – Will Hall and Paddy Kearney, with Mai Mackay coxing, had a very encouraging row, finishing 2nd in their section behind host Club Southampton in a time of 21 minutes 13 seconds. The coastal Junior Ladies coxless pair – of Niamh Hope and Chloe Hughes – racing above their status in difficult conditions, finished 4th in their section in a time of 33 minutes. Club Coxswain Jo Bird also coxed a Southsea Coastal Junior Senior 4 in the 1st division, who finished 2nd in their section.
In the 2nd division – where the conditions were marginally better – the Men’s Coastal Junior Coxless Pair of Paddy Kearney and Will Hall finished 3rd in their section in a time of 22 minutes 20 seconds. The Men’s Novice Coastal Four of Dan Sanderson, Isaac Gibson, Charlie Watts, and Lars Groothuis – with Jo Bird coxing – continued their progress finishing 3rd in their section in a time of 21 minutes 11 seconds.
