Ryde, Newport and Shanklin Sandown clubs brought home titles, medals and strong performances from this year’s South Coast Rowing Championships in Plymouth.
HISTORIC CHAMPIONSHIP WIN FOR NEWPORT ROWING CLUB
Newport Rowing Club made history on Saturday as their Junior Men’s Four secured the club’s first-ever South Coast Championship title.
The H&D-winning crew of Boris Hare, Connor Garner, Jake Garner, Nathaniel Hamilton, and cox Mariana Hare surged into an early lead in the 1500m Championship race. Despite a determined challenge from Shoreham and Southampton, the Newport boys dug deep to win by a canvas — a landmark moment for the club.
Elsewhere, the Masters 40 Four of Julie Clarke, Chris Clarke, Ed Hopper and Harry Hare, coxed by Helen Hopper, rowed strongly to finish 4th in their final.
The Women’s Novice Four — Flora Lockey, Julia Coulson, Grace Garner and Hannah Turbeville, coxed by Mariana Hare — and the Junior Open crew of Freddie Hollis, Max Gasper, Theo Kousiounis and Riv Szawiel, coxed by Fiona Brookes, both missed out on progression from their heats, but showed promise for the future.
SILVERWARE AND STRONG FINISHES FOR RYDE ROWING CLUB
Wightlink-sponsored Ryde Rowing Club fielded ten crews across two days of competition, claiming one victory, a string of podiums, and two hard-fought Championship final places.
Charlie Watts was Friday’s standout performer, winning the J16 single sculls final after finishing second in his heat. Stella Baisley also competed in the Novice Sculls, finishing 5th.
Two J18 Fours raced on Friday: the Men’s Four — Ben Robotham, Joe Bird, Yogi Ashworth, Isaac Gibson (cox: Harry Watts) — finished 4th in their final; while the Women’s Four — Eva Gordon, Demi Cranham-Ede, Alexis Owen and Emily Kellerman (cox: Mai Read) — came 6th.
In Saturday’s Championship events, the Women’s Junior Four of Abi Locke, Fiona Owen, Alexis Owen and Emily Kellerman (cox: Ruby Read) missed out on gold by just three feet, finishing 2nd in the closest race of the day. The Men’s Junior-Senior Four — Charlie Watts, Will Hall, Joe Roberts and Paddy Kearney (cox: Mai Read) — finished 4th.
Four open crews also competed:
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Women’s Senior Four — 3rd
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Men’s Junior-Senior Four — 3rd
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Men’s Novice Four — 2nd
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Women’s Novice Four — 5th in heat
DOUBLE CHAMPIONSHIP GLORY FOR SHANKLIN SANDOWN
Shanklin Sandown Rowing Club capped off their season with two South Coast Championship wins and a string of podium finishes in Plymouth.
The club’s J14 Quads were in dominant form. The Girls Quad — Olivia Mumberson, Tess Jones, Martha Eggleton, Isla Morant (cox: Esme Walters) — claimed victory for the fourth consecutive year. The Boys Quad — Alex Collier, Connie Batley-Smith, Josh Batchelor, Digby Ridgwell (cox: Esme Walters) — delivered the biggest winning margin of the regatta, storming to gold by over 100 metres.
In the J14 singles, Connie Batley-Smith and Digby Ridgwell secured second place, with Josh Batchelor finishing third. Esme Walters added a Novice Ladies Sculls silver to her haul.
The club entered sixteen crews across the weekend, with both the Men’s and Women’s Fours just missing out on finals after placing 3rd in their respective heats.
Shanklin will now take a short break before preparations begin for the head race season.
