ISLE OF WIGHT ROWING CLUBS COMPETE AT COALPORTERS REGATTA

The latest round of the Hants & Dorset regatta season took place on the River Itchen, with Coalporters hosting the event on Saturday (10th June).

Newport had crews in the Men’s Novice and Women’s Masters 40+ categories.

The Novice men of Will Loveday-Powell, Connor Garner, Boris Hare, Artur Rozvodovski, coxed by Marianna Hare, won their heat comfortably to set up a semi-final against Itchen and a composite crew from Ryde and Poole. They rowed well, soon getting ahead of Ryde/Poole, and although keeping close to Itchen they couldn’t pull back their lead, just missing out on a fastest losers’ spot for the final.

Article continues below this advertisement

Marianna Hare (aged 12) put on a confident display coxing the Men’s Novice crew and was runner up in the ‘cox of the day’ award.

The Women’s Masters crew of Julia Wilks, Julia Coulson, Julie Clarke, Fran Ladd and coxed by Nick Salter were up against BTC and Poole in their semi-final.  All three clubs have won all of the races so far this season in this category. In a close race Newport lost out to both Poole and BTC so did not qualify for the final.

The Men’s Coastal Junior 4 A Crew of Matt Chalmers, Ben Sanderson, Will Hall and Paddy Kearney – with Mia Mackay – coxing won their heat with comparative ease but unfortunately came up against the current Hampshire & Dorset Championship leaders from Southampton and a very good Christchurch crew in the semi-final and could only manage 3rd place in a close race – with the times of all 3 crews faster than the crews in the second semi-final.

The Men’s Coastal Junior 4 B Crew of Joe Bird, Matt Groothuis, Charlie Watts, Dan Sanderson – and Mia Mackay coxing – once again finished 3rd in their heat. Due to crew absences, they had 2 novice oarsman rowing – Matthew and Joe – who was competing in his first sweep oared 4s race.

Article continues below this advertisement

Joe Bird and Matthew Groothuis also competed with 2 members of Poole Rowing Club in a Men’s Composite Novice 4, which came 2nd in their heat, qualifying for the Semi-final as fastest loser – where they finished 3rd.

The Men’s Coastal Junior Pair crew of Dan Sanderson, Matthew Groothuis finished 3rd in their semi-final in another close race.

However, the highlight of the day for the Ryde Club came in the Ladies Coastal Junior Pairs, where Stella Baisley and Chloe Hughes rowed excellently to win their event and claim their 2nd Hants & Dorset ARA Point of the season – and promotion to Ladies Senior status for next season – even more impressive when you consider that Chloe was a novice oarswomen.

The Club crews competed in borrowed boats with the Men’s Coastal Junior Four Crew of Dan Sanderson, Ben Sanderson, Will Hall and Paddy Kearney with Bryony Reeve coxing, winning their event by a length-and-a-half.

The Men’s Coastal Junior Pair of Will Hall and Paddy Kearney suffered from some equipment and boat issues and could only manage 5th place – however, the club’s Men’s Novice Sculler, and club captain, Ben Sanderson, had an excellent scull in his final winning the race by 3 lengths.