Following a disappointing season in 2015 there was an encouraging start for the Wightlink-sponsored Ryde Rowing Club in their first competitive outing of 2016 on Saturday.
The club were racing at Christchurch Rowing Club’s Head of the Stour, a timed event staged in two divisions over a 2 mile course on the River Stour. They came away with 3 wins, 2 seconds and a 4th place.
Most of the Ryde crew raced in the 1st division, where there was a particularly strong performance from the two Ladies Novice Coastal Fours – several of whom were competing in their first race.
In a strong field of 11 crews the ‘B’ crew of Lisa Murphy, Catherine Murphy, Kristy Newnham and Ayesha Russell, with Coach Mick Jenner coxing finished 1st in a time of 13 minutes 17 seconds narrowly beating the Clubs “A” crew of Kate Whitehurst, Julie Cole, Abi Locke and Karen Crook who were coxed by coach Allan Evans, who finished in 2nd place with a time of 13 minutes 20 seconds.
A Men’s Novice Four of Dom Douglas, Jacob Redstone, Ben Toms and Joe Groves, coxed by Dale Buckett also competed in this division finishing 1st with a time of 11 minutes 28 seconds – although they had limited opposition.
A Senior Pair of James Smith and Joe Evans-Murry suffered from a clash of blades with one of one of their opposition forcing them to stop briefly and possibly costing them a place. They finished 4th in a time of 13th minutes 7 seconds.
Joel Smith, competing in only his second Coastal Novice Sculling event did well to finish in 2nd place in a time of 12 minutes 35 seconds.
In the 2nd division Joel Smith joined Ben Toms, Jacob Redstone and Joe Groves – with Dale Buckett coxing once again – to compete in the Men’s Coastal Coxed Fours where they finished 1st,, in a time of 12 minutes 59 seconds in another strong field of 11 crews.
Photographed: Ryde Novice Ladies Squad – 1st and 2nd at the Christchurch Head of the Stour
